The KHL is going to be full of former Hershey Bears next season.
Just days after both Pierrick Dubé and Chase Priskie signed contracts in the league for the 2025-26 campaign, veteran forward Mike Vecchione’s time in Chocolatetown is also coming to an end. According to Metaratings.ru’s Dmitry Levin, Vecchione will join Dubé on Traktor Chelyabinsk next season.
Vecchione took to Instagram on Monday to say his goodbyes.
Dear Hershey,
These last 4 years have been nothing short of unforgettable. From the organization to the locker room to this incredible community — you welcomed me and made it feel like home.
To the staff, coaches, and my teammates — thank you for all the memories, the laughs, and the moments we’ll carry forever. Walking together as champions is something I’ll never forget.
And to the fans…thank you for your passion and support every single night. Playing in front of you and roaring at the Giant Center was truly special — moments I’ll always be thankful for.
It’s hard to say goodbye, but I leave with a full heart and deep gratitude. Hershey will always be a part of me. #FearTheRoar
With much love,
Mike Vecchione
The Bears, too, wished Vecchione farewell on social media.
Vecchione, 32, has been with the Bears for the last four seasons, initially signing on with the Washington Capitals in the summer of 2021. He has been a steady offensive presence on the Bears since arriving in Hershey, recording 176 points (75g, 101a) in 262 AHL games.
Since turning pro out of Union College in 2017, Vecchione has played in three career NHL games with the Capitals (1) and Philadelphia Flyers (2). However, his biggest career highlights have come in the past three years with the Bears, helping push Herhsey to two Calder Cups.
During the team’s successful 2023 playoff run, Vecchione scored the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 7 against the Coachella Valley Firebirds to win Hershey the first of their back-to-back championships. He’d follow that up by posting 10 points (2g, 8a) in 20 playoff games during the 2024 postseason.
Vecchione, a fan favorite in Hershey, is the creator of the team’s famous “ROAR” celebration, helping create a fun and winning culture in the Bears’ locker room. Under head coach Todd Nelson, Vecchione played all over the team’s lineup, putting aside ego in favor of fulfilling any role necessary to win.
In his last season with the Bears, Vecchione recorded 39 points (19g, 20a) in 68 games. He’ll leave behind the alternate captain position he has held for the last three seasons.
Traktor, the hometown team of former Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov, finished as runners-up in the KHL this past season after falling in the Gagarin Cup Finals to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. The club will now have three recent Bears players, as Vecchione and Dubé join defenseman Logan Day.
Former Bears goaltender Zach Fucale had been Traktor’s number-one goaltender for two years until moving on in free agency this summer to Dinamo Minsk.
Update, July 30: Nine days after reported emerged, Traktor officially announced the Vecchione signing.
The post reads, as translated by Google Translate:
Mike Vecchione in Traktor 😎
⠀
The contract with the American forward is valid until the end of the 2025/26 season.Alexey Volkov, general manager of the club:
“In Mike Vecchione, Traktor gets a high-quality two-way forward of the North American style. He has a lot of winning experience, having won the Calder Cup twice and in one of them scored the decisive goal in overtime. His strengths include skating, game thinking and shooting. With his attack-oriented nature, Mike is also capable of performing defensive functions, being a truly versatile forward. Such hockey players are always the core of teams that set serious goals for themselves. Welcome to hockey city!”
Mike, welcome to the black and white gang! 🔥
