Get ready to step into a time machine, hockey fans, because the Hershey Bears just pulled off something truly special! Imagine seeing a piece of hockey history come alive on the ice, as the team donned their iconic vintage ‘Skating Bear’ jerseys to celebrate the American Hockey League’s 90th season. But here’s where it gets even more fascinating—this wasn’t just a nostalgic nod; it was a tribute to a logo that has become a symbol of the franchise’s legacy. And this is the part most people miss: the story behind that beloved bear is as rich as the chocolate the town is famous for.
The ‘Skating Bear’ logo, originally designed in the mid-1960s, features a hockey-playing bear in full gear, with the word ‘HERSHEY’ boldly displayed in a brown rectangle—a design that mirrors the iconic chocolate bar wrappers. It’s a perfect blend of sports and local heritage, and fans couldn’t get enough of it. Andrew Cristall, one of the players, summed it up perfectly before the jerseys’ debut: ‘They look unreal… I’m pumped to wear them.’
But how did this bear come to be? According to Jesse Liebman of the Hershey Bears, it all started when team executives wanted a refreshed emblem for their game programs after the franchise’s 25th anniversary in the 1963-64 season. Enter Nancy Orner, a member of the Lebanon Daily News’ photo engraving department, whose husband’s love for hockey inspired her to create a bear that wasn’t just any bear—it was a hockey player. And here’s the controversial part: Nancy subtly incorporated her initials into the bear’s left knee, a detail that adds a layer of personal history to the design. Did you catch that? A hidden signature in a logo that’s been adored for decades—talk about a creative Easter egg!
The ‘Skating Bear’ quickly became the team’s official logo, gracing the front of their jerseys by the 1971-72 season. The Bears even won their fifth Calder Cup in 1974 while wearing these iconic sweaters at the historic Hersheypark Arena. The logo remained a staple for 31 years before being retired after the 2001-02 season when the team moved to the Giant Center.
The return of the ‘Skating Bear’ jerseys was announced on December 3 for two special nights: Hall of Fame Night against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Throwback Night against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Both opposing teams also joined in the fun, with the Penguins wearing 2004-05 throwbacks and the Phantoms sporting ‘faux back’ jerseys featuring their monster logo inside Pennsylvania’s Keystone symbol.
Fan reaction? Off. The. Charts. Nearly 9,000 fans packed the Giant Center to witness the re-debut of the jerseys and celebrate the induction of hockey legends like Chris Bourque and Alexandre Giroux into the club’s Hall of Fame. But there was a snag—the team had promised to sell replica jerseys and merch that night, but it didn’t happen, leaving some fans disappointed. The merch finally went on sale the next day, with replica jerseys selling out before the puck dropped. Since then, these jerseys have popped up on reselling sites for prices ranging from $400 to $500, with game-used ones fetching well into the four figures—Ilya Protas’s sweater sold for a whopping $2,600!
Now, here’s a thought to chew on: Is the ‘Skating Bear’ jersey just a piece of sports memorabilia, or is it a cultural artifact that represents the intersection of hockey, art, and local identity? And should teams do more to honor their historical designs, or is it better to keep moving forward with modern aesthetics? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear your take on this iconic piece of hockey history!
