Hershey Bears forward Alex Limoges earned his first All-Star appearance earlier this week. He was named to the event to replace Ethen Frank, who has earned a stay in the NHL. It’s a well-deserved nod to Limoges, who has been a fan favorite and a reliable presence since joining the Bears. The scoring forward figures to be one of the most exciting additions to the event, which takes place on February 2-3.
Local Limoges
Although not from Hershey, Limoges is as local as it gets. A native of Winchester, Virginia, Limoges grew up playing hockey in the Little Caps program from 2010-13. He and former Bear Sam Anas both graduated through the program on their way to the pro ranks. His early career started a trend that would carry forward: producing a lot of points. He was a near point-per-game player over the three years within the program.
Winchester is just over two hours away from Hershey. With the Sweetest Place on Earth known for its long hockey lore, it’s no surprise Limoges made the trip over the years. Right around the time Limoges made his Little Caps debut, the Bears won back-to-back Calder Cups in 2009 and 2010.
“Growing up, I always followed the Hershey Bears,” Limoges told Hershey’s broadcast partner FOX43. “Played tournaments here, went to Bears games after, and played in the old rink. It was just such a cool experience for me. I grew up coming to the amusement park every summer.”
Limoges took the local ties to the next level, suiting up with the Penn State Nittany Lions team in the Big Ten Conference. Penn State’s hockey program joined the NCAA in 2012-13. Limoges became the first alumni of the program to play a regular season game for the Bears. His 50-point season in 2018-19 broke the program record for a single season. The mark finished tied for the national scoring lead.
All Roads Lead to Hershey
Undrafted, Limoges joined the San Diego Gulls on a tryout agreement for the back half of the 2020-21 campaign. It was a weird year to make his debut in the midst of the shortened season, but Limoges hit the ground running. He tallied four assists in his first three games, a sign of success to come. Limoges tallied 21 points (11 goals, ten assists) in 23 games as well as one assist in the Pacific Division Playoffs.
Limoges signed an AHL contract with the Gulls for 2021-22 and was productive despite a tough season. He tallied 40 points and 23 goals, the first of many times hitting the 20-goal mark. His success drew the eyes of the Winnipeg Jets, who signed him to his first NHL contract for the 2022-23 campaign. Limoges had his best season in the AHL in 2022-23, tallying 54 points (20 goals, 34 assists).
His career would come full-circle when the Capitals signed him over the summer of 2023. In 62 games with Hershey, Limoges hit a new career-best in goals with 24 in addition to 51 points. His biggest moments happened in the Calder Cup Playoffs as the Bears repeated as champions. Limoges had two assists in Games Five and Six of the Calder Cup Finals, setting up Jimmy Huntington’s winner in Game Five. He had two assists on Pierrick DubĂ©’s hat trick in the following game.
“Very proud of Alex,” Bears head coach Todd Nelson said. “He’s been a very solid player for us for two years. Very deserving, very smart player. He’s representing our hockey club and I know he’s excited to go to Coachella.”
Hard-Earned Honors
Limoges makes his living going to the dirty areas of the ice. More often than not, he’s pictured battling in front of the net or winning battles behind it. He’s skilled at getting deflections, quick passes down low, and freeing up space for his teammates. Photos by The Calder Times photographer Carl Minieri show him in his office making those plays.
Limoges is off to a great start in 2024-25. He had a six-game point streak upon his return from injury to start the new calendar year. In Hershey’s most recent outing, Limoges tallied three points (one goal, two assists) to lead the team to a 5-3 victory. The goal gives him ten as he looks for his fourth straight season with 20 or more goals.
It’s safe to say the Bears are a much more dangerous team with Limoges on the ice. During his time out of action due to injury, Hershey’s offense dipped in production and wasn’t the same. The team was dealing with multiple injuries at that time, but it’s no surprise it bounced back once he returned. Hershey has scored four or more goals in eight of ten games since he returned.
Limoges brings so much to the table for Hershey’s offense. As the Bears prepare to battle through the second half and towards the postseason, Limoges will be a key contributor to another long run.
