THREE POINT NIGHTS FROM FORTIER, BEATTIE HELP SOLAR BEARS EARN POINT IN 5-4 SHOOTOUT LOSS

Homestand Continues Against Cincinnati on Sunday

Click here to view the box score Orlando, FL -  In his return to the Solar Bears, F Olivier Fortier tallied two goals and added and assist to help Orlando earn a point in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Greenville Road Warriors at the Amway Center on Thursday night. The Road Warriors struck first to gain a 1-0 lead 12:16 into the first period. F Marc-Olivier Vallerand blasted a one-timer and gathered the rebound for a quick strike into the back of the net. The Solar Bears were able to even the score with less than a minute remaining in the period. C Dale Mahovsky picked up a puck in the slot and found Fortier on the back door for a tap-in goal. The first period ended with a tied score of 1-1. Fortier notched his second goal of the game with a shorthanded marker in the second period. After recovering a loose puck in the neutral zone, Fortier raced up the ice on a breakaway and fired a shot between the legs of G Connor Knapp at 7:50 of the frame. Greenville tied the game 2-2 at 13:54 when F Jordie Johnston picked the top corner of the net on a one timer off a feed from Vallerand. Just 16 seconds later, the Solar Bears regained their 3-2 lead when a shot from D Mark Nemec was deflected in front of the net to put the Solar Bears back up by one goal. Greenville found an answer with 1:57 left in the period, as Johnston played the puck to himself off a faceoff and snapped a shot home, tying the game at 3-3 heading to the third. The tie was broken 12:48 into the third period. F Brendan Connolly fed a pass to Vallerand who blasted the puck past G Patrick Killeen and into the back of the net. Orlando continued to battle and found way to tied the contest late in the period. With 55 seconds remaining, F Kyle Beattie slid a backhanded pass to D Alain Goulet, and Goulet's one timer snapped the back of the cage to force overtime with a 4-4 score.  G Patrick Killeen held the Solar Bears in the game in overtime, turning aside all six Road Warriors shots, but Greenville scored twice in the shootout while holding the Solar Bears off the board to take the eventual 5-4 victory.Notes:

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For more information call the Solar Bears Executive Offices at 407-951-8200.Get Tickets: Orlando takes on the Cincinnati Cyclones on Sunday, March 24, at 3:00 p.m. and then plays their final two home games of the year against the Florida Everblades on Tuesday, March 26, and Wednesday, March 27, both at 7:00 p.m. Good seats are still available. Visit www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com. The Orlando Solar Bears, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild and AHL's Houston Aeros, play all of their 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 on sale beginning as low as $15. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com or the Amway Center Box Office. Follow the Solar Bears at www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com, Facebook, and Twitter (@OrlandoHockey) for all the latest news and updates. Don't get shut-out when we sell out! Take advantage of the Orlando Solar Bears season ticket pre-sale offer by placing a $50 deposit per ticket now to receive seat selection priority for the 2013-14 season. Call the Solar Bears at 407-951-8200 or visit www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com. Group tickets are a great way to entertain employees, co-workers, clients, friends and family. For more information on discounted group tickets and a list of group benefits, call 407-951-8200 or click here. Officially licensed Orlando Solar Bears replica team jerseys, apparel, and headwear can be purchased online at: http://shop.orlandosolarbearshockey.com/