Former Boston Bruins' coach and Hockey Hall of Fame member (elected 1971) Ralph "Cooney" Weiland guided Hershey throughout the war years winning regular season titles in 1942–43 and 1943–44. The Bears' 13 losses in a 1942–43 are still the fewest by the club in a single season while Wally Kilrea's 99 points (31-68) that season gave Hershey its first of ten AHL scoring champions. Hershey won their first of 11 Calder Cup titles in 1947 under second year coach Don Penniston while also winning their fourth Division title in just nine seasons that year dominating the AHL's East with 84 points (25 more than second place Springfield) on a record of 36–16–12 behind All Star goalie Harvey Bennett, Sr. In the play offs Hershey defeated the Western Division champion Cleveland Barons in a four-game first round sweep outscoring them 24–3 before winning the Calder Cup finals in seven games over the Pittsburgh Hornets.