{"id":338486,"date":"2025-12-09T06:49:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T06:49:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/338486\/"},"modified":"2025-12-09T06:49:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T06:49:17","slug":"hershey-bears-wear-vintage-skating-bear-jerseys-for-hall-of-fame-and-throwback-nights-they-look-unreal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/338486\/","title":{"rendered":"Hershey Bears wear vintage \u2018Skating Bear\u2019 jerseys for Hall of Fame and Throwback Nights: \u2018They look unreal\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

HERSHEY, PA \u2014 The Hershey Bears turned back the clock over the weekend and brought back one of the most popular logos in franchise history to help the American Hockey League celebrate its 90th season.<\/p>\n

Hershey wore throwback jerseys featuring the team\u2019s \u201cSkating Bear\u201d logo. The emblem, initially designed in the mid \u201960s, features an illustration of a hockey-playing bear in full gear, with the type HERSHEY in a bold brown rectangle overtop \u2014 the same design seen on Hershey\u2019s iconic chocolate bar wrappers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they\u2019re pretty, pretty sweet,\u201d Andrew Cristall told RMNB of the jersey design before its debut. \u201cI think it\u2019s gonna be pretty cool. They look unreal, so I\u2019m pumped to wear them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Per the Bears\u2019 Jesse Liebman<\/a>, the Lebanon Daily News\u2019 Nancy Orner created the bear illustration after team executives wanted a refreshed emblem for their game programs. The request came after the franchise celebrated its 25th anniversary during the 1963-64 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy husband [Eugene] is a hockey fan, and I knew that if they wanted a bear, that I wanted it to not just be a wooly bear,\u201d Nancy, a member of the photo engraving department, told the team<\/a>. \u201cI wanted him to be a hockey player. It just seemed to pop up just right.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201cSkating Bear\u201d logo, which subtly incorporated Nancy\u2019s initials into the animal\u2019s left knee, became so beloved by the team that Hershey quickly made it its official logo. During the 1971-72 season, the \u201cSkating Bear\u201d was added to the front of the team\u2019s jerseys, with one small change: HERSHEY was added over top.<\/p>\n

The Bears won their fifth Calder Cup in 1974 while wearing the sweaters at their old barn, Hersheypark Arena.<\/p>\n

\"Hershey\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB<\/p>\n

The \u201cSkating Bear\u201d logo was later altered to include an oval, but remained in the team\u2019s jersey rotation for 31 years, officially getting retired after the 2001-02 season when Hershey moved into Giant Center.<\/p>\n

The Bears first announced the return of the jersey design on December 3<\/a> for the club\u2019s Hall of Fame Night against the Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins on Saturday and Throwback Night against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Both opposing teams donned special sweaters for the weekend tilts as well, with the Penguins wearing throwbacks from the 2004-05 season<\/a> while the Phantoms wore \u201cfaux back\u201d jerseys<\/a>, featuring Lehigh Valley\u2019s monster logo and its team name inside Pennsylvania\u2019s Keystone symbol.<\/p>\n

Fan response to the \u201cSkating Bear\u201d jersey was off the charts. The team saw 8,917 fans pack into Giant Center to see the re-debut of the sweater and cheer on Chris Bourque, Alexandre Giroux, Boyd Kane, Mike McHugh, and William W. \u201cTiny\u201d Parry<\/a> as they were officially inducted into the club\u2019s Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n

Though there was one snag. The team advertised that it would sell \u201cSkating Bear\u201d replica jerseys and other merch inspired by the logo that night. But that did not happen, leaving some fans, who came to the game just for that, disappointed.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The next afternoon, Hershey did sell the merch on the concourse ahead of its game against the Phantoms at 3 pm. RMNB was told by Bears season-ticket holder Lee S. that the replica jerseys sold out by puck drop.<\/p>\n

\"Hershey\ud83d\udcf8: Lee S.<\/p>\n

Later, after Hershey\u2019s 3-2 win, the game-used \u201cSkating Bear\u201d jerseys were auctioned off to fans.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

RMNB reader Maddie H. said that Ilya Protas\u2019s sweater sold for the most at $2,600. Lee S. added that Sam Bitten ($2,500), Spencer Smallman ($2,400), Andrew Cristall ($2,300), and Mitch Gibson ($2,000) rounded out the top five. Every jersey available that was auctioned off went for $1,000 or above except for one.<\/p>\n

\"Ilya\ud83d\udcf8: @maddie.hess.photos\/IG<\/a><\/p>\n

Now, with the \u201cSkating Bear\u201d jersey put back in the vault, Hershey will wear one other vintage jersey this season. The team will rock \u201c1938 Throwbacks\u201d seven times, beginning in January<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Photos
\n\"Hershey\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Andrew\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Ivan\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Bogdan\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"The\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Ryan\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Mitch\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Andrew\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Eriks\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Bogdan\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Andrew\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Ilya\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Andrew\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Bogdan\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Ryan\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Andrew\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB
\n\"Chris\ud83d\udcf8: Ian Oland\/RMNB<\/p>\n

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