Chris Bourque not be returning to Hershey in 2018-19

Thursday evening Chris Bourque confirmed on Twitter he will not be a Hershey Bear this upcoming season.

“Thank you to all bears fans,” Bourque tweeted. “Was a thrill playing in front of all of you these past 3 Years! Hershey will always be a second home to my family! Till next time”

The 32-year-old leaves Hershey after his fourth stint with the franchise, spending three seasons this time in the Chocolate and White.

Bourque returned in 2015 after knocking the Bears from the playoffs with Hartford the season before. He would end up winning Most Valuable Player in his first year back with Hershey in the 2015-16 season. That same year marked his fifth Calder Cup Finals appearance.

The following year Bourque scored two huge goals for Hershey in the Calder Cup playoffs on his way to becoming the AHL’s all-time playoff assist leader.

In 2017-18, Bourque earned one of the biggest honors of his career: a call-up to the United States Olympic hockey team. A tough final year in Hershey finished with him missing the playoffs for the first time in his career.

Bourque is an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with any team. If this is the last time number 17 pulls on the Bears sweater, he leaves with an impressive resume. Fifth in all-time games played, seventh in all-time goals, third in all-time assists, fifth in all-time points with Hershey. Bourque is also the Bears all-time leading playoff scorer and almost guaranteed to have his number lifted to the rafters the day he decides to hang his skates up for good.