HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) – The Washington Capitals announced Monday that they are extending their affiliation agreement with the Hershey Bears through the 2029-30 season.

“The Hershey Bears are thrilled to extend our affiliation agreement with the Washington Capitals,” said Bryan Helmer, Hershey’s vice president of hockey operations. “Our longstanding partnership with the Capitals has established a proven model of success in creating a winning culture and promoting development. We take great pride in seeing players who helped us win in Hershey graduate to Washington.”

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The Bears have served as the Washington Capitals AHL affiliate since the 2005-06 season. During that time Hershey has produced a 783-428-72-91 record for a .629 point percentage.

The relationship between the Bears and the Capitals runs deep. Washington’s current head coach Spencer Carberry spent three seasons at the helm of the Bears (2018-2021). The Capitals assistant coach Scott Allen assisted Carberry at Hershey and eventually was named head coach of the Bears before the 2021-22 season.

Capitals video coach Emily Engel-Natzke, goaltending coach Scott Murray, assistant athletic trainer Murphy Luatua and assistant strength and conditioning coach Mike Wagner all worked for the Bears before joining Washington. The Capitals broadcaster John Walton also spent nine years with Hershey before moving to Washington.

This season 16 players who skated for Washington either formerly played or currently play for the Bears including John Carlson, Tom Wilson, Aliaksei Protas, Connor McMichael, Nicolas Aubé-Kubel, Beck Malenstyn, Martin Fehervary, Sonny Milano, Hendrix Lapierre, Alex Alexeyev, Hardy Häman Aktel, Lucas Johansen, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Joe Snively, Hunter Shepard, and Dylan McIlrath.

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When the Capitals won the club’s first Stanley Cup in 2018, 14 players were on the roster who previously played in Hershey and 10 former Bears were a part of the Game 5 that clinched the cup.

“The Hershey Bears have played an integral role in the successful development and maturation of players within the Washington Capitals organization for many years, and we are excited to extend our affiliation for the next six seasons and continue our longstanding partnership,” said Brian MacLellan, Washington’s president and general manager. “Not only have we had players come through Hershey, but several coaches currently on our staff and members of our support staff have plied their trade with the Bears before joining the Capitals.”

This current affiliation between the Bears and the Capitals is the second stint in the teams’ histories. Hershey was previously affiliated for seven seasons from 1977 to 1984 with Washington.

This season marks the 19th season in the current affiliation that the Bears and Capitals have been associated.

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