The American Hockey League announced on Tuesday that two former Hershey Bears will be inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024.
Former Bears forwards Dennis Bonvie and Gerry Ehman will join Gordie Clark and Roy Sommer as the 18th group of individuals to be put into the league’s Hall of Fame. Bonvie spent two seasons in Hershey (2003-05) while Ehman played just one (1958-59).
Former Bears Dennis Bonvie and Gerry Ehman have been announced among @TheAHL Hall of Fame Class of 2024 ⬇️
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) October 31, 2023
Bonvie got into 106 career games for the Bears and tallied 27 points (7g, 20a) to go along with 511 penalty minutes. The rough and tumble winger was known to make almost permanent residence in the penalty box. His single season, career high in penalty minutes came in the AHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs as he sat for an insane 522 minutes. In that 1996-97 campaign he then added an additional 91 PIMs in 22 playff games.
Bonvie also has the distinction of being the first ever goal scorer in the modern version of the AHL All-Star Game back in 1995.
Ehman is a player from the more distant past. The Saskatoon native played in nearly 1,100 games combined between the AHL and NHL and 23 of those games came with the Bears. Ehman, who passed away in 2006, also won a Stanley Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1964.
The official 2024 induction will take place as part of the festivities at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic hosted by the San Jose Barracuda. The ceremony is scheduled for February 5.
Here’s the full release from the Bears:
PAIR OF FORMER BEARS TO ENTER AHL HALL OF FAME
(Hershey, PA – October 31, 2023) – The American Hockey League today announced the four people selected for induction into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame as the Class of 2024. Former Hershey Bears forwards Dennis Bonvie and Gerry Ehman, along with Gordie Clark and Roy Sommer have been selected as the 18th group of individuals who have earned enshrinement in the AHL Hall of Fame.
The induction of the Class of 2024 will take place as part of the festivities at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Tech CU, to be hosted by the San Jose Barracuda. The American Hockey League Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony is scheduled for February 5.
Bonvie played parts of two seasons between 2003-05 with Hershey, dressing for 106 games and collecting 27 points (7g, 20a) and 511 penalty minutes (tied for 28th in Bears franchise history).
Widely respected for his competitive spirit and toughness, Bonvie played 871 games in the AHL over 15 professional seasons. The Nova Scotia native began his career with the Cape Breton Oilers in 1993 and was selected to participate in the AHL All-Star Game in 1995, scoring the first goal in the modern event’s history. After stops in Hamilton, Portland, and Philadelphia, Bonvie joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for their inaugural season in 1999 and quickly became a fan favorite, helping the team reach the Calder Cup Finals in 2001. He moved on to Providence, Binghamton, and Hershey before returning to Wilkes-Barre, where he retired in 2008 with 84 goals, 191 assists and a pro hockey record 4,493 penalty minutes for his AHL career. Since his retirement, Bonvie has served as a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, and Boston Bruins, for whom he has been director of professional scouting since 2022.
Ehman skated for the Chocolate and White during the 1958-59 campaign, appearing in 23 games and tallying 15 points (8g, 7a).
A prolific American Hockey League scorer during the 1950s and 1960s, Gerry Ehman played 19 seasons of professional hockey, including nearly 1,100 games combined between the AHL and NHL. Some of his early AHL years were spent in St. Louis, Springfield, and Hershey, but he is most remembered for his seven seasons with the Rochester Americans, a tenure that included six 30-goal performances, a league scoring title and two Calder Cup championships. Ehman, who served as captain of the Amerks from 1965 to 1967, was voted a First Team or Second Team AHL All-Star four times in his career, and still ranks fourth on Rochester’s franchise scoring list. The Saskatchewan native, who also won a Stanley Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1964, totaled 311 goals and 365 assists for 676 points in 654 career AHL games. Ehman passed away in 2006 at the age of 73.
Formed in 2006 to recognize, honor and celebrate individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in the American Hockey League, the AHL Hall of Fame is housed online at AHLHallofFame.com and is accessible to fans worldwide as part of the AHL Internet Network.
Headline photo via AHL
