Solar Bears cruise to 5-2 victory over Everblades

Brock Montgomery nets Teddy Bear Toss goal

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears (11-5-2-0) earned a 5-2 victory over the Florida Everblades (12-3-1-2) as the team celebrated its annual Teddy Bear Toss, presented by Tijuana Flats, on Friday night at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center.

Click here for the box score.

It didn’t take long for the teddy bears to hit the ice, as the Solar Bears gained an early first period lead when Austin Block fed the puck to Brock Montgomery in the slot from behind the net and Montgomery snapped the puck past Anthony Peters at 3:48 in his first shift back since beginning the season on injured reserve.

In the second period Denver Manderson received a Brett Findlay pass from the left corner and beat Peters at 13:33. Chris Crane increased Orlando’s lead after Montgomery left the puck for Crane at the left circle, and Crane snapped the puck through the five hole of Peters at 15:43.

The Everblades got on the board with a goal at 16:35 when Danny New cranked a shot past Ryan Massa from the right circle.

Manderson scored on an unassisted breakaway at 4:13 in the third period, and the Bears gained their widest lead of the night when Patrick Watling buried a tic-tac-toe feed from Crane at 11:14.

Adam Brace brought the Everblades back by a goal with a late tally following a faceoff at 18:03.

Massa earned the victory with 25 stops on 27 shots against – the win gave him 27 in his career with the Solar Bears, passing Garret Sparks for the most in franchise history; Peters took the loss with 31 saves on 36 shots against.

Three Stars:

1) Denver Manderson – ORL2) Brock Montgomery – ORL3) Chris Crane – ORL

NOTES:

• Orlando now has a 1-1-0-0 head-to-head record against the Everblades in the Wawa Sunshine Cup series.
• The Solar Bears have now won five consecutive games and are unbeaten in regulation (6-0-1-0) since Drake Berehowsky was named to the head coach position.
• Orlando finished it’s 10-game homestand with a 7-2-1-0 record.
• With the win, the Solar Bears now sit in second place in the South Division.

NEXT HOME GAMES:

• Ugly Sweater jersey – Solar Bears vs. Florida Everblades – Thursday, Dec. 22 – 7 p.m.
• Solar Bears vs. Florida Everblades – Tuesday, Dec. 27 – 7 p.m.
• Solar Bears vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits – Friday, Dec. 30 – 7 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.

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.

The Orlando Solar Bears are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL’s Toronto Marlies, and play all of their home games at the ARS.com Rink at 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 SolarBearsHockey.

Season tickets, Corporate Flex vouchers, and Group tickets are a great way to entertain employees, co-workers, clients, friends and family. For more information on all of the Solar Bears ticket packages, call (407) 951-8200 or visit orlandosolarbearshockey.com/groups.

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