The Hershey Bears announced Tuesday morning that they signed Washington Capitals prospect Zac Funk to an amateur tryout agreement. Funk already revealed he was headed to Hershey during his end-of-year media availability with the WHL’s Prince George Cougars last week.
The 20-year-old winger will arrive in Hershey after a hugely successful final junior season saw him explode for a CHL-leading 67 goals in 68 games to go along with a career-best 56 assists. His 123 points ranked second in the WHL and he was one of just two players in Canada’s three major junior leagues to eclipse the 120-point mark.
We've signed forward Zac Funk to an amateur tryout agreement. The recent @Capitals signee led the WHL with 67 goals this past season.
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 14, 2024
Funk chipped in an additional 18 points (8g, 10a) in 15 playoff games. Prince George was eliminated in the Western Conference Finals by the Portland Winterhawks.
The British Columbia native was also named a finalist for WHL Player of the Year and selected to the WHL’s first All-Star team. His 67 goals are the new, all-time franchise-high for the Cougars, besting a record set by Quinn Hancock (54) back during the 1997-98 WHL season. He also recorded eight hat tricks.
The Capitals announced they signed Funk to a three-year, entry-level contract in early March. He joins a Hershey squad that features fellow WHLers Andrew Cristall and Alexander Suzdalev as playoff black aces.
Hershey took care of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the Atlantic Division Semifinals last week and will face off next against the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Here’s the press release from the Bears:
BEARS SIGN FORWARD ZAC FUNK TO TRYOUT AGREEMENT
Recent Washington signee led the Western Hockey League in goals this past season with 67
(Hershey, PA – May 14, 2024) – The Hershey Bears, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Washington Capitals, announced today that the club has signed forward Zac Funk to an amateur tryout agreement.
Funk, 20, recorded 123 points (67g, 56a) in 68 games with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season. The 6’0”, 210-pound forward led the WHL in goals, power-play goals (31), plus/minus (+56) and ranked second in points and fourth in shots (323). He had eight hat tricks this past season while serving as an alternate captain for Prince George, and he was named a finalist for WHL Player of the Year. In the playoffs, Funk posted 18 points (8g, 10a) in 15 games with the Cougars.
The Coldstream, British Columbia native recorded 58 points (26g, 32a) in 64 games with Prince George and the Calgary Hitmen in 2022-23. Funk, who was traded from Calgary to Prince George on Jan. 10, 2023, ranked tied for first on the Cougars in playoff scoring with eight points (5g, 3a) in 10 games. In 228 career WHL games with Prince George and Calgary, Funk recorded 227 points (119g, 108a).
Funk was signed by the Capitals on March 1 to a three-year, entry-level contract that begins in the 2024-25 season.
The Bears next take the ice in Game 1 of the best-of-five Atlantic Division Finals against the Hartford Wolf Pack on Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at GIANT Center. Tickets for this game and all Bears home games during the Atlantic Division Finals are on sale now via Ticketmaster.
