By: Joshua Gearhart
The Hershey Bears exited Giant Center with two points to close the 2025-26 American Hockey League regular season, while several players left with accolades recognizing their contributions both on and off the ice.
Credit: The Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears Man of the Year: #19 Grant Cruikshank
Per the Bears:
Each season, one player from every AHL team is selected as their club’s IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year Award recipient for his commitment to the local community and charitable organizations throughout the season. Cruikshank earned this honor thanks to his work with the Hershey Bears Cares community program and by introducing the organization to Triumph Together, which helps children in times of need. Cruikshank is one of 32 finalists for the AHL’s Yanick Dupré Memorial Award.
Arlene Tighe Award (unsung hero): #19 Grant Cruikshank
Per the Bears:
Cruikshank has established himself as a regular fixture in the lineup, ranking fifth on the team with 66 games played (a new personal best for him in the AHL), along with AHL career-highs of 10 goals, eight assists, and 18 points. Cruikshank is tied for first leaguewide with five shorthanded goals, one off the Bears franchise’s single-season record.
“[Grant] Cruikshank is a guy we rely on so heavily while shorthanded,” forward Andrew Cristall said. “He is always taking D-zone draws and doing the little things that go unnoticed. Obviously, what he has contributed off the ice is huge as well, so these awards are big for him, and we are happy he re-signed.”
Credit: The Hershey Bears
Milton W. Garland Award (best defenseman): #7 Louie Belpedio
Per the Bears:
Belpedio has appeared in all but four games this season and leads the Hershey blue line offensively with a career-high 34 points off of nine goals as well as a new personal best of 25 assists. The defenseman has provided veteran leadership and two-way play in first year with the Bears organization.
Credit: The Hershey Bears
Dan Sernoffsky Memorial Coaches Award: #44 Bogdan Trineyev
Per the Bears:
Trineyev has continued to elevate his game statistically year over year during his time in Chocolatetown. The forward has enjoyed new career highs in multiple offensive categories with 16 goals, 26 assists, and 42 points, nearly doubling his previous career-high of points of 22 from the previous season. Deployed in a variety of situations, Trineyev notched his first power-play goals as a Bear this season and sits fourth in team scoring, and earned his first NHL call-up earlier this season.
Credit: The Hershey Bears
John Travers / Steve Summers Award (best plus-minus): #40 Ilya Protas
Per the Bears:
Entering today’s contest, Protas leads the Bears with a +16 rating, the most by a Bears rookie since defenseman Vincent Iorio during the 2022-23 season, and the most by a Bears rookie forward since Francois Bouchard during the 2008-09 season.
Kenny Smith Memorial Player of the Game Award: #40 Ilya Protas
Per the Bears:
The Kenny Smith Memorial Player of the Game Award is named after former Hershey Bear and Boston Bruins great, Kenny Smith. This award is presented to the player who earns the most Three Stars nominations during the season and is awarded in partnership with Giambalvo Kia and Mitsubishi.
Jack Gingrich Award (rookie of the year): #40 Ilya Protas
Per the Bears:
Protas currently sits first in scoring among first-year players in the AHL this season with 64 points (28g, 36a) and his achievements were recognized by the league earlier this week after receiving a selection to the 2025-26 AHL All-Rookie Team. The 19-year-old shattered the franchise record for goals in a season by an under-20 player.
Mountz Jewelers Team MVP Award: #40 Ilya Protas
Per the Bears:
Protas ranks first in team scoring with 28 goals and 64 points. Hershey’s 14 wins when Protas scores and 23 victories when he earns a point represent the largest total reflective of any individual player’s offensive achievements this season. Protas’ six-point game at Hartford earlier this month marked the first six-point game in the AHL since 2019, and the rookie recorded four points in a four-game stint with the Washington Capitals upon making his NHL debut.
The Chocolate Roar 