The Hershey Bears announced the signing of forward Luke Toporowski to a one-year contract on Friday.
Toporowski, 24, has spent the last three seasons in the AHL, split between the Iowa Wild and Providence Bruins. His best year came with the Bruins during the 2022-23 campaign when he recorded 29 points (15g, 14a) in 47 games.
The Boston Bruins initially signed Toporowski to a two-year, entry-level contract in 2023 out of the WHL, where he played five seasons for the Spokane Chiefs and Kamloops Blazers. Toporowski never saw any NHL action with Boston and was traded to the Minnesota Wild along with a sixth-round draft pick for veteran winger Pat Maroon at the 2024 NHL trade deadline.
In 53 games for the Wild this past year, Toporowski recorded 28 points (13g, 15a). He has 85 points (40g, 45a) in 166 career AHL games.
Toporowski has one prior connection to a future Bears teammate, playing with forward Graeme Clarke on the Wild this past season. The Capitals signed Clarke to a one-year contract earlier this month to help bolster Hershey’s depth for the 2025-26 season.
The still head-coach-less Bears now have 29 skaters and five goalies on their roster heading into the fall’s training camp.
Here’s the Hershey Bears’ full press release:
BEARS SIGN FORWARD LUKE TOPOROWSKI TO AHL CONTRACT
Former Providence and Iowa forward joins Hershey for 2025-26 season
(Hershey, PA – July 29, 2025) – The Hershey Bears announced that the club has signed forward Luke Toporowski to an American Hockey League contract for the 2025-26 season. The announcement was made by Hershey vice president of hockey operations Bryan Helmer.
Toporowski, 24, scored 28 points (13g, 15a) in 53 games for the Iowa Wild last season. The Bettendorf, Iowa native tied for first on the club in game-winning goals (4) and logged six multi-point games.
The 5’11”, 180-pound winger split the 2023-24 campaign between the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild organizations. He started the year with the AHL’s Providence Bruins, scoring 17 points (7g, 10a) in 49 games before being traded to Minnesota on March 8, 2024 for forward Patrick Maroon. With Iowa, he ended the season with 11 points (5g, 6a) in 17 games while becoming the first Iowa native to skate for the Wild in the franchise’s history.
In his rookie campaign with Providence in 2022-23, Toporowski posted his best AHL season, striking for 29 points (15g, 14a). He also scored two goals in four playoff games and earned an NHL contract with Boston after starting his pro career on an AHL deal with Providence.
Toporowski has scored 85 points (40g, 45a) in 166 career AHL games.
Prior to turning pro, Toporowski played parts of five seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Spokane Chiefs and Kamloops Blazers and spent one year with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League (USHL).
His dad, Kerry, played 12 seasons of professional hockey, including stints in the AHL with the Adirondack Red Wings and Portland Pirates before concluding his career with the United Hockey League’s (UHL) Quad City Mallards. His uncle Shayne played 372 AHL games with the St. John’s Maple Leafs, Worcester IceCats, and Springfield Falcons. His brother, Jake, is an assistant coach with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs, and prior to that, he was an assistant coach with the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers where he coached Washington Capitals prospect Ilya Protas.
