First Nation defenceman plays minor pro while yearning for return to NHL

Ethan Bear is hoping his road back to the National Hockey League goes through the Ontario city of Hamilton.

The 29-year-old defenceman, a member of Ochapowace Nation in Saskatchewan who last played in the NHL in March of 2024, started the 2026-27 season with the Hamilton Hammers, which competes in the American Hockey League (AHL).

The AHL is the continent’s top minor pro hockey circuit. The Hammers are the top affiliate for the NHL’s New York Islanders.

This marks the first year the Hammers are playing in Hamilton. They relocated during the off-season from Connecticut, where they were known as the Bridgeport Islanders.

Bear played the second half of last season in Bridgeport. He had started the season on the injured reserve list and was cleared to play for Bridgeport last December.

Bear, who has appeared in 283 NHL games during his pro career, spent portions of three seasons in the league with the Edmonton Oilers and one year with the Vancouver Canucks.

He’s pretty happy to be playing back in Canada again.

“It’s really good actually,” Bear said on Oct. 9, following the Hammers’ first regular season home game, a 5-4 shootout loss against the Toronto Marlies at Hamilton’s TD Coliseum.  “It’s been a lot of fun so far. The familiarities with the country are great.”

More than 14,000 fans attended the Hammers’ home opener. Hamilton last had an AHL franchise 10 years ago.

“The people watching hockey know hockey,” Bear said of supporters of the Hamilton club. “They know what to cheer for. They know what’s good and what’s not good. And you know what? That’s exciting. It gives you something to play for and that’s really it. That’s all you want as players. Play in front of a crowd and you want to win for them because at the end of the day without them it wouldn’t be fun.”

Bear also praised those who attended the Hammers’ home opener.

“That felt like an NHL game,” he said. “That’s what they want here in Hamilton and, I think, as a team we take a lot of pride in trying to deliver that every single night.”

The atmosphere was boosted by the fact the defending AHL champion Marlies provided the opposition for the Hammers’ opener. 

The two clubs, who will have a natural rivalry because of their proximity, will square off a total of 10 times in regular season action this year.

“I think we have a good team this year and the Toronto Marlies are a good team and a good organization every year,” Bear added. “It was a good game. It was a close game. There’s some things to clean up, but over-all it was a good experience.”

Some upper-body injuries in recent years have prevented Bear from playing in the NHL.

“I have definitely lost a step right now, but I’ve also had so much time of really doing nothing, being restricted,” he said. “So, I’m going to do whatever I can this year to try my best to get that back.”

Bear believes the AHL, where teams play a 72-game schedule as opposed to the NHL where squads play 84 matches, is the best place for him right now.

“There’s not as many games and there’s more time to get in the gym, work on the strength and work on my explosiveness,” he said.

Bear added he is putting in the necessary work to get better.

“Every time I’m on the ice and in every practice I’m skating as hard as I can and just pushing the limits,” he said. “And that’s what it’s going to take if I want to give myself a chance to get back into the NHL.”

Bear also said he’s happy to be a member of the Hammers. Many of those who were with the Bridgeport club last season have joined Bear and the team’s move to Hamilton.

“We have a good culture, good leadership, so it’s been good,” he said.  “I’m happy to be back here with this organization for the second year.”

Jay McKee, a former NHL player who is in his first season as a head coach in the pro ranks, speaks highly of Bear and said that he brings “a ton of veteran leadership” to the squad.

“He's a great character guy in the dressing room, very well liked,” McKee added. “(He’s got) poise on the ice, really good vision, playmaking, is a guy that can play all situations for you and yeah, a ton of experience. So, it’s a pleasure to have him around, that's for sure.”

McKee was asked whether he felt Bear would get a chance to return to the NHL this season.

“That's not my decision,” he said. “For us as coaches, we try and develop all these guys as best we can.”

McKee said if the Islanders do come to the Hammers asking to call up a defenceman, he would provide some input to Mathieu Darche and Evan Gold, who are serving as the general manager and assistant general manager, respectively, for the New York franchise.

Bear has earned two points, a goal and an assist, in the Hammers’ first four matches this season.

Hamilton’s next game is Oct. 16 against the visiting Rochester Americans.