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ECHL Orlando Solar Bears

Game Preview: Solar Bears at Reading Royals Tonight - December 15

December 15, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release


Game Preview: Solar Bears at Reading Royals Tonight

Orlando Adds Michael Neal

Who: Orlando (10-12-2-2, 24pts) vs.

Reading Royals (Washington Capitals) (17-7-0-1, 35pts)

Where: Sovereign Center, Reading, PA

When: 7:05 p.m.

Listen Live: iHeartSolarBears.com, 740thegame.com, iheart.com/live/601/ - Pregame starts at 6:50 p.m.

Watch Live: America One

Follow: Game Updates on Twitter at @OSBHockeyGU

Social Media: Follow on Facebook and Twitter

Orlando Adds Michael Neal:

The Orlando Solar Bears announced today that they have agreed to terms with LW Michael Neal.

Neal (6'2", 187 lbs.) spent last season with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL), appearing in 63 games, scoring seven goals and adding 18 assists for 25 points along with 36 penalty minutes (PIM). The Whitby, Ontario, native has played in 166 ECHL games since turning pro in the 2009-10 season, all with Idaho. In those 166 games, he has 18 goals and 37 assists for 55 points. Neal has also appeared in 22 games in the AHL (American Hockey League) with the Texas Stars, scoring three goals. He was drafted in the fifth round, #149 overall, by the Dallas Stars in the 2007 NHL Draft.

Matchup:

The Solar Bears play their second of six-straight road contests tonight as they battle the Reading Royals. Tonight's game is the first time the Solar Bears and Royals have come together, with Orlando looking to bounce back from a 4-1 defeat against the Elmira Jackals last night. Orlando faced a 3-0 deficit late in the second period, but RW Ryan Reaves redirected a shot from D Bryce Lampman to bring the score to 3-1 before the end of the frame. It was as close as the Solar Bears would get, as Reading added the only third period goal to take the 4-1 win. Reading completed a big comeback win over the Fort Wayne Komets last night to earn their fourth straight victory. Trailing 4-2 heading into the third, Reading struck for four goals in the final frame to earn a 6-4 win.

Solar Bears Notes:

G Hannu Toivonen set new season highs for the Solar Bears in saves in a single period with 19 in the first frame and saves in a game, stopping 42 of the 46 shots he faced last night... RW Ryan Reaves has scored in two straight games... C Ryan Cruthers is three goals away from 100 in his ECHL career... D Michael Wilson played in his 200th professional game last night... LW Nick Petersen has been placed on reserve and did not make the trip... F Ryan Ginand was placed on the 21-day IR retroactive to Sunday, December 9... D Corbin Baldwin was placed on the 21-day IR on Thursday... RW Chris Lawrence remains on the 21-day IR....G Mike Brodeur remains on the 21-day IR but has resumed skating drills... D Josh Caron, D Kyle Medvec, and F Rob Mignardi are currently recalled to the Houston Aeros... F Olivier Fortier is currently recalled to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Reading Notes:

The Royals are leading the Atlantic Division with a 17-7-0-1 record... Reading won 11 straight games from November 2 through November 23... G Philipp Grubauer is third in the ECHL with a 2.27 GAA... D Denny Urban leads all ECHL defensemen with 12 goals and 23 points. He is tied for first with five power play goals... Reading is 11-0-1 when scoring the game's first goal... The Royals are 20th on the power play at 14.5 percent (17-for-117) and third on the penalty kill at 85.8 percent (16-for-113).

The Orlando Solar Bears, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild and AHL's Houston Aeros, are in their Out of Hibernation season and play all of their regular season home games at the 2012 Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year, the Amway Center.

Individual tickets for all regular season home games are now on sale beginning as low as $15. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com or the Amway Center Box Office.

Check out the Orlando Solar Bears Statistics

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ECHL Stories from December 15, 2012


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