Hershey Bears captain Aaron Ness has announced his retirement from professional hockey after 15 seasons in the American Hockey League.
Ness played 818 games across stints with Hershey, Providence, Tucson and Bridgeport. He recorded 61 goals and 278 assists for 339 points while earning Second Team AHL All-Star honors in 2018-19 and appearing in the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic. The Roseau, Minnesota native served as captain for three seasons, including the last two with Hershey. He contributed to the Bears' Calder Cup titles in 2023 and 2024 and tallied 19 points in 81 career playoff games. Selected by the New York Islanders in the second round of the 2008 NHL Draft, Ness appeared in 72 NHL games with the Islanders, Washington Capitals and Arizona Coyotes. He also represented the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.