The Hershey Bears have introduced that Chris Bourque could have his quantity 17 retired in an on-ice ceremony previous to the membership’s dwelling sport in opposition to Springfield on January 14, 2023.
Bourque will change into the eighth participant in franchise historical past to have his quantity retired, becoming a member of Frank Mathers (#3), Ralph Keller (#3), Mike Nykoluk (#8), Arnie Kullman (#9), Tim Tookey (#9), Willie Marshall (#16) and Mitch Lamoureux (#16).
“Chris Bourque is likely one of the biggest gamers to ever put on the Chocolate and White, and it’s solely becoming that his quantity 17 be raised to the rafters among the many most interesting gamers in our group’s wealthy historical past,” mentioned Bears vp of hockey operations Bryan Helmer. “Chris is synonymous with the success the Bears loved throughout his taking part in days, and the affect he had in Chocolatetown is timeless.”
Bourque performed 9 seasons with Hershey, and ranks fifth in franchise historical past with 586 factors over 604 video games in a Bears uniform. He’s the one Bears participant ever to win three Calder Cups with the membership, capturing titles in 2006, 2009 and 2010.
Bourque ranks twentieth all-time in AHL scoring with 746 complete factors; every of the 19 gamers forward of him have been elected to the AHL Corridor of Fame. He additionally sits twelfth with 495 assists, and tied for fortieth with 251 targets. Bourque gained AHL MVP honors in 2015-16 and captured two scoring titles (2011-12, 2015-16), and was the MVP of the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs.
The 2018 U.S. Olympian additionally performed in a record-tying six AHL All-Star Classics (2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), and was named a First Group AHL All-Star thrice.
Along with his regular-season scoring, Bourque is the AHL’s all-time chief in playoff assists (82) and ranks fourth in factors (117) and second in video games performed (133) in Calder Cup Playoff historical past.
