January 14, 2016

HERSHEY, Pa. – The Hershey Bears announced today that forward Scott Gomez has been signed to a professional tryout agreement. The announcement was made by Bears president/general manager Doug Yingst.

The 36-year-old Gomez brings a storied career to his first-ever stint in the American Hockey League. Dressing in 21 games with the St. Louis Blues this season, he recorded eight points (one goal, seven assists). In 2014-15, Gomez returned to the team that drafted him – the New Jersey Devils – and recorded 34 points (seven goals, 27 assists) in 58 games, finishing tied for third on the team in scoring.

Gomez, a native of Anchorage, Alaska, has dressed in 1,066 National Hockey League regular-season games with the Devils, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, and Blues. He has amassed 755 points (181 goals, 574 assists) over parts of 16 seasons, and added 101 points (29 goals, 72 assists) in 149 career Stanley Cup playoff contests. Gomez was a member of the Devils’ 2000 and 2003 Stanley Cup championship teams, won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1999-2000 as the league’s rookie of the year and played in the 2000 and 2008 NHL All-Star games.

Internationally, Gomez was a member of Team USA at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games held in Turin, Italy. He also represented Team USA at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

Gomez only spent two professional seasons outside of the National Hockey League in his career. During the NHL lockout years of 2004-05 and 2012-13, he returned to his home state to play for the ECHL’s Alaska Aces. In a total of 72 games, he produced 99 points (19 goals, 80 assists), was named to the 2004-05 ECHL First All-Star Team, and went on to garner league MVP honors while leading the league in scoring that same year.

Prior to turning pro, Gomez played two years of junior hockey with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans from 1997-1999. He piled up 157 points (42 goals, 115 assists) in 103 games, earning a berth on the WHL West First All-Star Team.

Gomez was originally selected by the Devils in the first round (27th overall) of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.