
Bear Bites - Solar Bears Update
March 14, 2022 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Solar Bears continue a four-game road trip this week when they close out their regular season series with the first-place Atlanta Gladiators, before returning to the Sunshine State for a pair of weekend games against the Florida Everblades.
THIS WEEK'S GAMES:
Tuesday, March 15 at Atlanta Gladiators - 10 a.m.
Friday, March 18 at Florida Everblades - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 19 at Florida Everblades - 7 p.m.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Monday, March 14 at RDV Sportsplex Ice Den - 8 a.m. (travel day)
Tuesday, March 15 at Gas South Arena - Gameday
Wednesday, March 16 - Day off
Thursday, March 17 at RDV Sportsplex Ice Den - 10 a.m.
Friday, March 18 at RDV Sportsplex Ice Den - Morning skate/Gameday
All Solar Bears practices at the RDV Sportsplex Ice Den are open to the public. Practice times are subject to change.
Purchase single-game tickets for the 2021-22 season!
The Orlando Solar Bears, along with VyStar Credit Union, have announced the launch of a co-branded debit card, available now for all VyStar Credit Union members.
Fans can get a Solar Bears debit card when they open a VyStar account with a minimum balance of $5 at any branch location. They can also apply for membership online at apply.vystarcu.org but will need to visit a branch to get a Solar Bears card. Current members can request a co-branded card by visiting a branch, calling 800-445-6289 or speaking to a VyChat representative at www.vystarcu.org.
AT A GLANCE
SEASON RECORD: 29-24-4-0 (.544)
LAST WEEK'S RECORD: 1-2-0-0
RECORD IN LAST 10 GAMES: 4-5-1-0
SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS: 4th of 7
ACTIVE LEADERS
TOP SCORER: Tristin Langan - 37 points
MOST GOALS: Tyler Bird & Luke Boka - 14
MOST ASSISTS: Michael Brodzinski - 29 assists
PIM LEADER: Luke McInnis - 51 PIM
PLUS-MINUS LEADER: Tyler Bird - +10
LAST WEEK'S GAMES:
Wednesday, March 9 at Jacksonville Icemen: 4-2 W
Nolan Valleau scored a power-play goal for his first of the season and Maxim Cajkovic broke a 2-2 tie in the second period as the Solar Bears capped a five-game road trip with a victory over the Icemen.
Thursday, March 10 vs. Jacksonville Icemen: 3-0 L
The Solar Bears put 24 shots on net, but were unable to solved goaltender Francois Brassard, who blanked Orlando for his first ECHL shutout.
Saturday, March 13 at Florida Everblades: 6-5 L
Dylan Fitze and Maxim Cajkovic scored in the first period to help Orlando take a 2-1 lead, but the Everblades scored three power-play goals and Joe Pendenza recorded a hat trick to put Florida ahead 6-3. Orlando got two goals in the final minute of regulation to pull to within one, but time ran out before the Solar Bears could net the tying score.
BITES:
Maxim Cajkovic led the Solar Bears in scoring last week with four points (2g-2a) in three games.
Orlando is 2-3-0-0 against Atlanta, with Tuesday's game serving as the final meeting of the regular season series.
The Solar Bears are 5-6-0-0 against Florida, with four games remaining in the regular season series.
Tristin Langan needs one more goal to pass Joe Perry (2016-18; 53) for sole possession of the most goals in club history.
Orlando has a record of 20-3-2-0 when scoring first; Orlando's point percentage of .840 when scoring first leads the Eastern Conference.
Brad Barone leads the ECHL with 22 wins; his next victory will tie Clint Windsor (2020-21) for the most wins by a Solar Bears goaltender in a single season; he needs 25 saves to tie Ryan Massa (2016-17) for the most saves by a Solar Bears netminder in a single season.
The Solar Bears lead the ECHL with 18 wins when tied after the first period.
Michael Brodzinski leads all ECHL defensemen with four unassisted goals.
Following this week, eight of Orlando's remaining 11 games will be on home ice.
BEARS IN THE NHL:
Several former Solar Bears currently occupy spots on NHL rosters for the 2021-22 season - here we will track their progress:
Hugo Alnefelt* - Goaltender - Tampa Bay Lightning - 1 GP, 0-0-0, .700%
Zach Fucale* - Goaltender - Washington Capitals - 4 GP, 1-1-1, .924%
Christopher Gibson* - Goaltender - Florida Panthers - 0 GP, 0-0-0, .000%
Connor Ingram* - Goaltender - Nashville Predators - 2 GP, 1-1-0, .906%
Darcy Kuemper - Goaltender - Colorado Avalanche - 42 GP, 28-8-2, .922%
Mason Marchment - Forward - Florida Panthers - 34 GP, 13g-21a
Spencer Martin* - Goaltender - Vancouver Canucks - 3 GP, 1-0-2, .958%
Ryan Reaves - Forward - New York Rangers - 51 GP, 2g-8a
Garret Sparks* - Goaltender - L.A. Kings - 2 GP, 1-0-0, .936
* Currently assigned to AHL
BEAR TRACKS, PRESENTED BY PINK WHITNEY BY NEW AMSTERDAM VODKA:
On this week's episode of Bear Tracks, presented by Pink Whitney by New Amsterdam Vodka, we're joined by Orlando native Craig LeVasseur, who has been involved with the Solar Bears hockey operations staff for the past 10 seasons in various roles, and this season had a chance to dress as the team's Emergency Backup Goaltender for two games.
ECHL Stories from March 14, 2022
- Fuel Name Duncan Dalmao Interim Head Coach - Indy Fuel
- Thunder Signs Netminder Bailey Brkin - Wichita Thunder
- Grizzlies Sign Defenseman James Shearer - Utah Grizzlies
- ECHL Transactions - March 14 - ECHL
- Admirals Add Lindgren and Folk to Active Roster - Norfolk Admirals
- Steelheads Acquire Defenseman Jack Van Boekel from Cincinnati - Idaho Steelheads
- Solar Bears Sign Defenseman Chris Harpur - Orlando Solar Bears
- Rush Unveil Military Appreciation Night Jerseys - Rapid City Rush
- Komets Win Fifth Straight at Home - Fort Wayne Komets
- Worcester Railers Sign Rookie Defensemen Harrison Markell and Ryan Verrier - Worcester Railers HC
- Oilers Add Experienced Defenseman John Furgele - Tulsa Oilers
- Bear Bites - Solar Bears Update - Orlando Solar Bears
- Stingrays Weekly Report: March 14, 2022 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Weekly Preview: Everblades Close out Long Homestand with Three-Game Week - Florida Everblades
- Tyson Helgesen Signed, Logan Nelson to Tucson - Rapid City Rush
- Weekly Roundup: Glads Take One of Two at Home, Stay on Top of Division - Atlanta Gladiators
- Indy Fuel Pit Stop: Week 21 - Indy Fuel
- Playoff Primer - March 14, 2022 - Worcester Railers HC
- K-Wings Weekly - Week 21 (Green Ice Game) - Kalamazoo Wings
- Toledo Walleye Weekly - Toledo Walleye
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
- Orlando Solar Bears Capture Second Consecutive Marketing Department of the Year Award, Game Operations Team of the Year at ECHL Summer Meetings
- Tampa Bay Lightning to Host Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers in NHL Preseason Action in Orlando
- Solar Bears Submit Season-Ending Roster
- Solar Bears Announce Future Considerations Trades
- Matt Carkner to Pursue Coaching Opportunity in the American Hockey League

