Liam O’Brien Leaves Hershey Bears; Signs with Colorado Eagles

Liam O’Brien, who played in the Washington Capitals organization, primarily with the Hershey Bears, since the 2014-15 season, has signed a contract with the Colorado Eagles, the AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. O’Brien was an unrestricted free agent (G6) at the end of last season.

The Bears announced the news on Friday on their social media accounts.

Six years with the Bears. 370 games, 137 points, 638 penalty minutes, and a lifelong impact on Chocolatetown and the Central PA community.

Thank you @OfficialBigTuna. Good luck with the @ColoradoEagles! pic.twitter.com/vS8ocjbhKp

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) November 27, 2020

The Eagles also announced the news on their site.

WINDSOR, CO. – The Colorado Eagles, proud AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, have announced that the team has signed forward Liam O’Brien to an AHL contract for the 2020-21 season. O’Brien has spent the previous six seasons with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, notching 63 goals, 74 assists and 638 penalty minutes in 370 contests. In addition, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound center has seen action in 17 NHL games, posting one goal, one assist and 28 PIM’s with the Washington Capitals.

O’Brien collected 10 goals and 19 assists in 59 games with the Bears during the 2019-20 campaign, while also leading the team with 83 penalty minutes. The Halifax, Nova Scotia native has posted at least 100 PIM’s in four of his six seasons with Hershey. Prior to reaching the professional level, O’Brien spent five seasons in the QMJHL with Rimouski Oceanic and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, amassing 95 points and 493 PIM’s in 261 total contests. He would also serve as the Huskies’ team captain during the 2013-14 season.

An undrafted free agent, O’Brien received a training camp invitation from Washington as a rookie and earned a spot on the Capitals season-opening roster, making his NHL debut on Oct. 9, 2014 against Montreal, earning his first NHL point with an assist on Oct. 14, 2014 against San Jose and netting his first NHL goal on Oct. 26, 2014 at Vancouver.

The Colorado Eagles will continue to keep fans apprised of the latest developments as it relates to the offseason and the resumption of events. Team staff can continue to be reached by phone at (970) 686-7468 or via the direct messaging feature on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In addition, a full list of staff emails can be found at ColoradoEagles.com under the ‘Team’ tab.

O’Brien took to his Instagram account on Friday night to thank Bears and Capitals fans.

“I would like to first thank the @thehersheybears and the @capitals for an incredible 6 years! So many amazing memories were made from scoring my first NHL goal to playing in my first ever outdoor game. Thank you!

To my coaches, teammates, management, staff and all of the people behind the scenes (You know who you are!). Thank you for your friendship, your belief in me and helping me grow and develop into a better player and person. I wish you guys all the best this year!

To Hershey Bears fans, thank you for all of your love and support from the start to finish. I will miss playing at the GC in front of you! It was truly an honor! 🙏🏻🐻

I am excited for the challenge ahead of me in Colorado!

#earnednevergiven

-Tuna”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIHaF1eAUlU/?igshid=fnkc8rc7199q

O’Brien first gained the attention of Capitals fans when he wagged his tongue at famous tough guy John Scott during his first stint with the team back in 2014.

https://gfycat.com/considerateicyatlasmoth

O’Brien would play 13 games for the Capitals in the 2014-15 season, recording one goal and one assist. He played one game in the 2016-17 season and three games in the 2017-18 season for the Capitals.

O’Brien was a fan-favorite in Hershey and became a leader on the team in his last two seasons with the Bears. O’Brien would score the teddy bear goal in 2017.