Valleau heads to Chicago Wolves

Solar Bears defenseman signs try-out with AHL club

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears have announced that defenseman Nolan Valleau has signed a Professional Try-Out agreement with the Chicago Wolves, the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights. Additionally, the team has signed goaltender Mavric Parks to an ECHL Standard Player Contract.

Valleau, 25, leads all Solar Bears defensemen in scoring with 30 points (8g-22a) in 36 games, and has served as an alternate captain for Orlando this season. Valleau’s 30 points are also currently tied for sixth among all ECHL blueliners. Earlier this month, Valleau represented the Solar Bears at the 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic in Indianapolis, where he also won the hardest shot competition with a 97 mph shot.

This is Valleau’s second PTO signed with an AHL club this season; the Novi, Mich. native had previously signed a try-out with the Toronto Marlies on Jan. 22, but was released five days later without seeing any game action.

Parks, 27, has appeared in 27 games this season with the Birmingham Bulls of the Southern Professional Hockey League, going 6-16-4 with a 3.17 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage that ranks sixth in the SPHL. Parks has posted a lifetime record of 13-20-5 in 39 SPHL contests, with a 3.26 goals-against average, a .909 save percentage and one shutout. Parks also previously appeared in three games with the Adirondack Thunder in 2015-16, going 0-1-0 with a 1.72 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.

Prior to turning pro, Parks appeared in 79 games with the University of Prince Edward Island, where he won 33 games to accompany a .907 save percentage. Parks played four seasons of major junior hockey in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers, Kingston Frontenacs, Barrie Colts and Saginaw Spirit, appearing 170 games, where he totaled an 84-61-11 record. Parks was a part of 2009-10 Barrie Colts squad that advanced to the OHL Finals – the Eganville, Onatio native went 7-3 in the OHL playoffs with a 2.29 goals-against average, a .926 save percentage and one shutout.

The Solar Bears are back in action on Friday, Feb. 2 when they face the South Carolina Stingrays at the North Charleston Coliseum at 7:05 p.m. – Friday’s game will air on ESPN 580 Orlando and will also be available on Facebook Live as this week’s ECHL.TV Showcase Game. 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 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.