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Three former Hershey Bears players were officially inducted into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame on Wednesday (February 11) in Rockford, Illinois. Chris Bourque, Alexandre Giroux, and Wendell Young joined Jim Wiemer as the Class of 2026 during a ceremony at the Coronado Theatre.
The induction took place as part of the festivities at the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic presented by BMO, hosted by the Rockford IceHogs.
Chris Bourque, son of Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, established his own legendary career in the AHL as a three-time Calder Cup winner with the Bears. Bourque won his first championship as a rookie in 2006 and played starring roles on Hershey's back-to-back championship teams in 2009 and 2010. The two-time league scoring champion and MVP finished his career with 746 points in 794 regular-season games.
Alexandre Giroux was one of the AHL's most prolific goal scorers, ranking seventh all-time with 368 career goals. His 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons with Hershey were historically dominant, as he led the Bears to consecutive Calder Cups while setting numerous records. Giroux became just the fifth player in league history to score 60 goals in a single season and set an AHL record by scoring goals in 15 straight games.
Wendell Young's AHL legacy spans both his playing career and front office work. During the 1987-88 season with Hershey, Young posted a 33-15-1 record and was named the league's outstanding goaltender. He then led the Bears on a perfect 12-0 playoff run to capture the Calder Cup, earning MVP honors in the process. Young later won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins and has spent the past 32 years with the Chicago Wolves organization in various roles.
"It's a huge honor. It's a proud moment for myself, my family and everyone else who has contributed to my career," Young said of his induction. "Seeing the names who are in the AHL Hall of Fame, it's humbling. It's almost surreal to see your name among the other inductees."
Both Bourque and Giroux were previously announced as inductees for the Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame's Class of 2025 and will be enshrined in a pregame ceremony on Saturday, December 6, at GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
The AHL Hall of Fame was formed in 2006 to recognize individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the league. Nearly 90 percent of NHL players each year are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 130 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent time in the AHL during their careers.