Solar Bears limited to 14 shots in loss

ESTERO, Fla. – A slow start in the first period gave way to a five-goal run from the opposition as the Orlando Solar Bears (13-15-4-1) dropped a 7-1 decision to the Florida Everblades (22-5-1-2) in the fifth Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game of the season on Saturday night at Germain Arena.

Orlando was limited to a season-low 14 shots on goal in the loss, which also tied the franchise mark previously set on Oct. 19, 2013 vs. Florida.

Click here for the box score.

SCORING SUMMARY

Orlando: Joe Perry (Max Novak)

Goaltender: Mackenzie Skapski (15/19), Gordon Defiel (22/25)

Florida: Zack Kamrass (Michael Kirkpatrick, Quentin Shore), John McCarron (Clark Seymour), Stephen MacAulay (Matt Mackenzie, Shore), MacAulay (Nelson Armstrong, Kirkpatrick), Tyler Ganly (Nolan LaPorte, Armstrong), LaPorte (Justin Kea, Logan Roe)

Goaltender: Martin Ouellette (13/14)

ON THE SCORESHEET

• Joe Perry scored Orlando’s lone goal at 13:03 of the second period when he teamed up with Max Novak for a 2-on-1 and beat Martin Ouellette for his fourth goal of the season.
• Max Novak assisted on Perry’s goal, extending his point streak to three games (1g-3a).
• Mackenzie Skapski took the loss with 15 saves on 19 shots against in 25:33 of action.
• Gordon Defiel made 22 saves on 25 shots against i 34:27 of relief time after replacing Skapski for his ECHL debut.

NOTABLES

• The Solar Bears still maintain a one-point lead on the Atlanta Gladiators for fourth place in the South Division, following Atlanta’s 3-1 loss at South Carolina.
• The Solar Bears finished the month of December with a 7-6-1-1 record.
• Orlando’s two shots in the first period and three shots in the third represented the fewest shots that the team has recorded in each frame this season.
• Darryl Bootland, Todd Skirving and Joshua Winquist led the Solar Bears with two shots on goal.
• The Everblades now hold an 8-3 point advantage in the Wawa Sunshine Cup Series. Orlando takes on the Everblades again in its next game on Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Germain Arena at 7:30 p.m.
• The Solar Bears return home to host the Jacksonville Icemen at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 1:30 p.m. Single-game tickets for the 2017-18 season are now on sale at the Amway Center box office and ticketmaster.com.

THREE STARS1) Stephen MacAulay – FLA2) Nolan LaPorte – FLA3) Tyler Ganly – FLA

About the Orlando Solar Bears:The Orlando Solar Bears are in their sixth season of operation in the ECHL, the premier “AA” hockey league in North America, and are the proud affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. The Solar Bears are owned and operated by the Orlando Magic and the DeVos Family, and play at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, the 2012 Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year.

Fighting Four Packs, presented by CenturyLink, are now available for purchase! Pick four games and get gift certificates to Sonny’s BBQ, Dick’s Sporting Goods, QDOBA Mexican Eats and a FREE center ice ticket to the our Hockey Fights Cancer Night game, presented by XYMOPRINT on Saturday, Feb. 17! Packs start as low as $64 and include $68 in FREE gifts! Click here or call (407) 951-8200 for more information.

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