The Hershey Bears announced defenseman Aaron Ness signed a one-year contract extension on Friday morning.
Ness’s deal comes as the club is searching for its next captain, and will keep the veteran rearguard in Chocolatetown through the 2025-26 campaign.
MAKE NOISE FOR NESSER! 🙌
We've signed defenseman Aaron Ness to a one-year contract extension, keeping him in Hershey through the 2025-26 season.
📰 https://t.co/s9bblMdLNZ pic.twitter.com/e7hLrnfTWg
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) October 18, 2024
One of two full-time alternate captains in Hershey, Ness helped push the Bears to back-to-back Calder Cup titles in 2023 and 2024 while skating as a first-pairing defenseman.
Warmups underway!
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— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) October 16, 2024
The 34-year-old Ness, who previously served as captain of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2014-15, brings a wealth of experience to the club after appearing in 731 career AHL games with Bridgeport, Hershey, Tucson, and Providence. He’s also played in 72 career NHL games with the New York Islanders, Washington, and Arizona and represented Team USA in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Next season will mark Ness’s eighth with Hershey.
Here’s the press release from the Hershey Bears:
BEARS SIGN DEFENSEMAN AARON NESS TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION
Defender ranks seventh in franchise history in scoring among blueliners and has helped lead Hershey to back-to-back Calder Cups
(Hershey, PA – October 18, 2024) – The Hershey Bears announced today that the club has signed defenseman Aaron Ness to a one-year contract extension, keeping the veteran blueliner in Hershey through the 2025-26 season. The announcement was made by Hershey vice president of hockey operations Bryan Helmer.
Ness, 34, is in his seventh season with Hershey and has posted one assist in three games this year. The alternate captain has helped lead Hershey to back-to-back Calder Cup titles. In 2022-23, he logged 19 points (5g, 14) in 69 games and posted one goal in the postseason as Hershey won its 12th Calder Cup. Last year, Ness had 23 points (4g, 19a) in 68 regular-season games, then scored two points (1g, 1a) in 10 playoff games as Hershey claimed the Calder Cup for a second straight year.
The native of Roseau, Minn. has skated in 379 career games with Hershey, a mark that ranks 27th in franchise history. He has scored 171 points (29g, 142a), making him the seventh-highest scoring defenseman in franchise history. He is the top-scoring American-born blueliner in Hershey history, and his 142 assists ranks 43rd in the club’s 87-season tenure.
The veteran defender is in his second tour of duty with Hershey. He returned to the Bears in 2022 after playing for the Chocolate and White from 2015-19. During his first stint in Hershey, he helped the Bears 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 All-Star Team honors.
Ness has appeared in 731 career AHL games with Bridgeport, Hershey, Tucson, and Providence, collecting 322 points (57g, 265a). He is currently the active games played leader among all American Hockey League defensemen. Ness 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 New York Islanders, Washington, and Arizona, notching seven points (1g, 6a). Ness represented Team USA in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, notching one assist in four games.
