Game Preview: Solar Bears at Stingrays - Jan. 26, 2018

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears at South Carolina StingraysVENUE:  North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, S.CDATE: Friday, Jan. 26, 7:05 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: ESPN Orlando (580 AM)  

TONIGHT: The Solar Bears (18-17-5-1) return to action against the South Carolina Stingrays (24-10-4-1) in their fifth meeting of the season with their division rival. The Solar Bears are 4-0-0-0 against the Stingrays this season.

BEARS CAN MOVE INTO THIRD THIS WEEKEND: Entering tonight’s game, the Solar Bears sit just three points back of third-place Atlanta, who Orlando will face on Sunday afternoon. The Solar Bears have three games in hand on the Gladiators, who host the Norfolk Admirals tonight and tomorrow.

HEETER STIFLING ‘RAYS: Cal Heeter has been in goal for all four games against South Carolina this season, and his performance against the Stingrays has been nothing short of impressive. The goalie has posted a stingy 1.72 goals-against average and an eye-popping .944 save percentage in the head-to-head series.

PERRY SURGING: Joe Perry enters tonight’s game off his best four-game stretch of the season; the forward has recorded five points (2g-3a) over his last four games for the Solar Bears. Perry has also helped generate offense in the form of averaging 3.75 shots per game over that span.

STREAKS:

• Joshua Winquist – 3-game point streak (1g-2a)
• J.J. Piccinich – 2-game point streak (2g-3a)
• Joe Perry – 2-game point streak (1g-3a)
• Chris Crane – 2-game point streak (2g-1a)

MILESTONES:

• Kale Kerbashian – 2 points from 250 career pro points (91g-157a)
• Alex Gudbranson – 3 points from 50 career pro points (12g-35a)

AFFILIATE NOTES: Solar Bears defenseman Nolan Valleau could have an opportunity to make his debut for Orlando’s AHL affiliate when the Toronto Marlies (30-11-0-1) take on the Rochester Americans tonight at 7 p.m. at Ricoh Coliseum. Orlando’s ECHL All-Star defenseman signed a PTO earlier this week with Toronto. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs (28-18-5-0) wrapped up a 4-1 win at Dallas last night as the NHL prepares for its All-Star Game this weekend.

NEXT GAME:  The Solar Bears are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 27, when they face the South Carolina Stingrays at the North Charleston Coliseum at 7:05 p.m. The Solar Bears return home to play the Florida Everblades on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center at 7 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.