Bears sign Whitmore to AHL deal

The Hershey Bears announced today that the club has signed forward Derek Whitmore to an American Hockey League contract for the 2013-14 season.

Whitmore, 28, began the 2012-13 season dressing in seven games with the AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps, registering a goal and three assists. He also recorded 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 26 games with Augsburg in Germany.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound native of Rochester, N.Y., spent his first four professional seasons in the Buffalo Sabres organization, and tallied 86 goals and 66 assists for 152 points in 325 AHL games with Portland and Rochester, including a 27-goal campaign in 2010-11 and a 28-goal effort in 2011-12. Whitmore has added 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 24 career Calder Cup Playoff contests.

Whitmore made his NHL debut with the Sabres in 2011-12 and was scoreless in two games.