HERSHEY, Pa. — His number 17 was retired and raised to the rafters in January. Six months later, Hershey Bears Hall of Famer Chris Bourque is back on skates for the 3ICE event at Giant Center.
The unique 3-on-3 format of the 3ICE event brings a wide-open, exciting style of hockey to fans of the Bourques and fans of the game. 3ICE features a three-on-three, bracket-style, single-elimination series of games featuring two, eight-minute periods with a running clock.
"The game never stops, which is cool. You see guys play, it's speed and offense all the time," said James Nies, a fan from Lititz.
The popular event made its return in Hershey with some big names that Hershey fans adore.
Team Bourque consisted of TJ Hensick (f), Cooper Zech (d), Ryan Bednard (g), Patrick Grasso (f), and Shane Harper (f). Team Bourque played Team Murphy, coached by former All-Star and Stanley Cup Champion Larry Murphy, featuring Hank Crone (f), Matt Register (d), Colton Hargrove (f), Mark Auk (d), Derek Barach (f), Max Gerlach (f), and Eamon McAdam (g).
It's not just the fans excited to be at GIANT Center either. With his name now permanently in the rafters, former Bear Chris Bourque was ecstatic to lace up his skates at his old den.
"[It's] so good to be back in Hershey. Obviously, [I] spent a lot of time here, my family loves coming back, it is just such a special feeling every time you come back here," Bourque told FOX43.
Hockey cuts deep in the Bourque family, from Stanley Cups to Hall of Fame entries. Dad, Ray Bourque, made his debut on the bench as coach while Chris took shifts on the ice. It's just another chapter to add to the family legacy.
"Hershey is a special place, Chris won three Calder Cups here and [had] a lot of success," reflected Ray. "We were able to live a lot of those moments with him as his family and then this past year they retired his jersey."
The other first round match up featured Team Mullen, coached by Stanley Cup Champion Joey Mullen, featuring Patrick Mullen (d), Joe Whitney (f), Paul Carey (f), Seamus Donohue (d), Parker Miler (g), Steven Whitney (f), and Cam Brown (f), against Team LeClair, coached by Stanley Cup Champion and former Philadelphia Flyer John LeClair, featuring Brandon Hawkins (f), Ian McCoshen (d), Brayden Watts (f), Colton Saucerman (d), Colin Theisen (f), Tim Coffman (f), and Max Milosek (g).
Steven and Joe Whitney also played for the Bears.
The winners of the two first-round games competed in the finals with the other two teams facing off in a consolation game.
Each 3ICE team is coached by a former NHL All-Star Stanley Cup Champion or Hockey Hall of Fame member, which also includes Grant Fuhr, Craig Patrick, Eddie Johnston, Sr., and Guy Carbonneau.