He is dead. The head coach of the Hershey Bears team has just announced the death of his best player.
HERSHEY, Pennsylvania (WHTM) – Charles “Chuck” George Hamilton, former Hershey Bears player and head coach, died at the age of 84. Hamilton spent seven seasons with the Bears from 1963 to 1970 and leads the franchise in several statistics. Hamilton scored 77 goals and 161 assists (tied for 32nd) in 459 games (19th most for any Bear), for a total of 238 points (tied for 40th).
The Kirkland Lake, Ontario native helped the Bears win their fourth Calder Cup in 1969. Hamilton had a career-high 74 points that season (28 goals and 46 assists). Hamilton went on to coach hockey after finishing his playing career. Hamilton was hired the seventh head coach of the Hershey Bears on August 21, 1973. In only his first season as Hershey’s head coach, he guided the team to its fifth Calder Cup. Hamilton led the squad to a 39-23-14 regular season record and a 12-2 postseason mark. Hamilton received the AHL’s Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award for the 1975-1976 season for being the league’s finest coach and leading the Bears to their 14th Calder Cup Finals appearance.
The 2016 Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame inductee coached for portions of six seasons, from 1973 to 1979. Hamilton finished with a record of 187-199-52 in 438 games. Hamilton will be recognized as one of the “greats” of Hershey, with 187 wins ranking second in franchise history.
