Solar Bears acquire Robbie Baillargeon from Stingrays

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Orlando Solar Bears have announced that the club has acquired rookie forward Robbie Baillargeon from the South Carolina Stingrays in exchange for future considerations. Additionally, forward Max Novak has been recalled to the Toronto Marlies, Orlando’s AHL affiliate, while defenseman Nolan Valleau has signed a Professional Try-Out Agreement with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.

Baillargeon (buh-LAIR-zhee-on), 24, has skated in 21 games with South Carolina this season, where he has produced nine assists and eight penalty minutes.

Prior to turning pro, the Enfield, Conn. native completed his collegiate career at Arizona State University, where he played as a graduate student for the Sun Devils for the 2016-17 season, playing in 28 games and tying for the team lead in scoring with 21 points (9g-12a). The 6-foot, 175-pound forward also played three seasons for Boston University, helping lead the Terriers to a Hockey East Championship and an appearance in the NCAA National Championship game in 2015. In three seasons at B.U. from 2013-16, Baillargeon played in 101 games and registered 55 points (19g-36a). During his time with the Terriers, Baillargeon was also teammates with Solar Bears forward J.J. Piccinich.

Baillargeon also played two seasons of junior hockey in the United State Hockey League with the Indiana Ice and Omaha Lancers, notching 89 points (32g-57a) and 84 penalty minutes over 109 games.

Baillargeon was a fifth-round selection (#136) of the Ottawa Senators in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Novak, 26, returns to Toronto, where he has already skated in one game with the Marlies this season. He has also suited up in 54 games with the Solar Bears, where he is second in team scoring with 44 points (16g-28a) and 26 penalty minutes.

Valleau, 25, heads to Rockford, where he originally began his career skating in 108 games over two seasons, logging 20 points (4g-16a) and 34 penalty minutes. This season, his third as a professional, the Novi, Mich. native has contributed 30 points (8g-22a) in 36 games for the Solar Bears, and has also skated in seven games with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

The Solar Bears continue their three-game road trip when they take on the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Saturday, March 8 at 7 p.m. from Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Orlando returns home to face the Florida Everblades on Thursday, March 15 in a Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game. 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.

Fiesta 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 Noche Latina game, presented by Auto Justice Attorney Michael T. Gibson on Friday, March 23! 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.