Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Gladiators | Dec. 21, 2021

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears (13-10-1-0) host Teddy Bear Toss, presented by Janney Roofing, when they take the ice against the Atlanta Gladiators (11-11-2-0) tonight at 7 p.m. from the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center. The Solar Bears last hosted the Gladiators on Oct. 23, a 3-1 Solar Bears win. This will be the only other visit Atlanta makes to Orlando during the regular season in 2021-22.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

TEDDY BEAR TOSS GOAL HISTORY:2012-13: Dec. 7 vs. Fort Wayne: Nick Petersen – 9:05 of second period2013-14: Dec. 7 vs. South Carolina: Colton Jobke – 19:54 of third period2014-15: Dec. 11 vs. Elmira: Ben Rosen – 1:03 of first period2015-16: Dec. 5 vs. Atlanta: Christopher Clapperton – 9:09 of second period2016-17: Dec. 2 vs. Florida: Brock Montgomery – 3:48 of first period2017-18: Dec. 23 vs. Norfolk: Joe Perry – 16:20 of first period2018-19: Dec. 21 vs. Florida: Mitch Hults – 5:09 of second period2019-20: Dec. 7 vs. Atlanta: Tayler Thompson – 7:26 of second period

Most Teddy Bears collected: 8,454; 2019-20

• Orlando and Atlanta have each earned two wins against each other this season through four games of the six-game regular season series.
• Zach Émond is 1-1-0 against Atlanta this season with a .902 save percentage.
• Jake Transit enters tonight’s game with a two-game goal-scoring streak to begin his professional career.
• Luke Boka enters tonight’s game with a two-game goal-scoring streak and netted the game-winner for Orlando on Nov. 23 at Atlanta in a 1-0 overtime victory.
• Orlando is 11-0-0-0 when scoring first, and 10-2-1-0 when scoring a goal in the first period.
• Gladiators captain Derek Nesbitt will be playing in his 999th regular season professional game. The 39-year-old forward was previously coached by Solar Bears head coach Drake Berehowsky from 2010-12, when Berehowsky was an assistant coach with the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen.

NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears return from the holiday break when they host the Florida Everblades for the first time this season, on Sunday, Dec. 26 at 7 p.m. at the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center. Sunday’s game is a VyStar Solar Bears Sunday – the first 100 VyStar Credit Union Members to show their VyStar debit/credit card at the Amway Center box office can score a pair of free tickets to the game. Once all 100 pairs of tickets are claimed, VyStar members can still take advantage of a buy-one-get-one ticket offer.