Solar Bears ink veteran forward Kale Kerbashian

Orlando also receives Heeter, King from Toronto Marlies

Photo credit: www.SceneByKimberly.com

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears have announced that the club has agreed to terms with veteran forward Kale Kerbashian on an ECHL Standard Player Contract. Additionally, goaltender Cal Heeter and rookie defenseman Jeff King have been reassigned to Orlando by the Toronto Marlies, Orlando’s American Hockey League affiliate.

Kerbashian, 27, has skated in 291 professional games, logging a combined 245 points (89g-156a) and 205 penalty minutes in the AHL (Connecticut), ECHL (Wheeling, Greenville, Gwinnett, Evansville, Rapid City, Wichita and Allen), Central Hockey League (Allen) and Australian Ice Hockey League (Newcastle).

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound forward helped the Allen Americans capture back-to-back CHL Ray Miron President’s Cups in 2013 and 2014 alongside current Solar Bears alternate captain Darryl Bootland.

Prior to turning pro, the Thunder Bay, Ontario native played 252 games in the Ontario Hockey League with London, Mississauga and Sarnia, recording 207 points (87g-120a) and 157 penalty minutes.

Heeter, 29, returns to Orlando where he has posted an 8-7-3 record in 21 appearances this season to go along with a 3.02 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. Heeter’s 1,133 minutes played ranks eighth and his 518 saves rank 13th among all ECHL netminders.

King, 21, rejoins the Solar Bears, where he has put up six points (2g-4a) and four penalty minutes in 24 games this season.

Orlando has also released rookie defenseman Mackenzie Braid and rookie goaltender Gordon Defiel.

Braid, 24, appeared in nine games with the Solar Bears this season, going scoreless with 26 penalty minutes.

Defiel, 24, made his ECHL debut with Orlando on Saturday at Florida, making 22 saves on 25 shots against in a relief appearance.

The Solar Bears visit the Florida Everblades tonight in a Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game at Germain Arena at 7:30 p.m. Orlando returns 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 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 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.