Game Preview: Solar Bears at Admirals: November 4, 2021
November 5, 2021 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Solar Bears (2-1-0-0) seek their first road victory of the season tonight against the Norfolk Admirals (3-2-0-0). This is the first of a two-game road set against Norfolk this season; all remaining six games against the Admirals will be played in Orlando.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
The Solar Bears have a lifetime record of 15-9-2-2 (.607) against the Admirals and will play Norfolk a total of eight times during the 2021-22 season.
Due to several call-ups that have taken place this week, Orlando is expected to dress only fourteen skaters for tonight's game. The Solar Bears announced earlier today that they had signed defenseman Andrew McLean from the Knoxville Ice Bears of the SPHL.
Forward Aaron Luchuk was named the Warrior Hockey ECHL Player of the Month for October on Wednesday after tying for the league lead with eight points (4g-4a) in three games. Luchuk enters tonight's game tied with Norfolk's Daniel Brickley and Wichita's Matteo Gennaro for the league lead in power-play points with four.
After making six saves on six shots in 17 minutes of relief action last Friday at Atlanta, goaltender Brad Barone is expected to get his first start with Orlando tonight. Barone posted a 9-5-2 record last season 21 combined appearances with Rapid City and Utah.
Following his activation off the reserve list on Monday, forward Luke Boka is expected to make his professional debut tonight for the Solar Bears. It will be his first game of competitive hockey since the 2019-20 season with the Windsor Spitfires, after his Queen's University team did not play last season. Boka is expected to play on a line with his former Windsor teammate Aaron Luchuk and Kryštof Hrabík.
The Admirals are in their first year of a new affiliation agreement with the Carolina Hurricanes and the AHL's Chicago Wolves. The Admirals are currently first in the South Division and are seeking their first trip to the playoffs since the Admirals brand returned to the ECHL in 2015-16. Alex Tonge leads the Admirals in scoring with seven points (3g-4a) in four games. Through five games Norfolk ranks just behind Orlando at fourth in goals scored per game (3.80), but ranks 24th in goals allowed per game (3.80).
Drake Berehowsky enters today's game two wins shy of 200 career ECHL coaching victories, all with the Solar Bears. His 198 wins are the most by a head coach in team history.
NEXT GAMES: The Solar Bears finish their two-game road set against the Admirals on Friday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Norfolk Scope. The Solar Bears return home to face the Icemen on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center.
ECHL Stories from November 5, 2021
- Rush Come up Short in Utah, 5-2 - Rapid City Rush
- Cylones Fall to Komets, 4-2 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Americans Beat Wichita 3-1 - Allen Americans
- Walleye Ground Wings, 6-4, in Back-and-Forth Contest - Toledo Walleye
- Solar Bears Pick up Point in 6-5 OT Defeat to Admirals - Orlando Solar Bears
- Betzold Nets Two in Loss to Toledo - Kalamazoo Wings
- Strong, Cressey Score First ECHL Goals in 4-3 Win at Trois-Rivières - Reading Royals
- Five Unanswered Goals Hands Fuel First Home Win - Indy Fuel
- Parks' Shutout Wills Atlanta to Victory - Atlanta Gladiators
- Everblades Thrive against Mariners with 4-1 Performance - Florida Everblades
- Heartlanders Score Three in First But Fall at Fuel - Iowa Heartlanders
- Lions Still Searching for First Win at Home - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Zerter-Gossage's Goal Not Enough as Mariners Fall to Florida - Maine Mariners
- Manifest Distilling Named Official Craft Distillery of the Icemen - Jacksonville Icemen
- Thunder Drop Opening Game of Three-In-Three to Growlers, 4-1 - Adirondack Thunder
- Solar Bears Add Logan Fredericks, Canon Pieper - Orlando Solar Bears
- Oilers Announce Rescheduled Game Date - Tulsa Oilers
- ECHL Transactions - November 5 - ECHL
- Game Preview: Solar Bears at Admirals: November 5, 2021 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Game Notes: at Utah - Rapid City Rush
- Royals Visit Trois-Rivières for First-Ever Meeting - Reading Royals
- Lions Face First Game against the Royals Reading - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Redmond Stops 31, Mavericks Shutout Nailers - Kansas City Mavericks
- Game Day Preview: Americans at Wichita, 7:05 PM - Allen Americans
- Grizzlies Gameday: Utah Hosts Rapid City, November 5, 2021 - Utah Grizzlies
- Game Preview: Solar Bears at Admirals: November 4, 2021 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Everblades and Maine Square off for First Time - Florida Everblades
- Gladiators Open Weekend with Tilt against Icemen - Atlanta Gladiators
- Steelheads Slip in 2-1 Loss to Tulsa - Idaho Steelheads
- Cyclones Get First Home Ice Win - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Heartlanders Receive Rookie Contributions, Cyclones Win, 5-3 - Iowa Heartlanders
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