Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Everblades - Dec. 22, 2016

Solar Bears Game 29 • Home Game 15 • ECHL Game 378

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears (16-9-3-0) vs. Florida Everblades (17-5-1-2)VENUE: ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.DATE: Thursday, Dec. 22, 7 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: Visit our website or download the new Solar Bears mobile app to listen to the game via MixlrTICKETS: Click herePROMOTIONS:

• Tonight’s game is a Thirsty Thursday, presented by Ferg’s Depot on Church Street. For all Thursday home games this season, enjoy $2 Coors Light drafts and food specials before and after the game at Ferg’s Depot, and take advantage of $5 domestic drafts at the Amway Center during the game! Visit orlandosolarbearshockey.com/fergs to purchase lower bowl tickets ranging from $14-$25, and if the Solar Bears score the first goal of the game, you score a free appetizer after the game at Ferg’s Depot with the presentation of your game ticket!
• Ugly Sweater Party – Not only are the Solar Bears wearing their ugly holiday sweater jerseys once again, but now you have a chance to get in on the holiday fun by wearing your ugly sweater to the game – the fan with the ugliest sweater will receive a $200 cash prize!

TONIGHT:The Orlando Solar Bears head into the holiday break with a Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game against the Florida Everblades. The Solar Bears have a chance to jump back into first place in the South Division should they come away with a win in regulation against the Everblades.

FINDLAY AND MANDERSON TIED FOR TEAM SCORING LEAD:With Brett Findlay’s first period goal on Wednesday, the forward finds himself tied with linemate Denver Manderson for the team scoring lead. Both have an identical 10 goals and 22 assists in 28 games for Orlando.

GAARDER SOLID IN DEBUT:Forward Connor Gaarder scored on his first shot in his first game for the Solar Bears after rejoining the team earlier in the week. The forward is playing in his first season of North American pro hockey after spending last year in Norway and playing several games in Germany this season following a collegiate career at the University of North Dakota.

PERRY LEADING THE WAY AGAINST EVERBLADES:Although he has become more known for his goal-scoring prowess this season with Orlando, Joe Perry actually leads the Solar Bears in assists with three against Florida so far through the series’ first four games. Those three helpers account for half of his assist output for the whole season thus far, and he has also chipped in two goals against the Everblades as well.

HEAD TO HEADOverall: 1-3-0-0Home: 1-1-0-0Road: 0-2-0-02015-16 Overall: 4-10-0-02015-16 Home: 2-6-0-02015-16 Away: 2-4-0-0Last 5 Years: 25-35-2-1Last 5 Years Home: 12-17-1-0Last 5 Years Away: 13-18-1-1

LEADERSPoints: Findlay & Manderson  – 32Goals: Perry – 15Assists: Findlay & Manderson – 22+/-: Manderson – +16PIM: Miller – 39SOG: Faille – 109

BEAR TRACKER

• Denver Manderson: 2 points for 200 career points with Orlando

STREAKS

• Crane: 4-game point streak: (5g-1a)
• Findlay: 5-game point streak (4g-4a)

AFFILIATE NOTES:The Toronto Marlies earned a 4-1 win over Albany on Sunday, and resume play after the holiday break on Monday, when they host the St. John’s IceCaps. The Toronto Maple Leafs square off in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche tonight at 9 p.m.

NEW APP:The Solar Bears have released a brand-new mobile app, presented by BB&T, giving Solar Bears fans everything they need right in their pocket. The app is also home to the brand-new Loyalty & Rewards Program, which provides Solar Bears fans with opportunities to accumulate points and redeem them for exclusive prizes. The new app is FREE and available for both iOS and Android devices.

NEXT HOME GAMES:

• Solar Bears vs. Florida Everblades - Tuesday, Dec. 27 - 7 p.m.
• Coors Light Countdown to New Year’s – Solar Bears vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits - Friday, Dec. 30 - 7 p.m.
• Coors Light Countdown to New Year’s – Solar Bears vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits - Saturday, Dec. 31 - 4 p.m.

Single-game tickets are now on sale at the Amway Center box office and ticketmaster.com. Full and half-season ticket plans are now available by visiting OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com.