The Hershey Jr. Bears and Central Penn Panthers have come to an agreement to allow the Hershey Jr. Bears to purchase the Associate Membership for the Tier I Youth Program in the Atlantic Youth Hockey League. Hershey Jr. Bears will own and manage all the Youth levels in Tier I from Squirts through Midgets. The Central Penn Panthers will continue to own and operate the Junior B hockey team franchise.

Playing in the Tier I Atlantic Youth Hockey league is a wonderful opportunity for the youth players of the mid- state area to compete at the highest level available through USA Hockey. The Hershey Jr. Bears Ice Hockey Club has acquired this Associate Membership from the Central Penn Panthers to commit to all levels of youth interested in competing at Tier I Ice hockey and to offer the highly motivated athlete a successful program where a premier level of competition can be obtained.

More information and the tryout dates will be posted online by Friday, April 4th at www.hersheyjrbears.org.

Central Penn is retaining the "rights" to the U-16 Tier I Midget team for this season only (08-09). The complete transformation will be in 09-10.

Central Penn keeping the Jr teams? Or will they eventually become Hershey also.

I think this is a good move, Hershey is a good org and nice to see them work something out for the kids out there.

CPP is keeping the Jr Team. Hershey had the Jr Bears (Empire) a few years ago and, well, couldn't make a go of it.