Orlando Solar Bears
| Orlando Solar Bears | |
|---|---|
| City | Orlando, Florida |
| League | ECHL |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | South |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Home arena | Kia Center |
| Colours | Solar purple, seafoam green, sunset orange, sunrise gold, white |
| Head coach | Matt Carkner |
| Affiliates | Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) Syracuse Crunch (AHL) |
| Website | Official website |
| Franchise history | |
| 2012–present | Orlando Solar Bears' |
The Orlando Solar Bears are an American professional ice hockey team. They began playing in 2012. The team plays in the ECHL. They play their home games in Orlando, Florida at Kia Center. They are the ECHL affiliate for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). They are also the affiliates for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL).
The team was started in 2012 by Joe Haleski, Bob Ohrablo, and Jason Siegel. They would name the team the Orlando Solar Bears. Another team called the Orlando Solar Bears played in the International Hockey League (NHL) from 1995 until 2001. They would also keep the original Solar Bears colors.[1]
On October 12, 2012, the team would play their first game as the Orlando Solar Bears. They would be defeated by the Florida Everblades 5–4 in overtime.[2]
In the 2017–18 season, the Solar Bears would make it to their first playoffs. They would finish third in the South Division but would lose to the Florida Everblades four games to one in the Division Finals.[3]
On August 13, 2018, the Solar Bears and the Tampa Bay Lightning announced their affiliation.[4] The Icemen were previously affiliates with the Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers.[5][6]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "Orlando welcomes back the Solar Bears". ECHL. Archived from the original on May 4, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ↑ "Solar Bears come back to force OT, lose 5-4". Orlando Solar Bears. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ↑ "2017-18 season comes to end for Solar Bears with Game 5 loss to Everblades". Orlando Solar Bears. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ↑ "Solar Bears enter into three-year affiliation agreement with Tampa Bay Lightning". Jacksonville Icemen. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ↑ "Out of Hibernation and Into the Wild". Orlando Solar Bears. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ↑ "Solar Bears add Toronto Maple Leafs as affiliate". ECHL. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
