The Hershey Bears announced on Friday that defenseman Aaron Ness, 32, has signed a two-year extension with the team. The American Hockey League deal will keep Ness a member of the Chocolate and White through the 2024-25 season.
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The Hershey Bears announced today that the club has signed defenseman Aaron Ness to a two-year contract extension. The American Hockey League deal will keep Ness a member of the Chocolate and White through the 2024-25 season.
Ness, 32, appeared in 69 games with Hershey this season, registering 19 points (5g, 14a) while serving as an alternate captain for the club. He skated in his 600th career AHL game on Nov. 12 vs. Bridgeport and appeared in his 300th game as a Bear on Mar. 29 at Toronto. Ness has played in three games in the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs, tallying one assist.
The veteran defender returned to Hershey this season after playing for the Bears from 2015-19. He helped Hershey to the 2016 Calder Cup Finals and enjoyed the best season of his professional career during the 2018-19 campaign, posting 55 points (5g, 50a) while also earning AHL Second Team All-Star honors. He ranks 10th in franchise history in scoring by a defender with 147 points (25g, 122a) over 308 games with the Chocolate and White.
Ness represented Team USA in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, notching one assist in four games.
The native of Roseau, Minn. has appeared in 660 career AHL games with Bridgeport, Hershey, Tucson, and Providence, collecting 298 points (53g, 245a). He previously served as captain of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2014-15, earning a spot in the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic. He’s also played in 72 career NHL games with the Islanders, Capitals, and Coyotes, notching seven points (1g, 6a).
Just can’t resist to put this one back out for the NovaCapsFans community:
“Jones ‘thrilled’ to lead Philadelphia Flyers as President of Hockey Operations” is the latest article in the NHL press today, fawning over one of their own taking over a storied franchise.
The sight of Keith Jones as the new “Face” of the Flyers’ franchise … Let’s just say I’m skeptical. The line in the article that gets me is this one: “Jones is one of the most respected people in television.” Very well then! I invite my co-commenters at NovaCapsFans to comment!
John Tortorella I hold in high esteem as a truly winning NHL coach. Lots of acid and sandpaper but he never flinches in his style and approach. Danny Briere … will he succeed as a GM? He was an excellent offensive-minded forward in his NHL day. He and Ovechkin had a long-standing and violent feud! Good Luck Danny!
Keith Jones … mostly I remember as a reasonably talented forward on a bunch of underachieving Caps teams in the 1990s. Behind the microphone for the past 15 years … let’s just say he wasn’t my favorite. His qualifications as an NHL Team President? Long-suffering Flyers fans already have zero in the patience department. Good Luck, Jonesy!
I actually liked Jonesy as analyst (more studio than arena). That may not be saying much as I generally dislike all national announcers. But among that poor group, he was in my top 3. He was low key, didn’t ignore the Caps, and was able to poke fun at himself.
I have often wondered what the job descriptions are for NHL team management and coaching staffs.OK, a position called “goalie coach” is pretty explanatory, but most still puzzle me. What does Dick Patrick do?
Long suffering Flyers fans can continue to suffer.
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Kind of an odd signing. 32, had a sub par season, broke down.