Bart Bradley Dead At Age 76

Bart Bradley spent a lifetime in hockey. First as a player, then as a scout. A well-respected hockey man. The Fort William, Ontario native settled in Delta, British Columbia after 30 years of scouting with the Boston Bruins.
Bradley spent a single season with the Hershey Bears. The center registered 35 points in 61 games during the 1949-1950 season. It was during this season Bradley played his only NHL game with the Boston Bruins. Other pro teams included the Tulsa Oilers, Tacoma Rockets, New Westminster Royals , Victoria Cougars and Seattle Americans.
Bradley's son now serves as Director of Amateur Scouting for the Bruins. As a scout, Bart Bradley was instrumental in bringing Cam Neely and Brad Park to Boston.
After hockey, Golf became Bradley's new sport. He started playing golf while at Hershey but only played at the Herhsey County Club once. He missed the opportunity to see golf professional Ben Hogan play.
Bradley passed away earlier this month after a several month battle with pneumonia.

Les Duff

Les Duff was one of the greatest AHL hockey players during the 1950's and 1960's. Duff played left wing for the Pittsburgh Hornets , Rochester Americans and Hershey Bears. The Kirkland Lake, Ontario native played over 900 AHL games and produced 414 points. The Calder Cup seemed to follow Duff, winning the AHL Championship five times.
Duff's brother was recently elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Dick Duff won six Stanley Cups witht he Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Now a resident of Toronto, Les Duff spent 23 years with the Toronto Transit Commision before retiring. Today, hobbies include walking, golf and crossword puzzles.

Mark Marquess

In the late 1940's Mark Marquess was the resident musician of the AHL's Hershey Bears. Marquess and his guitar spent five seasons in Hershey, only interupted by a trip to the NHL with the Boston Bruins. Marquess freely admits his days in Hershey were the best of his long professional career that saw him play for teams like the Tacoma Rockets, Seattle Bombers, Victoria Cougars and the WHL's Vancouver Canucks. To this day, Marquess keeps in touch with former Bears teammates Penti Lund, Buck Jones, Bart Bradley and Fern Flaman from his East Wenatchee, Washington home.
Marquess has another small connection to Hershey through his grandson Kyle Harris. Several years back, Harris was roommates with current Bears star Mike Green while playing junior with the Saskatoon Blades.
Today, the 81-year old Marquess boasts good health and takes every opportunity to play golf.

Paul Hoganson

Paul Hoganson still drinks his morning coffee out of a Hershey, Pennsylvania mug. Hoganson, a native of Toronto, played a single season in goal for the Hershey Bears before bolting to the WHA and the Los Angeles Sharks. There were many stops along the way for Hoganson, teams like the Amarillo Wrangles, Fort Wayne Komets, Tulsa Oilers, Greensboro Generals, Binghamton Dusters and many , many more. As a matter of fact from 1966 to 1979 there were 19 hometown cities. Hoganson never stayed around too long. His last season was in the PHL with the Tucson Rustlers. Hoganson must have liked it as he remains in the Arizona city.

Bruce Hoffort

Bruce Hoffort played goal for the Hershey Bears in the late 1980's and early 1990's. In theory, his AHL career never matched his NHL career. Hoffort played nine games for the Philadelphia Flyers and never lost a single one. Four wins, three ties and zero losses. Hard to believe Hoffort never got another chance to lose a game in the NHL. In 58 games for the Bears, Hoffort lost 30 to go along with 19 wins.
Hoffort's biggest moments came playing for the Lake Superior State Lakers where he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and in the late 1980's one of the best college goaltenders, if not the best.

Bryan Erickson

If you are looking to buy a car in the Roseau, Minnesota area, Bryan Erickson is your man. The longtime Team USA player owns and operates Bryan Erickson Auto in Northern Minnesota. Erickson is back home after a long career in amateur, international and professional hockey.
Erickson turned pro with the Hershey Bears directly out of the University of Minnesota. After a single regular season game with the chocolate and white, Ericksson netted his first pro goal in the 1983 Calder Cup playoffs. He liked it so much, he scored two more to complete the hat trick.
Erickson spent half of the 1983-84 season in Hershey before landing the coveted NHL position with the Washington Capitals. In all, Erickson compiled 205 points in the NHL with the Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Ray Getliffe

One of your older Bear Alumni, Ray Getliffe had a very short run in Chocolatetown. When Getliffe arrived in Hershey during the 1938-39 season he was already an established NHL star with Boston Bruins. The talented forward was sent to Hershey on an injury rehabilitation assignment. In four games with the Bears, Getliffe picked up a goal and four assists. Then it was back to the NHL. Getliffe was an effective left winger and a Stanley Cup champion during his nine seasons. However, Getliffe may be best known for giving Montreal Canadien star Maurice Richard the nickname "Rocket."
Now 91 years old, the London, Ontario resident still plays golf and spent a day with the Stanley Cup earlier this summer.

Steve Scheifele

A hockey player from Greenbelt, Maryland? Sure. The following is the wacky hockey travels of "Scheif." Left Maryland to play junior in Stratford, Ontario. Drafted by the OHL Toronto Marlboros, decided to head to Boston College. The first non- New Englander recruit by the B.C. Eagles. Took time out his freshman year to wreck Brian Leetch's Volvo. Headed to Moscow as a member of the USA World Junior National Team. While in Russia played with John LeClair, Jeremy Roenick and other future NHL stars. Left Boston College early to sign with Bobby Clarke and the Philadelphia Flyers. Two years in the minors split between the Hershey Bears and the ECHL Richmond Renegades. Held the ECHL record for the fastest goal from the start of a game. Then it was over.
Today, Scheifele resides in Florida and is knee deep in the insurance game. Extra time is now spent out on his boat fishing the weekends away.
Steve's favorite websites www.fishreports.net & www.benjerry.com