Bears sign Chris Bourque for 2017-18

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The Hershey Bears announced Tuesday that forward Chris Bourque has signed an AHL contract with the club for the 2017-18 season.

Last season, Bourque played all 76 regular-season games for Hershey, tallying 18 goals and 42 assists for 60 points. He added six goals and four assists for 10 points in 12 postseason games for the Bears.

Bourque, 31, ranks 33rd on the AHL’s all-time scoring list with 639 points (219 goals, 420 assists) in 658 career games with Hershey, Hartford, Providence and Portland. Entering his 13th pro season, Bourque won AHL MVP honors in 2015-16 and has captured two scoring titles (2011-12, 2015-16), three Calder Cup championships (2006, 2009, 2010) and one postseason MVP award (2010).

Bourque has also played in five AHL All-Star Classics and has been named a First Team AHL All-Star three times.

In addition to his regular-season scoring, Bourque is the AHL’s all-time leader in playoff assists (82) and ranks fourth in points (117) and second in games played (133) in Calder Cup Playoff history.

Originally a second-round draft choice by Washington in 2004, Bourque has recorded two goals and six assists in 51 career NHL games with Washington, Pittsburgh and Boston.