Former Solar Bears Goalie Garret Sparks Earns Shutout in NHL Debut with Toronto
November 30, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release
Former Orlando Solar Bears Goalie Garret Sparks with the Toronto Maple Leafs
(Orlando Solar Bears)
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Solar Bears, proud affiliate of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and the AHL's Toronto Marlies, are excited to announce that former Solar Bears goaltender Garret Sparks made his NHL debut Monday night, stopping all 24 shots he faced for a shutout in the Maple Leafs' 3-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers at the Air Canada Centre, becoming the 579th player in ECHL history to advance to the NHL.
Sparks, 22, became the 25th goaltender to earn a shutout in his NHL debut with his performance, and is also the first-ever goaltender to do so in Maple Leafs history. Sparks is now the eighth player in Solar Bears history to also appear in an NHL game, and just the second player in Solar Bears history to make his NHL debut after first developing in Orlando, following goaltender Darcy Kuemper.
Sparks began this season with the Toronto Marlies, going 8-2-1 with two shutouts, a 1.90 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage, before receiving a call-up to the Maple Leafs this past Saturday.
Over the course of two seasons with the Solar Bears from 2013-15, Sparks appeared in 46 games for Orlando, going 25-13-3 with a 2.45 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage. He was originally drafted by the Maple Leafs in the seventh round (#190 overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
The Solar Bears continue their fourth season in the ECHL, presented by Auto Justice Attorney Michael T. Gibson, P.A. at home on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the Amway Center against the Atlanta Gladiators. Click here for the Solar Bears 2015-16 promotional and events calendar.
Single-game tickets for the 2015-16 season are on sale now and can be purchased for as little as $15 at the Amway Center Box Office or online at OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com or Ticketmaster.com.
Images from this story
 Former Orlando Solar Bears Goalie Garret Sparks with the Toronto Maple Leafs |
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from November 30, 2015
- Former Solar Bears Goalie Garret Sparks Earns Shutout in NHL Debut with Toronto - Orlando Solar Bears
- Solar Bears Blanked by Dekanich's 22 Saves in 3-0 Loss to Stingrays - Orlando Solar Bears
- Home success carries Mallards to Midwest Division lead - ECHL
- Indy Fuel Weekly - Indy Fuel
- Dekanich and Pacan Lead Stingrays to 3-0 Win over Solar Bears - South Carolina Stingrays
- Steelheads Bolster Offense, Add Jean and Fallon - Idaho Steelheads
- Radio Recon's Ready for Some Last-Second Fireworks - Reading Royals
- Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report - Wheeling Nailers
- Mallards Weekly Update - Quad City Mallards
- ECHL Transactions - November 30 - ECHL
- Oil Drops: Weekly Report - Tulsa Oilers
- Rodewald Returns from AHL to Solar Bears - Orlando Solar Bears
- Monarchs Weekend Preview - Manchester Monarchs
- Derek Arnold Heading Back to Manchester - Manchester Monarchs
- Thunder Weekly - Wichita Thunder
- Jackals Weekly - Elmira Jackals
- Condors Assign Defenseman Nick Pageau to Norfolk - Norfolk Admirals
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- Weekly Snapshot - Colorado Eagles
- Cyclones Weekly - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Stingrays Weekly News and Notes - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - November 30 - ECHL
- Thunder, Wester Energy Introduce Hockey 4 A.L.L. - Wichita Thunder
- Grizzlies Enter 4th-Straight Week Atop West Division - Utah Grizzlies
- Steelheads to Host Teddy Bear Toss for Tots on Saturday - Idaho Steelheads
- Walleye Weekly - First Place at the Quarter Mark - Toledo Walleye
- Forward Joe Rehkamp Loaned to Lehigh Valley - Reading Royals
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
- Nailers Reveal Jerseys for Star Wars Night - Wheeling Nailers
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.
