Three agree to terms with Solar Bears

Orlando also extends try-outs to three

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears have agreed to terms with rookie forwards Jeremy Olinyk and Michael Turner and rookie defenseman MacKenzie Braid for the 2017-18 season. Additionally, the Solar Bears have extended try-out offers to forwards Donny Flynn and Brandon Platt, and defenseman Mike Chen.

Olinyk, 25, will begin his first season of professional hockey after spending the 2016-17 season with St. Norbert College, where he compiled 16 points (7g-9a) and 14 penalty minutes in 22 games. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native had transferred to St. Norbert from Adrian College, where he logged an additional 78 points (29g-49a) and 70 penalty minutes in 81 games. He is currently attending training camp with Orlando’s AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.

Turner, 22, returns to Orlando after skating in four games with the Solar Bears during the 2016-17 campaign, during which he racked up seven minutes in the penalty box. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound forward also notched four points (1g-3a) and 11 penalty minutes in 19 contests with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and added 15 points (6g-9a) and 29 penalty minutes in 25 games with the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs.

Prior to turning pro, the native of Chicago, Ill. had captured an Ontario Hockey League championship with the Oshawa Generals in 2015-16, recording 12 points (6g-6a) and 24 penalty minutes in 41 games.

Braid, 24, begins his first full season of professional hockey after appearing in four games with the ECHL’s Brampton Beast in 2016-17. He also skated in four contests with GKS Katowice, a club in Poland’s Polska Hockej Liga, where he notched two assists and two penalty minutes.

Prior to turning pro, the 6-foot, 185-pound defenseman played three seasons at Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo, Ontario), where he amassed 24 points (8g-16a) and 91 penalty minutes in 70 games.

Braid also skated in 133 Ontario Hockey League games with the Barrie Colts, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Windsor Spitfires and Sudbury Wolves, logging 21 points (6g-15a) and 135 penalty minutes.

The native of Mississauga, Ontario is the son of Dawn Braid, who was hired as the first full-time female coach in NHL history when the Arizona Coyotes named her their skating coach on Aug. 24, 2016.

Flynn, 20, enters his first pro season after leading the Eastern Hockey League in scoring during the 2016-17 season with 76 points (18g-58a) and 197 penalty minutes in 47 games for the New Jersey Rockets, earning EHL (South) First All-Star Team honors.

Platt, 25, completed a four-year career with NCAA Division III program Salem State College this past season, where he recorded 63 points (25g-38a) and 30 penalty minutes in 80 career games. The Pittsburgh, Penn. native has also skated in the North American Hockey League with the Aberdeen Wings, Johnstown Tomahawks and Texas Tornado, logging 34 points (14g-20a) and 45 penalty minutes in 97 career games.

Chen, 24, spent the last three seasons with Salem State after transferring from Concordia University following his freshman season. In 87 career college games, the 5-foot-8, 170-pound blueliner logged 32 points (11g-21a) and 47 penalty minutes. The Rockville, Md. native also skated in 41 NAHL games with the New Mexico Mustangs and Topeka Roadrunners, tallying nine assists and 33 penalty minutes.

The Orlando Solar Bears drop the puck on their 2017-18 home schedule on Saturday, Oct. 28 against the Atlanta Gladiators at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center. Single-game tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 29 at the Amway Center box office and ticketmaster.com at 10 a.m.

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.

Full Season Ticket Memberships for the 2017-18 season are on sale now. Purchase an Orlando Solar Bears Full Season Ticket Membership for as little as $440 today! Click here or call (407) 951-8200 for more information.

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