Aaron Ness, a decorated defenseman who spent eight seasons with the Hershey Bears, has announced his retirement from professional hockey, bringing an end to a career that blended durability with offensive contributions.
During his time in Hershey, Ness became the franchise’s highest‑scoring American‑born defenseman, accumulating 188 points in 466 regular‑season games and adding 18 points in the playoffs, while helping the club capture two Calder Cup titles and a streak of nine consecutive playoff series victories.
Captaincy and division triumph
In the 2024‑25 campaign he was named team captain in October, guided the Bears to an Atlantic Division title and was instrumental in the club’s record‑setting playoff run, finishing his final season with six points in 38 games.
The veteran also logged 72 NHL appearances with the New York Islanders, Washington Capitals and Arizona Coyotes, and represented the United States at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where he contributed an assist in four games.
Drafted by the Islanders in 2008, Ness progressed through the minor leagues to become a cornerstone of Hershey’s success, a trajectory that culminated in his recent decision to step away from the ice.
His retirement marks the close of a chapter that not only reshaped the Bears’ defensive record books but also left a lasting imprint on the American hockey landscape.