The Hershey Bears are bringing back one of their depth defensemen for another season.
Hershey announced Wednesday that the club has re-signed rugged rearguard Jon McDonald to an American Hockey League contract for the 2026-27 campaign.
McDonald, 27, completed his second season with the Bears in 2025-26, recording a career-high 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists) in 60 regular-season games. He also added an assist in five playoff contests.
The Livonia, Michigan native has appeared in 91 career AHL games with Hershey, posting 18 points (6g, 12a). He was also part of the organization’s “Black Ace” group during the Bears’ Calder Cup championship run in 2024.
Before turning professional, McDonald spent five seasons at UMass Lowell, where he accumulated 62 points (10g, 52a) in 145 games. He served as captain of the River Hawks during his graduate season in 2022-23.
In addition to his time with Hershey, McDonald has played 86 ECHL games with the Toledo Walleye and South Carolina Stingrays, recording 29 points (6g, 23a).
McDonald becomes the first player to re-sign over the offseason as the Bears begin building their roster for the 2026-27 season.
Hershey has a long list of free agents heading into the summer months including forwards Henrik Rybinski (NHL contract), Brett Leason (NHL), Wyatt Bongiovanni (NHL), Ryan Hofer (NHL), Dalton Smith (AHL contract), Matt Strome (AHL), Jalen Luypen (AHL), Justin Nachbaur (AHL), Lynden Breen (AHL), Kaden Bohlsen (AHL), Simon Pinard (AHL), Kyler Kupka (AHL), and Patrick Guzzo (AHL); defensemen Reilly Webb (AHL contract), Corey Schueneman (NHL contract), John Fusco (AHL), and DJ King (AHL); and goaltenders Garin Bjorklund (NHL), Jesper Vikman (NHL), and Seth Eisele (AHL).
The team has already seen its captain, Aaron Ness, retire, while Sonny Milano signed a free agent contract with the Swiss National League’s SC Bern during the postseason. Defenseman Connor Mayer, who spent most of the season with the ECHL South Carolina Stingrays under an AHL contract, also signed with HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Die Haie of the ICEHL in late May.
