500 Games In: Shawn Fliszar Reflects on a Career Behind the Bench

For most Athletic Trainers, the work happens behind the scenes. But for Hershey Bears Head Athletic Trainer Shawn Fliszar, that work recently reached a major milestone—his 500th game in professional hockey.

“500 games in any league… is a lot,” Fliszar said. “So it was really special to share that with my family, teammates, and everybody.”

After eight seasons in professional hockey and six with the Bears, Fliszar said the moment gave him a chance to pause and reflect. Day to day, the years didn’t seem to add up—but looking back told a different story.

“When you look back at all of the teams… all the players I’ve met… it really actually feels like longer with all the memories,” he said.

While the milestone is impressive, Fliszar says the real highlight of his career isn’t the number of games—it’s the people.

“The most special things for me are the people along the way… the physicians, the players, just all the people in this community,” he said.

That sense of connection is what keeps him grounded in a profession that demands long hours and constant attention.

“We get to show up and be part of a sport… where everybody’s a little kid,” he said. “Helping people do that is just a lot of fun.”

For Fliszar, 500 games is just a checkpoint—not the finish line. Check out the ful story here!