The Hershey Bears have six former members selected for inclusion in the American Hockey League Hall of Fame as part of the league’s 90th Anniversary Class, announced Nov. 5, 2026. Aldege “Baz” Bastien, Nick Damore, Jeannot Gilbert, Fred T. Hunt, Bob McCord and Terry Reardon are among 18 individuals chosen to recognize the American Hockey League’s 90th anniversary.
The 90th Anniversary Class will be recognized alongside the four members of the Class of 2027 at the 2027 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Rectifi.law in Cleveland on Feb. 8. The American Hockey League Hall of Fame was formed in 2006 and is housed online at AHLHallofFame.com.
Six Hershey Bears honorees
Aldege “Baz” Bastien helped the Hershey Bears win back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 1958 and 1959 while serving as the team’s business manager. Earlier in his career, an eye injury ended his playing career, after which he became a head coach and executive with the Pittsburgh Hornets. The American Hockey League presents the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award to the league’s most outstanding goaltender.
Nick Damore appeared in 365 games for Hershey and earned 190 wins during seven seasons of AHL competition with the Bears. He led Hershey to Calder Cup Finals appearances in 1941, 1942 and 1945 and earned AHL First All-Star Team honors in three consecutive campaigns from 1943-46. Damore was posthumously inducted into the Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2014.
Jeannot Gilbert played 552 games for Hershey, ranking sixth in franchise history, and recorded 595 points, 206 goals and 389 assists. He won the John B. Sollenberger Trophy in 1968-69 after leading the AHL in scoring with 100 points and helped the Bears win the Calder Cup that season. Gilbert was previously inducted into the Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2014.
Fred T. Hunt helped Hershey reach the Calder Cup Finals in 1948-49 after recording nine points in 13 regular-season games and five points in nine playoff contests. He won six Calder Cup championships as a player and general manager. The American Hockey League presents the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award to honor the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey.
Bob McCord helped Hershey reach the Calder Cup Finals during the 1964-65 season. He appeared in 635 AHL regular-season games over parts of 12 seasons with Hershey, Springfield and Pittsburgh, captured four Calder Cups and was named the AHL’s outstanding defenseman twice. McCord also earned selections to five postseason All-Star teams and played more than 300 games in the National Hockey League.
Terry Reardon played 124 games for Hershey from 1938-41 and recorded 75 points, including 23 goals and 52 assists. He later won the Calder Cup as Providence’s player-coach in 1949 and as the club’s general manager in 1956. Reardon also received the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach in 1970-71.
American Hockey League anniversary recognition
The 90th Anniversary Class will be recognized with Dave Fenyves, Ross Fitzpatrick, Doug Gibson and Tom Mitchell, the four members of the Class of 2027. The recognition will take place during the 2027 AHL All-Star Classic in Cleveland on Feb. 8.
The American Hockey League has operated since 1936 and serves as the top development league for players, coaches, managers, executives, broadcasters and staff of all 32 National Hockey League teams. The six former Hershey Bears connected to the anniversary class represent championship contributors and individuals who made an impact in different roles throughout the league.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
The six selections highlight the range of Hershey Bears connections to American Hockey League history. Gilbert’s franchise scoring totals, Damore’s wins and Reardon’s early tenure with the club reflect the on-ice contributions in the group, while Bastien and Hunt also built their legacies in management and other leadership roles.
Source: Original report
