Fresno Falcons Sign Veteran Forward Sterling Bear

FRESNO, Calif. — The Fresno Falcons have added another veteran presence to their forward group, signing Canadian right wing Sterling Bear ahead of the 2026-27 Federal Prospects Hockey League season.

Bear, a native of Martensville, Saskatchewan, brings an extensive hockey background to Fresno that stretches from the Western Hockey League and multiple levels of Canadian Junior A hockey to more than a decade of senior competition in Saskatchewan. The 5-foot-11, 194-pound right-handed winger has built his game around a combination of offensive ability, experience and a willingness to play a physical brand of hockey.

Bear's path began at the major-junior level after the Lethbridge Hurricanes selected him in the eighth round, 155th overall, of the 2005 WHL Bantam Draft. He appeared in two games for Lethbridge during the 2005-06 season and was later involved in a WHL trade that sent his rights to the Seattle Thunderbirds.

From there, Bear developed through several of Western Canada's prominent Junior A leagues.

During the 2009-10 season with the Miramichi Timberwolves, Bear broke out offensively with 15 goals and 23 assists for 38 points in 37 games, while accumulating 197 penalty minutes. That season provided an early look at the combination that has followed Bear throughout his career: offensive production coupled with a noticeable physical presence.

Bear later spent time with the Quesnel Millionaires of the BCHL before joining the Melfort Mustangs in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. With Melfort in 2010-11, Bear recorded four goals and 17 assists for 21 points in 27 regular-season games, adding another appearance on the scoresheet during the postseason.

His performance ultimately earned him a commitment to the Louisiana IceGators of the Southern Professional Hockey League, giving Bear an opportunity to continue his career at the professional level. He also earned an invitation out of a Stockton Thunder free-agent tryout, where he was one of 11 players selected to advance following the camp. Bear would go on to become a prolific scorer in Saskatchewan senior hockey.

Playing for the Esterhazy Flyers in 2012-13, Bear produced an outstanding 41 goals and 24 assists for 65 points in only 16 regular-season games, finishing as the Triangle Hockey League's leading scorer. His 65-point campaign remains among the highest-scoring individual seasons recorded in the league.

He followed that performance with another productive season for Esterhazy, recording 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in 13 total games during the 2013-14 campaign. Across his time with the Flyers, Bear has accumulated more than 100 regular-season points, including 56 goals, while averaging well above a point per game.

More importantly for Fresno, Bear has continued producing in recent seasons. With the Midale Mustangs in 2024-25, he led the club with seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 13 regular-season games. Including postseason play, Bear finished the year with 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 16 games, once again demonstrating his ability to contribute offensively.

Bear returned to Esterhazy during the 2025-26 season, continuing a career that has now covered more than two decades of competitive hockey. His recent production adds another layer of experience to a Fresno roster being built for the challenges of its inaugural FPHL season.

For the Falcons, Bear offers more than experience alone. He has shown throughout his career that he can create offense, distribute the puck and play through contact. His history of both point production and penalty minutes reflects a player comfortable competing in difficult areas of the ice and playing with an edge.

That combination should translate naturally to the physical style of the FPHL.

Bear now heads to Fresno looking to write the next chapter of a career that has taken him across junior, professional and senior hockey and add another experienced weapon to the Falcons' forward group as the club prepares for opening night.

The Fresno Falcons begin their inaugural FPHL season on Friday, October 9, against Oceanside HC at Selland Arena.

For season ticket information, contact tickets@fresnofalconshockey.com.

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