The Bears are embarking on a coaching search for the first time since the summer of 2022. That search ended with Todd Nelson, the even-keeled, winner of a coach who took the Bears back to new heights with nine straight playoff series wins that included back-to-back Calder Cups.

On June 20, Nelson returned to his post as an NHL assistant coach, this time with the Pittsburgh Penguins. That puts Hershey back into a coaching search. This week during media sessions, Bears VP of hockey operations Bryan Helmer and Capitals general manager Chris Patrick provided updates on where that coaching search is.

“Just getting started,” Capitals GM Chris Patrick said of the hiring process. “Unfortunately the last couple weeks were a little busy, but they’re pulling the list together and they’re going to start talking to guys this week.”

It’s clear that the brunt of the process thus far is taking place more on the Hershey side than in Washington. Soon, the Capitals will be involved. But, it means Hershey’s Bryan Helmer had much more to say on the process during his press conference after unveiling that a Capitals preseason game would be played in Hershey.

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“Obviously we have two great internal candidates with Patrick Weller and Nick Bootland,” said Helmer. “So we’ll probably start there, and then we got a ton of people have reached out outside of the organization and a lot of good candidates outside externally.

“So more on that to come, we’re working on it. Obviously, it’s been busy with free agency and obviously (this announcement) and then I head down to Hilton Head for league meetings this weekend coming up. So, just a lot of moving parts right now.”

Helmer went on to share some excitement about the team coming to Hershey this year, which will certainly have a new look and identity.

“The prospects look good,” said Helmer of potential candidates. “I’m very excited about our team this year with the younger guys coming in, a lot of high talent.

“And hopefully that talent can transfer into the pro game because if it does, we’ll be pretty good set up for ourselves. I think the last time we’ve had a fluctuation of with young players was back in (2015-16) and we all know how that season ended.”