NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Orlando Solar Bears

Solar Bears Hold "BE GREAT Classic for Kids"

January 31, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release


Orlando, FL - The Orlando Solar Bears announced today that they will hold their first "BE GREAT Classic for Kids" Celebrity Hockey Game on Saturday, March 2, at 4:00 p.m. to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. The event will take place immediately preceding the Solar Bears 7:00 p.m. game against the Reading Royals at the Amway Center.

The "BE GREAT Classic for Kids" features 36 local players and features seven-time Stanley Cup Champion Bryan Trottier and NHL Veteran/Solar Bears Head Coach Drake Berehowsky. Former Solar Bears Bob Joyce and Allan Bester will play in the game as well. Participants will have the opportunity skate with both Trottier and Berehowsky during the game.

The game will begin at 4:00 p.m. at the Amway Center, immediately before the Solar Bears face the Reading Royals. Players who take part in the "BE GREAT Classic for Kids" will have the opportunity to play on the Amway Center Ice with hockey legend Trottier, Berehowsky, Bester and Joyce. During one of the intermissions of Orlando's contest, participants will be recognized on the ice with an award presentation.

The jerseys worn by Trottier, Berehowsky, Bester, and Joyce will be autographed and auctioned, with the proceeds going to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida.

"I am extremely honored to have an opportunity to part of the 'BE GREAT Classicfor Kids' in Orlando," said Trottier. "Solar Bears fans have shown their support for the team all season, and I am very excited to have this chance to interact with the Orlando fans."

"We are very excited to be working with Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida," said Solar Bears COO Bob Ohrablo. "This will provide and exciting opportunity for area adult hockey players to skate on the same ice with these legendary players and support the great programs that Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida offer."

Bryan Trottier played 18 seasons in the NHL with the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins, winning six Stanley Cups as a player with those two teams. He collected Stanley Cups in four straight seasons from 1980 through 1983. He signedwith the Pittsburg Penguins for the 1990-91 season, and won two more Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992. Trottier holds the NHL record for most points in a single period with six, when he scored four goals and added two assists in the second period against the New York Rangers on December 23, 1978. He is 15th all-time in points, registering 1,425 points in 1,279 games.

Following his playing career, Trottier became an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1993-94 through 1996-97. He was a head coach for one year with the Portland Pirates in the AHL (American Hockey League) in 1997-98, before joining the Colorado Avalanche as an assistant coach in 1998-99. Trottier collected his seventh career Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001, ending his time with the Avalanche the following season.

Berehowsky played 549 NHL games from 1990 through 2004, finishing his career with 848 penalty minutes (PIM), along with 37 goals and 112 assists for 149 points. Berehowsky was named the Most Outstanding Defenseman in the OHL (Ontario Hockey League), was a first team CHL (Canadian Hockey League) All-Star, and was the CHL Defenseman of the Year in 1991-92. He was drafted in the first round, #10 overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.

The Solar Bears first ECHL Head Coach served as an assistant coach with the Peoria Rivermen in the AHL for three seasons (2009-2012), and was also an assistant coach with the Barrie Colts in the OHL for the two seasons prior (2007-09).

Bester played three seasons for the Solar Bears from 1995-98, finishing with a record of 82-37-6 overall record. In 1996-97, he finished with a 2.54 GAA and .903 save percentage while going 37-13-3, leading Orlando to an appearance in the Conference Semi-Finals in just the team's second season. He played parts of 10 seasons in the NHL with Toronto, Detroit, and Dallas.

Joyce was a member of the Solar Bears in the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons, helping Orlando earn a trip to the Turner Cup Finals in their first season in 1996. During the 1996-97 season, Joyce finished sixth on the team in assists (33) and points (48) while also registering 98 PIM. He was selected in the fourth round (#82 overall) by the Boston Bruins in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. Joyce played five seasons in the NHL with Boston, Washington, and Winnipeg, scoring 34 goals and adding 49 assists for 83 points in 158 games.

For information on participating in the Be Great Classic for Kids, players can call the Solar Bears at 407-951-8200. Roster spots are limited and available on a first come first served basis. Spectators can visit www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com/begreat and enter code BEGREAT. A portion of all sales will be donated to Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. Tickets will be valid for the "BE GREAT Classic for Kids" and the Solar Bears vs. Reading Royals game at 7:00 p.m.

The Orlando Solar Bears, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild and AHL's Houston Aeros, play all of their home games at the 2012 Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year, the Amway Center.

Individual tickets for all regular season home games are on sale beginning as low as $15. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com or the Amway Center Box Office.

Check out the Orlando Solar Bears Statistics

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from January 31, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Orlando Solar Bears Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central