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ECHL Orlando Solar Bears

Game Preview: Orlando Solar Bears vs. Florida Everblades

October 22, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release


WHO: Orlando Solar Bears (0-0-0-0) vs. Florida Everblades (2-0-0-0)

VENUE: ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.

DATE: Saturday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m.

WATCH: ECHL.TV

LISTEN: OSBN on Mixlr

TICKETS: CLICK HERE

ORLANDO UNITED: Tonight's game is Orlando United Night, presented by Auto Justice Attorney Michael T. Gibson, P.A. The Solar Bears jerseys worn in tonight's game against the Florida Everblades feature a design highlighting elements of the Solar Bears primary logo combined with the Orlando United Heart. The Solar Bears will host an auction for the jerseys to help raise funds for the Central Florida Foundation's Better Together Fund. Furthermore, 30 percent of the proceeds from each Opening Night ticket purchased through orlandosolarbearshockey.com/united will also be donated to the Better Together Fund.

TONIGHT: The Orlando Solar Bears open their fifth season of ECHL hockey tonight in a Wawa Sunshine Cup battle with their in-state rivals, the Florida Everblades. Orlando is looking to earn their first victory since the introduction of the Sunshine Cup after going 4-10-0-0 against Florida last year.

NEW DIVISION, NEW RULES: The Solar Bears and Everblades remain division rivals in the South Division, along with usual suspects Atlanta, Greenville and South Carolina. However, the South Division now includes the Norfolk Admirals and Cincinnati Cyclones. This year the top four teams in each division qualify for the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Curiously, neither the Solar Bears nor Everblades play Cincinnati during the regular season, while Orlando only plays Norfolk twice at home in February.

SOLAR POWER: Orlando has several players who provided valuable contributions in 2015-16 returning for another season:

Eric Faille - Led Solar Bears with 60 points (first ECHL Solar Bear to reach 60-point plateau)Eric Baier - The captain enjoyed a career year offensively and become the franchise's games played leader, finishing the season with 176 games played in the purple and tealT.J. Foster - Led Orlando with 25 goals as a rookie; one of six rookies in ECHL to lead their teamsRyan Massa - Recorded the best save percentage (.915) by a Solar Bears rookie goalieJohnny McInnis - The winger showcased his durability as the only Solar Bears player to play in all 72 gamesPatrick Watling - Only active Solar Bears player to play multiple seasons while maintaining an offensive production greater than a point-per-game SUPER SOPHOMORES: In addition to Orlando's 2015-16 rookie scoring leader T.J. Foster returning to the Solar Bears for a second go-around in the City Beautiful, Orlando has also added a member of last year's All-ECHL Rookie Team, Cason Hohmann, who is on loan from the Toronto Marlies. Meanwhile, Florida compensated for the offseason loss of leading rookie scorer Matt Willows by inking 29-goal scorer Michael Kirkpatrick, who finished runner-up to Willows in the race for the rookie scoring title.

CREASE COMPETITION: The Solar Bears are expected to rely on the goaltending tandem of Ryan Massa and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Kasimir Kaskisuo. Both goaltenders went the college route before turning pro: Massa with the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Kaskisuo with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Last season's pairing of Massa and Rob Madore saw more rubber (35.21 shots against per game) than all but one other ECHL club.

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall : 0-0-0-0

Home : 0-0-0-0

Road : 0-0-0-0

2015-16 Overall : 4-10-0-0

2015-16 Home : 2-6-0-0

2015-16 Away : 2-4-0-0

Last Five Years : 24-32-2-1

Last Five Years Home : 11-16-1-0

Last Five Years Away : 13-16-1-1

2015-16 LEADERS

Points: Faille - 60

Goals: Foster - 25

Assists: Vail* - 36

+/-: Faille - +14

PIM: Louis* - 175

SOG: McInnis - 197

* Denotes no longer with Orlando

BEAR TRACKER

Baier & Findlay: Need five goals to pass Mickey Lang (32) for fourth in team historyManderson: Needs two points to pass Mike Ullrich (67) for fifth in team historyMassa: Next win will be 20th of pro careerMcInnis: Next game ties Jacob Cepis (107) for fifth most games played in team historyMontgomery: Next game is 150th pro game AFFILIATE NOTES: The Toronto Marlies suffered their first loss of the season last night in a 5-2 defeat at Rochester, and host the Manitoba Moose today at 5 p.m. at Ricoh Coliseum. The Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Chicago Blackhawks at 7 p.m. at the United Center.

NEXT GAME: Solar Bears host South Carolina Stingrays on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Click here to purchase tickets.

The Orlando Solar Bears drop the puck on their fifth season of ECHL hockey on Saturday, Oct. 22 against the Florida Everblades at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center. Opening Night is Orlando United Night, presented by Auto Justice Attorney Michael T. Gibson, P.A. Single-game tickets are now on sale at the Amway Center box office and ticketmaster.com. Full and half-season ticket plans are now available by visiting OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com.

The Orlando Solar Bears are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL's Toronto Marlies, and play all of their home games at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, the 2012 Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year.

Follow the Solar Bears at OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com, Facebook and Twitter (@OrlandoHockey) for all the latest news and updates. Stay in touch with Shades on Instagram by following SolarBearsHockey.

Season tickets, Corporate Flex vouchers and Group tickets are a great way to entertain employees, co-workers, clients, friends and family. For more information on all of the Solar Bears ticket packages, call (407) 951-8200 or visit orlandosolarbearshockey.com.

Officially licensed Orlando Solar Bears replica team jerseys, apparel and headwear can be purchased online at store.orlandosolarbearshockey.com.

Check out the Orlando Solar Bears Statistics

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