Aaron Ness

Aaron Ness
Ness with the Arizona Coyotes in 2019
Born (1990-05-18) May 18, 1990 (age 34)
Roseau, Minnesota, U.S.[1]
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots 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–present

Aaron Douglas Ness (born May 18, 1990) is an American 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.

Playing career

Ness 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]

Personal life

Aaron'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.[14][15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

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
NHL totals 72 1 6 7 22 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2008 United States WJC18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 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

Award Year
College
WCHA All-Academic Team 2010–11[16]
AHL
Second All-Star Team 2018–19[17]
Calder Cup 2023, 2024 [18][19]

References

  1. ^ "Aaron Ness draft prospect detail". Washington Capitals. April 3, 2016. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  2. ^ Minnesota Wild. "Roseau's Aaron Ness named 2008 Mr. Hockey". Minnesota Wild. Archived from the original on March 11, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2008.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Islanders Agree to Terms on Entry-Level Contract with Ness". New York Islanders. March 11, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Capitals sign Carter Camper, Aaron Ness, Mike Moore and Sean Collins". Washington Capitals. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  7. ^ "Capitals re-sign defenceman Aaron Ness to two-way deal". sportsnet.ca. May 16, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  8. ^ "Capitals Recall Ness and Siegenthaler from Hershey". NHL.com. November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Coyotes sign Miele, Ness and Bennett". Arizona Coyotes. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  11. ^ Mark Divver (September 30, 2021). "Providence signs Ness and Dougherty to AHL contracts". Twitter. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  12. ^ "Aaron Ness returns to Hershey". Hershey Bears. July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  13. ^ "Hershey Bears Name Aaron Ness Captain". October 23, 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Jay Ness at eliteprospects.com. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2019, from https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/194976/jay-ness.
  16. ^ "All-Academic Team". EliteProspects.com. April 13, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  17. ^ "2018-19 American Hockey League First and Second All-Star Teams Named". OurSports Central. April 11, 2019.
  18. ^ "Sweeter by the dozen: Hershey wins 12th Calder Cup". American Hockey League. June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  19. ^ "It Bears repeating: Hershey wins Calder Cup again". American Hockey League. June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Minnesota Mr. Hockey
2007–08 		Succeeded by
Sporting positions
Preceded by Hershey Bears captain
2024–present 		Incumbent