Bear Bites - Solar Bears Update

Published on January 12, 2026 under ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release

Orlando Solar Bears celebration
(Orlando Solar Bears)

This Week's Games:

Tuesday, January 13 vs. South Carolina Stingrays at 7:00pm - Pink Whitney Night

Thursday, January 15 vs. Idaho Steelheads at 7:00pm - Hockey & Hops presented by Beer Hug

Friday, January 16 vs. Idaho Steelheads at 7:00pm - Military Appreciation Night presented by VyStar Credit Union

Saturday, January 17 vs. Idaho Steelheads at 7:00pm

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Wear your Solar Bears swag to Acai Republic (Altamonte Springs and Ocoee locations) on home or road game days and receive 50% off your order. (In-Store orders only)

Ways Wednesdays - Buy any size Way and get the next Way half off!

Call (407) 951-8200 to book today!

AT A GLANCE:

2025-26 REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 12-17-3-1 (.424)

LAST WEEK'S RECORD: 1-2-1-0

2025-26 REGULAR SEASON LEADERS:

TOP SCORER: Reece Newkirk - 31 points

MOST GOALS: Reece Newkirk - 13 goals

MOST ASSISTS: Reece Newkirk- 18 assists

PIM LEADER: Tyler Drevitch - 54 PIM

PLUS-MINUS LEADER: Tony Follmer - +7

LAST WEEK'S GAMES:

Monday, January 5 vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits (1-5 L)

Video Highlights | Box Score

The Solar Bears offense struggled in a 5-1 defeat last Monday night. Orlando's lone goal came on a power play goal from Reece Newkirk in the third period. Jon Gillies made 23 saves in goal for the Solar Bears.

Thursday, January 8 at Savannah Ghost Pirates (1-4 L)

Video Highlights | Box Score

Again, the Solar Bears found scoring to be difficult on Thursday night in Savannah. Down 3-0 in the third period, Cole Kodsi lit the lamp for his first goal of the season. The Solar Bears pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker, but could not get any closer as the Ghost Pirates scored an empty net goal.

Friday, January 9 at Jacksonville Icemen (5-4 W)

Video Highlights | Box Score

Tyler Bird and Reece Newkirk each scored twice, while Jarid Lukosevicius recorded two assists in a 5-4 victory Friday night in Jacksonville. Eight different Solar Bears players recorded at least one point in the victory.

Saturday, January 10 vs. Jacksonville Icemen (3-4 OTL)

Video Highlights | Box Score

The Solar Bears and Icemen went back-and-forth Saturday night with the Solar Bears holding 1-0 and 2-1 leads in the game until they needed a third period comeback to tie the game at three on an Anthony Bardaro goal. Jacksonville skated away with the extra point on an overtime goal from Chris Brown.

BITES:

Jack Adams has points in nine of his last 10 games (5g-5a)

Ryan Dickinson appeared in his 100th ECHL game 1/9 at JAX

Reece Newkirk has five points in his last five games (4g-1a)

Aaron Luchuk has 99 goals as a Solar Bear.

Tyler Bird has 98 goals as a Solar Bear.

The Solar Bears won their 500th regular season game as a franchise 1/9 at JAX

BEARS IN THE NHL:

Five former Solar Bears currently occupies a spot on an NHL roster for the 2025-26 regular season - here we will track their progress:

Mason Marchment - Forward - Columbus Blue Jackets - 36 GP, 9g-11a

Darcy Kuemper - Goaltender - Los Angeles Kings - 28 GP, 12-8-7, .905

Ryan Reaves - Forward - San Jose Sharks - 38 GP, 3g-0a

Colten Ellis - Goaltender - Buffalo Sabres - 9 GP, 5-3-0, .900

Connor Ingram - Goaltender - Edmonton Oilers - 6 GP, 3-2-1, .892

Orlando Solar Bears celebration

ECHL Stories from January 12, 2026

• Rush Call up Goaltender Jack Bostedt - Rapid City Rush
• ECHL Transactions - January 12 - ECHL
• Gargoyles Trade Forward Wade Murphy to Greenville - Greensboro Gargoyles
• Mastrodonato Returns, Swamp Rabbits Acquire Murphy from Greensboro - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
• Americans Weekly: Americans Sweep Four-Game Series with Wichita - Allen Americans
• Blades Present Margaritaville Jersey Auction Presented by Kona Big Wave - Florida Everblades
• ECHL Announces Fine, Suspension - ECHL
• Knight Monsters Weekly Update: January 12, 2026 - Tahoe Knight Monsters
• Komets Two Points Back of Division Lead - Fort Wayne Komets
• Bear Bites - Solar Bears Update - Orlando Solar Bears
• Connor Murphy Named Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week - Rapid City Rush
• Rapid City's Murphy Named Warrior Hockey/ECHL Goaltender of the Week - ECHL
• Training Staff Named for the ECHL All Star Classic - Allen Americans
• Forward Justin Nachbaur Recalled by Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
• Canucks (NHL) Recall Goaltender Aku Koskenvuo, Reassigned to Abbotsford (AHL) - Kalamazoo Wings
• Athletic Trainer, Equipment Manager Named for 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - ECHL
• Rush Athletic Trainer Justin Ullom Headed to All-Star Game - Rapid City Rush
• K-Wings Weekly: Kalamazoo Sweeps Weekend, Rainbow Ice Friday - Kalamazoo Wings
• Reading Jr. Royals Combine for 6-1 Combined Record, Squirt a National & PeeWee a American Teams Improve Undefeated Seasons - Reading Royals
• Stingrays Weekly Report - January 12 - South Carolina Stingrays
• Walleye Weekly No. 12: January 12, 2026 - 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.

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