Jeff Buchanan

Defenseman Jeff Buchanan was never drafted by an NHL team but still had a long professional career. He spent a lot of time on the ice as a rookie with Gretzky. His 282 penalty minutes indicate he was there to protect Gretzky. That's Brent Gretzky of the Atlanta Knights. In 1992, he came out of the Western Hockey League and signed on with the Atlanta Knights of the International Hockey League. For the next seven season the Swift Current native toiled in the "I" never getting the shot at the NHL.
In 1998, Buchanan made the switch to the American Hockey League and the Hershey Bears. Buchanan played in only 38 games for the Bears, but something very important happened in his final professional season. The Colorado Avalanche summoned Buchanan from Hershey and he played in six NHL games. He didn't score any points and only managed to pick up 3 minor penalties. However, he made it.
Today, Buchanan remains in Central Pennsylvania. He , like former Bear Mark Freer, works as an Account Manager for Wealth Management of Hershey.

Len Barrie

What former Hershey Bear player from the early 1990's hit it the biggest? Tim Tookey? Dominic Roussel ? Tommy Soderstrom? No, none of them made it nearly as big as Len Barrie.

The British Columbia native spent three seasons with the Bears and managed to play in 184 games in the National Hockey League.

Barrie's best season in Hershey was a 42 goal season in 1991-92. However, the 76 point season a year later was also impressive considering he only played 61 games.

Today, Barrie is a real estate developer in Vernon, British Columbia. He is a partner in the Bear Mountain Resort and has successfully invested for numerous former teammates and players. The Bear Mountain Resort has become Western Canada's largest resort devolopment.

In June of 2008, Barrie became part owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning Club.

The former Bear star is married with two children. His son, Tyson, plays in the Western Hockey League with the Kelowna Rockets.

Barrie spends his free time on the golf course and boasts a six handicap.

Hershey Bears Steve Scheifele Book Released

A 118 page book chronicling the life and times of Steve Scheifele has been released through Blurb.com. The book , Which is available in soft and hardcover, reviews the career of Scheifele before and after his two seasons playing with the Hershey Bears in the early 1990's. The publication has over 100 photos and images that take you from age 5 to just a few months ago.
Seldom seen photos from the Philadelphia Flyers, 1988 World Junior Championships in Moscow and tons of photos from a private collection.
The Greenbelt, Maryland native played for the Stratford Cullitons, Boston College Eagles, Hershey Bears, Richmond Renegades and even a call up for the Philadelphia Flyers when they faced the famed Central Red Army of the Soviet Union.
A preview and ordering information is available on the Blurb.com website or the author can be reached at scheifelebook@hotmail.com for additional information.

Blair Atcheynum

Blair Atcheynum played a single season with the Hershey Bears. The season, as any recent fan will remember, was the Calder Cup championship season of 1996-97. The 87 points he scored were the most he would tally for a team as a professional. As a junior in the Western Hockey League Atcheynum scored 138 points during the 1988-89 season. However, to Hershey fans, he will be best remembered for his triple overtime goal against the Philadelphia Phantoms. During his single season with the Bears, the Estevan, Sask. native scored 42 times. The season in the AHL with the Bears provided the opportunity to take a run at the NHL. The right winger went on to play in St. Louis, Nashville an Chicago. In an NHL career that spanned 196 games, Atcheynum scored 60 points on 27 goals and 33 assists. His final professional season came in 2000-2001.
Today, Atcheynum was returned to Western Canada and serves as Assistant Coach for the junior Battlefords North Stars.