
Solar Bears Spencer Kersten Selected to Participate in 2026 ECHL All-Star Classic
Published on January 7, 2026 under ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release
SHREWSBURY, NJ. - The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning, announced Wednesday in conjunction with the ECHL, forward Spencer Kersten has been selected to the 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic to be hosted by the Allen Americans on Monday, Jan. 19 at 6:00 p.m. CT at Credit Union of Texas Event Center.
Kersten, 25, is second in ECHL scoring and leads the Solar Bears in goals (15), assists (19), and points (34).
Kersten was the second Solar Bear in history to be named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team during the 2024-25 season, joining Joseph Gareffa, who tallied 21 points in 41 games during the 2020-21 season.
The Waterloo, ON native had a historic first full professional season, scoring 55 points to set a new Solar Bears rookie single-season scoring record, passing T.J. Foster from the 2015-16 campaign.
Kersten signed a one-year AHL contract with the Crunch prior to the start of the 2025-26 season.
Prior to his professional career, Kersten appeared in 36 games during the 2023-24 season at Bowling Green State University, scoring 16 points (9g-7a). The 5-foot-10, 187-pound forward played at Princeton University from 2019-2023, scoring 38 points (15g-23a) in 93 games, while captaining the 2022-23 team.During his time at Princeton, Kersten was a three-time Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) All-Academic player.
There have been 75 players from the ECHL All-Star Game have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 59 since 2002.
The ECHL All-Stars were determined in a vote of coaches, team captains, media relations directors, broadcasters and members of the media.
Solar Bears ECHL All-Star Classic Player Selection History:
Season - Host - Solar Bears Representative
2012-13 - Colorado Eagles - C.J. Severyn (Replaced Nick Petersen)
2013-14 - No game
2014-15 - Orlando Solar Bears - Solar Bears roster (host team)
2015-16 - No game
2016-17 - Adirondack Thunder - Tony Cameranesi (did not play)
2017-18 - Indy Fuel - Nolan Valleau
2018-19 - Toledo Walleye - Brent Pedersen (alternate, did not play)
2019-20 - Wichita Thunder - Michael Brodzinski
2020-21 - No game
2021-22 - Jacksonville Icemen - Brad Barone, Aaron Luchuk
2022-23 - Norfolk Admirals - Michael Brodzinski
2023-24 - Savannah Ghost Pirates - Mitchell Hoelscher
2024-25 - No game - Aaron Luchuk
2025-26 - Allen Americans - Spencer Kersten
ECHL Stories from January 7, 2026
- Shorthanded Oilers Fall 5-2 in Kansas City - Tulsa Oilers
- K-Wings Bested in Mid-Week Tilt against Bison - Kalamazoo Wings
- Thunder Extend Win Streak to Six with 4-1 Win over Railers - Adirondack Thunder
- Defenseman D.J. King Signs PTO with Iowa Wild - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Transactions - January 7 - ECHL
- Mariners Acquire Venuto from Kalamazoo - Maine Mariners
- Gladiators Sign Forward Derek Gentile - Atlanta Gladiators
- Knight Monsters Forward Sloan Stanick Named to 2026 ECHL All-Star Team - Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Gargoyles Forward Ethan Leyh Named to ECHL All-Star Team - Greensboro Gargoyles
- Charles Martin Selected for the ECHL All-Star Game - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Massimo Rizzo Selected to 2026 ECHL All-Star Classic - Reading Royals
- Solar Bears Spencer Kersten Selected to Participate in 2026 ECHL All-Star Classic - Orlando Solar Bears
- Aidan Fulp Named as an All-Star for 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Jacksonville Icemen
- Samuel Jonsson Named Goaltender for 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Fort Wayne Komets
- Ben Zloty Selected for 2026 ECHL AllStar Classic in Allen, TX - Norfolk Admirals
- Marcus Crawford Named to 2026 ECHL All-Star Team - Kansas City Mavericks
- Defenseman Jake Johnson Named to 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Kyle Jackson Named to All-Star Team - Bloomington Bison
- Forward Kyler Kupka Named to ECHL All-Star Team - South Carolina Stingrays
- Brendan Hoffmann Named to ECHL All-Star Classic - Idaho Steelheads
- Easton Armstrong Selected to 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Tulsa Oilers
- Brannon McManus Named to ECHL All-Star Classic - Adirondack Thunder
- Henrik Tikkanen Named to 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic Roster - Worcester Railers HC
- Arsenii Sergeev Named ECHL All-Star - Rapid City Rush
- K-Wings Zach Okabe Named 2026 ECHL All-Star - Kalamazoo Wings
- Anthony Romano Selected for 2026 All-Star Classic - Florida Everblades
- Kalmikov Named ECHL All-Star for Second Straight Year - Maine Mariners
- Cesana Named to 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Semptimphelter & O'Brien Named to 2026 ECHL All-Star Classic Roster - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL All-Stars Announced for 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - ECHL
- Grizzlies Forward Danny Dzhaniyev Named to All-Star Team - Utah Grizzlies
- Brent Johnson Named to 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Wheeling Nailers
- McCourt Named to 2026 ECHL Western Conference All-Star Team - Toledo Walleye
- Knight Monsters Sign Defenseman Craig McCabe - Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Ethan Leyh Loaned to Chicago - Greensboro Gargoyles
- Harrison Meneghin Reassigned to the Orlando Solar Bears by the Tampa Bay Lightning - Orlando Solar Bears
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- Rush to Honor Ben Franklin Award Winners at First Responders Night - Rapid City Rush
- Game Day Preview: Americans Host Thunder, 7:10 PM - Allen Americans
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.
Other Recent Orlando Solar Bears Stories
- Milo Roelens Reassigned to Syracuse Crunch by Tampa Bay Lightning; Spencer Kersten Recalled by Syracuse Crunch
- Solar Bears Spencer Kersten Selected to Participate in 2026 ECHL All-Star Classic
- Harrison Meneghin Reassigned to the Orlando Solar Bears by the Tampa Bay Lightning
- Bear Bites - Solar Bears Update
- Solar Bears Sign Goaltender Colby Muise


