Solar Bears assigned four from Marlies

Orlando also adds Valleau and Hackett to training camp roster, now at 26

Photo credit: Christian Bonin

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears have announced that the club has been assigned rookie forwards Vladimir Bobylev, Kristian Pospisil and J.J. Piccinich and rookie defenseman Matias Cleland from the Toronto Marlies, Orlando’s American Hockey League affiliate. The Solar Bears have also added defenseman Nolan Valleau and goaltender Matt Hackett to its training camp roster, as both had previously agreed to terms with Orlando and were attending Marlies training camp.

Bobylev, 20, was a fifth-round selection (#122) of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Draft, and skated in 20 games with HC Spartak Moscow of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League last season, where he tallied three points (1g-2a) and 10 penalty minutes. The native of Lipetsk, Russia finished the season in North America skating for the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League, where he recorded 36 points (9g-27a) and 53 penalty minutes in 38 games.

Pospisil, 21, skated for the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League in 2016-17, where he amassed 40 points (15g-25a) and 111 penalty minutes in 48 regular season contests, and then added 14 points (5g-9a) and 14 penalty minutes in 13 playoff games as the Zvolen, Slovakia native led his team in scoring on the way to an appearance in the Clark Cup Finals.

Piccinich, 21, was a fourth-round selection (#103) of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2014 NHL Draft, and last year captained the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, where he logged 72 points (26g-46a) and 24 penalty minutes in 66 games. The native of Paramus, N.J. also helped London capture the Memorial Cup in 2016.

Cleland, 23, served as captain at the University of New Hampshire last season, where he tallied 36 points (3g-33a) and 22 penalty minutes in 40 games. The Longmont, Colo. native also made his pro debut with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers, netting one goal and two penalty minutes in five matches.

Orlando has also released goaltender Curtis Amado from his tryout with the club.

Orlando’s training camp roster now consists of 17 players who had agreed to terms on an ECHL contract, five on assignment from the Marlies and four attending on a try-out basis.

2017 Orlando Solar Bears Training Camp Roster:

FORWARDS: Vladimir Bobylev (TOA), Darryl Bootland, Chris Crane, Troy Crema, Donny Flynn (T), Kenton Helgesen, Chris LeBlanc, Jeremy Olinyk, Joe Perry, Brandon Platt (T), J.J. Piccinich (TOA), Kristian Pospisil (TOA), Kyle Rankin, Todd Skirving, Michael Turner, Mike Vaskivuo

DEFENSEMEN: MacKenzie Braid, Mike Chen (T), Matias Cleland (TOA), Jeff King (TOA), Mike Monfredo, Adam Phillips, Nolan Valleau, Sean Zimmerman

GOALTENDERS: Matt Hackett, Jesse Jenks (T)

(T = Try-Out Agreement)(TOA = AHL contract assigned by Toronto Marlies)

Fans and media are invited to attend all on-ice practice sessions at the RDV Sportsplex Ice Den, which are open to the public. Flash photography and unauthorized video recording of Orlando Solar Bears practice sessions is not permitted. The RDV Sportsplex Ice Den is located at 8701 Maitland Summit Blvd., Orlando, FL 32810.

2017-18 Orlando Solar Bears Training Camp Schedule (all dates/times subject to change):Thursday, Oct. 5 – Purple vs. Orange scrimmage (2-3:45 p.m.)Friday, Oct. 6 – Practice (9:45-10:45 a.m.)Saturday, Oct. 7 – Pre-season game at Florida Everblades (7 p.m.)Sunday, Oct. 8 – Pre-season game at Florida Everblades (5 p.m.)Monday, Oct. 9 – OFF DAYTuesday, Oct. 10 – Practice (9:45-10:45 a.m.)Wednesday, Oct. 11 - Practice (9:45-10:45 a.m)Thursday, Oct. 12 - Practice (9:45-10:45 a.m.)

Members of the media who wish to arrange interviews with Solar Bears players, coaches and team personnel should contact Solar Bears director of communications & broadcasting Jesse Liebman at jliebman@orlandosolarbearshockey.com.

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 for the 2017-18 season are now on sale 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.