Troy Mann

Troy Mann was named head coach of the Hershey Bears on Wednesday. Sean Simmers, The Patriot-News 2010

(SEAN SIMMERS, The Patriot-News 2010)

After a season away in the ECHL, Troy Mann is returning to the Hershey Bears

With a promotion.

The former Hershey assistant coach was named the team's new head coach on Wednesday. Former Bears captain Bryan Helmer was named as his assistant coach.

"

I'm ecstatic to be coming back, there's no doubt about that," Mann said. "I guess what a difference a year makes?

"

When you think about not getting it last year and having to be a head coach somewhere else and now, I don't think many people get that full-circle moment. It's almost like a full-circle thing now for us, for the family as well."

Mann, Hershey's assistant coach from 2009-13, became head coach of the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors last year after Mike Haviland was hired as Hershey's head coach. Haviland departed in May to become head coach at Colorado College.

Mann, 44, led the Condors to a winning season and a berth in the Western Conference finals, where they lost to eventual Kelly Cup champion Alaska, and maintained his viability as an AHL head coaching prospect.

Former defenseman Helmer, 41, captained Hershey to consecutive Calder Cups in 2008-09 and 2009-10. In 2009-10, he worked closely with Mann, who ran the defense corps.

Helmer retired after playing for the Springfield Falcons in 2012-13 and served as assistant coach of the OHL's Peterborough Petes in 2013-14.

Mann, who flew out of Los Angeles International Airport, is scheduled to arrive in Hershey Wednesday evening.

A 2 p.m. press conference is scheduled for Thursday at Giant Center to formally introduce Mann and Helmer.

More to come.

NOTEBOOK

Popular Hershey tough-guy winger Joel Rechlicz signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Minnesota Wild-Iowa Wild. Rechlicz played for Hershey in 2010-12 and 2012-14 and amassed 491 penalty minutes.

Former Bears winger Chris Bourque, who played in the KHL and Switzerland last season, signed a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Rangers-Hartford Wolf Pack. His younger brother, Ryan, is a Rangers prospect who has played for Hartford the past three seasons.

Maxine Payne, widow of late Bears broadcaster Bob Payne, died last Saturday at 72.

The AHL announced that more than $3.6 million was raised by the league and its 30 teams in 2013-14 for donations to charities and relief funds.