

HERSHEY, PA – Hershey Bears President and GM Doug Yingst shares a laugh with Mike Moore during the 2015 Hershey Bears award ceremony. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

During Hershey Bears opening night ceremonies, team President and General Manager Doug Yingst announced he will be retiring at the end of the 2015-16 season.

This season will be Yingst’s 34th with the organization, spending the last 18 as president and gm. In 1996, Yingst was named general manager of the hockey club, winning a Calder Cup that season, his first of four in that position with the Bears. Those four Calder Cup victories as GM is tied for most in AHL history.

Yingst has won many awards during his time in Hershey, as well as helping lead the Hershey Jr. Bears Quebec team to three titles at the Quebec Pee-Wee International Cup tournament. He originally started out as sales and promotions director for the Bears in 1982 before being named assistant GM in 1988 under Frank Mathers.

The Bears have not named a replacement for Yingst at this time.