Aaron Douglas Ness (born May 18, 1990) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman and captain for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected by the New York Islanders in the 2nd round (40th overall) of the 2008 NHL entry draft.
| Aaron Ness | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Ness with the Arizona Coyotes in 2019 | |||
| Born |
May 18, 1990 Roseau, Minnesota, U.S.[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| AHL team Former teams |
Hershey Bears New York Islanders Washington Capitals Arizona Coyotes | ||
| National team |
 United States | ||
| NHL draft |
40th overall, 2008 New York Islanders | ||
| Playing career | 2011–2026 | ||
Playing career
editNess played High School hockey at Roseau High School in Roseau, Minnesota, and in 2008 he received the Minnesota Mr. Hockey award as the most outstanding senior high school hockey player in the state of Minnesota.[2] In an effort to be able to play collegiate hockey one year earlier than projected, Ness accelerated his course load during his junior year of high school in order to graduate early. A combination of 8 classes at school as well as 3.5 credits online, however, did not stop him from leading his team to a fourth-place finish at the 2008 2A State Tournament.[3] Ness then attended the University of Minnesota, where he played three seasons of NCAA Division I college hockey with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
On March 16, 2011, the New York Islanders signed Ness to a three-year entry-level contract.[4] In the 2014–15 season, Ness served as team captain of AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.[5]
On July 1, 2015, Ness left the Islanders organization as a free agent and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Washington Capitals.[6] He later re-signed with the Capitals on May 16, 2018, to another one-year two-way contract.[7]
The Capitals called Ness up from Hershey on November 8, 2018, together with fellow defenceman Jonas Siegenthaler, to be available to play against the Columbus Blue Jackets the next night at home in his first NHL game.[8] Veteran Caps defencemen Brooks Orpik (injured reserve) and John Carlson (day-to-day) were both unavailable to play.[9]
After four seasons within the Capitals organization, Ness left as a free agent to sign a two-year, two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes on July 1, 2019.[10]
Having left the Coyotes organization as a free agent, Ness was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Providence Bruins on September 30, 2021, and was invited to the Boston Bruins training camp on a professional try-out.[11] He was later signed to an AHL contract with affiliate, the Providence Bruins.
On July 5, 2022, Ness as a free agent, opted to continue his career in the AHL by returning to his former club, the Hershey Bears, on July 5, 2022.[12]
On October 23, 2024, Ness was promoted to captain of the Hershey Bears, after Dylan McIlrath went up to Washington.[13]
On June 2, 2026, Ness announced his retirement from professional ice hockey.[14]
Personal life
editAaron's father, Jay, also grew up in Roseau and played collegiate hockey for the University of North Dakota. Jay was drafted in the 7th round of the 1982 draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.[15][16]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2005–06 | Roseau High School | HS-MN | 30 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Roseau High School | HS-MN | 31 | 13 | 38 | 51 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Roseau High School | HS-MN | 31 | 28 | 44 | 72 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | U.S. NTDP U18 | USDP | 9 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | University of Minnesota | WCHA | 37 | 2 | 15 | 17 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | University of Minnesota | WCHA | 39 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | University of Minnesota | WCHA | 35 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 13 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 69 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2011–12 | New York Islanders | NHL | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 76 | 3 | 24 | 27 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 48 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | New York Islanders | NHL | 20 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 74 | 8 | 37 | 45 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 62 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 22 | 21 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 12 | ||
| 2015–16 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 51 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 55 | 4 | 25 | 29 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 71 | 5 | 50 | 55 | 40 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | Tucson Roadrunners | AHL | 17 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Arizona Coyotes | NHL | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Arizona Coyotes | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Providence Bruins | AHL | 55 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 69 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 44 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | ||
| 2023–24 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 68 | 4 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 52 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 34 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||
| 2025–26 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 38 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| AHL totals | 818 | 61 | 278 | 339 | 449 | 81 | 2 | 17 | 19 | 44 | ||||
| NHL totals | 72 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | United States | WJC18 |  |
7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2022 | United States | OG | 5th | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | ||||
| Senior totals | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
Awards and honors
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Aaron Ness draft prospect detail". Washington Capitals. April 3, 2016. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
- ↑ Minnesota Wild. "Roseau's Aaron Ness named 2008 Mr. Hockey". Minnesota Wild. Archived from the original on March 11, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2008.
- ↑ Rand, Michael. "BOYS' HOCKEY NOTES; Aaron Ness of Roseau wins Mr. Hockey award." Star Tribune [Minneapolis, MN] 10 Mar. 2008: 10C.Business Insights: Essentials. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.
- ↑ "Islanders Agree to Terms on Entry-Level Contract with Ness". New York Islanders. March 11, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
- ↑ "Isles Defense gets another injury as Dallas comes calling". EyesOnIsles.com. December 15, 2011. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
- ↑ "Capitals sign Carter Camper, Aaron Ness, Mike Moore and Sean Collins". Washington Capitals. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
- ↑ "Capitals re-sign defenceman Aaron Ness to two-way deal". sportsnet.ca. May 16, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- ↑ "Capitals Recall Ness and Siegenthaler from Hershey". NHL.com. November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ↑ Oland, Ian (November 9, 2018). "John Carlson out day-to-day with lower-body injury, Jonas Siegenthaler to make NHL debut". Russian Machine Never Breaks. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ↑ "Coyotes sign Miele, Ness and Bennett". Arizona Coyotes. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- ↑ Mark Divver (September 30, 2021). "Providence signs Ness and Dougherty to AHL contracts". Twitter. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- ↑ "Aaron Ness returns to Hershey". Hershey Bears. July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ↑ "Hershey Bears Name Aaron Ness Captain". October 23, 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ↑ "Aaron Ness Announces Retirement from Professional Hockey | NEWS | Hershey Bears Hockey". www.hersheybears.com. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- ↑ Spiros, Dean. "Taking the fast track to stardom; Acceleration is at the forefront for Roseau's Aaron Ness, be it on the ice or in the classroom."Star Tribune [Minneapolis, MN] 8 Feb. 2008: 01C. Business Insights: Essentials. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.
- ↑ Jay Ness at eliteprospects.com. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2019, from https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/194976/jay-ness.
- ↑ "All-Academic Team". EliteProspects.com. April 13, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
- ↑ "2018-19 American Hockey League First and Second All-Star Teams Named". OurSports Central. April 11, 2019.
- ↑ "Sweeter by the dozen: Hershey wins 12th Calder Cup". American Hockey League. June 21, 2023. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ↑ "It Bears repeating: Hershey wins Calder Cup again". American Hockey League. June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.[permanent dead link]
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- Aaron Ness profile and statistics at TheAHL.com