Career
He was selected to the AHL All Star Team five consecutive years. In 1987 he was awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy for his lifelong commitment to hockey in the United States. Mathers retired from the Bears in 1991 after 35 years with the Hershey Bears (17 as a coach, with the first 6 as a player/coach, and 18 as general manager/team president).
The Bears have retired number 3 in his honor.
Mathers was also inducted as a charter member or the AHL Hall of Fame in 2006 in Winnipeg. Mathers also played professional football in the Canadian Football League. He was a fullback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Rough Riders.