Game Preview: Solar Bears at Everblades - Jan. 3, 2018

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears at Florida EverbladesVENUE: Germain Arena, Estero, Fla.DATE: Wednesday, Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: OSB Radio on Mixlr

TONIGHT: The Solar Bears (13-15-4-1) take on the Florida Everblades (22-5-1-2). Orlando currently sits at 1-3-1-0 in head-to-head competition in the Wawa Sunshine Cup Series; tonight’s game marks the second of five road matches for Orlando this season against Florida at Germain Arena. With fifth-place Atlanta also visiting Jacksonville tonight and just one point behind Orlando, the Solar Bears will look to maintain their hold on a playoff spot.

FEJES EXPECTED TO MAKE SOLAR BEARS DEBUT TONIGHT: Forward Hunter Fejes is expected to be in the lineup tonight when the Solar Bears play the Everblades. At the time of his acquisition from the Wheeling Nailers, Fejes had been leading Wheeling with 16 goals; that total is three more than Orlando’s next leading goal scorer, Joshua Winquist.

PERRY LIGHTING THE LAMP: Over his last four games, Joe Perry has scored three times and chipped in an assist. After missing 18 games due to injury from Nov. 7 through Dec. 10, Orlando’s alternate captain has started to return to the form that led to a club-leading 35 goals last season.

WINQUIST TIED WITH FLORIDA’S KIRKPATRICK IN SCORING RACE: At 35 points, Joshua Winquist finds himself tied with Florida’s Michael Kirkpatrick for sixth place in the ECHL scoring race. Both players are just four points back of Fort Wayne’s Shawn Szydlowski for first place.

STREAKS:

• Max Novak – 4-game point streak (1g-4a)

AFFILIATE NOTES: The Toronto Marlies (23-11-0-0) open the New Year with a duel against the Laval Rocket tonight at 7:30 p.m. The Marlies return to action tomorrow against Belleville. The Toronto Maple Leafs (23-16-2-0) are looking to stop a three-game skid tomorrow when they battle the San Jose Sharks tomorrow.

NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears battle the Jacksonville Icemen to begin a three-game set against their in-state rival on Friday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Arena. Friday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN 580 Orlando. Orlando is back at home on Sunday, Jan. 7 when they host the Jacksonville Icemen 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.

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 online at orlandosolarbearshockey.com/shop.