Photos of Solar Bears by legendary Getty Images photographer Bruce Bennett featured by ESPN

Veteran photographer of over 5,000 games granted full access to team in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears, proud affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL’s Toronto Marlies, were recently featured in an online photography series by ESPN, using images taken by legendary hockey photographer Bruce Bennett.

The images used in the photo series, “Life in Minor League Hockey,” were shot over the course of the week of Feb. 8 while Bennett was embedded with the Solar Bears and granted full access to the team to document players and staff, both at and away from the rink.

“From day one, the Orlando Solar Bears were on board for my vision of portraying what life is like for players on an ECHL team,” Bennett said. “I was granted unprecedented access to visually tell the story of the players who toil at this level; my goal was to bring the fans inside for a peek behind the curtains.”

For more than 40 years Bennett has recorded the visual history of the sport of hockey in still imagery. In 1974, Bennett began his career by photographing games at Madison Square Garden and Nassau Coliseum. His images appeared that year in The Hockey News, and since then Bruce is estimated to have recorded over 42,000 photographs in print in virtually every major newspaper and magazine around the world as well as on licensed products such as trading cards and posters.

By 2004, via acquisitions and production of new photography, Bruce Bennett Studios had amassed a library of over two million hockey images dating back to 1900. In September of that year, BBS was acquired by Getty Images and Bennett joined the company as their Director of Photography, Hockey Imagery. In April 2014, Bruce photographed his 5,000th hockey game.

“We want to thank Bruce Bennett for his time, talent and energy on this project,” Solar Bears President/CEO Jason Siegel said. “He’s one of the finest photographers in the history of our sport and his work is beautifully done. It was a pleasure to work with him again.”

The Solar Bears continue their fourth season in the ECHL, presented by Auto Justice Attorney Michael T. Gibson, P.A., on Thursday, Mar. 10 at 7:15 p.m. when they they take on the Brampton Beast at the Powerade Centre. Fans can listen to the game at iheartsolarbears.com or watch via ECHL.TV.

 for the Solar Bears 2015-16 promotional and events calendar.

Single-game tickets for the 2015-16 season are on sale now and can be purchased for as little as $15 at the Amway Center Box Office or online at OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com or Ticketmaster.com.

The Orlando Solar Bears, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL's Toronto Marlies, play all of their home games at the Amway Center, the 2012 Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year.

Follow the Solar Bears at www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com, Facebook, and Twitter (@OrlandoHockey) for all the latest news and updates. Stay in touch with Shades on Instagram by following ShadestheSolarBear.

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 visit www.orlandosolarbearshockey.com/groups.

Officially licensed Orlando Solar Bears replica team jerseys, apparel, and headwear can be purchased online at: http://store.orlandosolarbearshockey.com/.

To read the Solar Bears Report to the Community, click here.