Boka Scores Teddy Bear Toss Goal, But Solar Bears Fall 5-3 to Gladiators
December 22, 2021 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. - Luke Boka scored on the power play to kick off the annual Teddy Bear Toss less than three minutes into the game, but the Orlando Solar Bears (13-11-1-0) gave up three goals in the first period to the Atlanta Gladiators (12-11-2-0) en route to a 5-3 loss on Tuesday night at the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center.
Boka sent a flurry of stuffed animals to the ice when he banked the puck in off a defenseman's skate and past Tyler Parks at 2:10 of the first period and give Orlando a 1-0 lead. The final count of teddy bears and stuffed animals collected was 8,728, a new team record, which will be distributed throughout Central Florida to children and families in need during the holiday season by Orange County Public Schools, Harvest Time International and the Salvation Army.
After the Gladiators reeled off four straight goals by the early second period, Kyle Topping and Aaron Luchuk scored to pull Orlando back to within one, but Atlanta's Luke Nogard capped the night with an empty-net goal in the third period.
1st Period
ORL Goal: Luke Boka (7) [PP] at 2:10. Assisted by Aaron Luchuk and Andrew McLean.
ATL Goal: Michael Pelech (5) at 8:59. Assisted by Cody Sylvester.
ATL Goal: Michael Pelech (6) at 14:23. Assisted by Cody Sylvester and Derek Topatigh.
ATL Goal: Elijah Vilio (3) at 15:16. Assisted by Derek Nesbitt.
SHOTS: ORL 13, ATL 22
2nd Period
ATL Goal: Derek Nesbitt (6) at 4:35. Assisted by Michael Pelech and Tyler Kobryn.
ORL Goal: Kyle Topping (2) at 5:15. Assisted by Andrew McLean and Aaron Luchuk.
ORL Goal: Aaron Luchuk (12) at 15:23. Assisted by Kyle Topping and Jake Transit.
SHOTS: ORL 11, ATL 10
3rd Period
ATL Goal: Luke Nogard (3) [EN] at 19:24.
SHOTS: ORL 6, ATL 8
Goaltending
ORL: Zach Émond, 35-for-39
ATL: Tyler Parks, 27-for-30
NOTABLES:
The loss was Orlando's first of the season when scoring first (11-1-0-0) and only its second defeat on home ice (8-2-0-0).
Aaron Luchuk recorded his seventh multi-point game of the season with 1g-2a.
Andrew McLean pushed his point streak to three games (1g-5a) with two assists.
Jake Transit earned his first pro assist to extend his point streak to three games (2g-1a).
NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears return from the holiday break when they host the Florida Everblades for the first time this season, on Sunday, Dec. 26 at 7 p.m. at the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center. Sunday's game is a VyStar Solar Bears Sunday - the first 100 VyStar Credit Union Members to show their VyStar debit/credit card at the Amway Center box office can score a pair of free tickets to the game. Once all 100 pairs of tickets are claimed, VyStar members can still take advantage of a buy-one-get-one ticket offer.
ECHL Stories from December 22, 2021
- Gladiators Earn Point in Milestone Game for Nesbitt - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Transactions - December 22 - ECHL
- Solar Bears Acquire Kai Edmonds from Oilers - Orlando Solar Bears
- Oilers Trade Goaltender Kai Edmonds to Orlando - Tulsa Oilers
- Game Preview: Gladiators at Icemen, December 22, 2021 - Jacksonville Icemen
- Worcester Railers to Host Home for the Holidays Games Presented by UniBank December 26 & 27 - Worcester Railers HC
- Mariners Will Not Play at Worcester December 26 - Maine Mariners
- ECHL Announces Schedule Changes - Worcester Railers HC
- Florida Everblades Announce Partnership with StellarAlgo - Florida Everblades
- Nesbitt Set to Play in 1000th Game in Jacksonville - Atlanta Gladiators
- Boka Scores Teddy Bear Toss Goal, But Solar Bears Fall 5-3 to Gladiators - Orlando Solar Bears
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.
