Bear Bites: Week of March 21, 2022

ORLANDO, Fla. – The playoff push heats up this week as the Orlando Solar Bears host a trio of home games at the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center, as Orlando hosts the Florida Everblades and a pair of contests against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

THIS WEEK’S GAMES:

• Thursday, March 24 vs. Florida Everblades – 7 p.m. – Thirsty Thursday, featuring $5 domestic draft beers
• Friday, March 25 vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits – 7 p.m. – Teacher Appreciation Night presented by First Watch & Deaf/Hard of Hearing Night
• Sunday, March 27 vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits – 2 p.m. – Hockey Fights Cancer presented by AdventHealth / VyStar Credit Union Sunday

Sunday’s game is a VyStar Credit Union Solar Bears Sunday – The first 100 VyStar members who present their VyStar debit/credit card at the Amway Center box office can score a free pair of tickets to the game. Once all 100 pairs are claimed, VyStar members cans till take advantage of a buy-one, get-one ticket offer. Visit vystarcu.org/solarbears for more info.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

• Monday, March 21 at RDV Sportsplex Ice Den – 10 a.m.
• Tuesday, March 22 at RDV Sportplex Ice Den – 10 a.m.
• Wednesday, March 23 at RDV Sportsplex Ice Den – 10 a.m.
• Thursday, March 24 at AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center – Morning skate/Gameday
• Friday, March 25 at AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center – Morning skate/Gameday

All Solar Bears practices at the RDV Sportsplex Ice Den are open to the public. Practice times are subject to change.

The Orlando Solar Bears along with VyStar Credit Union, have announced the launch of a co-branded debit card, available now for all VyStar Credit Union members.

Fans can get a Solar Bears debit card when they open a VyStar account with a minimum balance of $5 at any branch location. They can also apply for membership online at apply.vystarcu.org but will need to visit a branch to get a Solar Bears card. Current members can request a co-branded card by visiting a branch, calling 800-445-6289 or speaking to a VyChat representative at www.vystarcu.org.

AT A GLANCE

SEASON RECORD: 29-27-4-0 (.517)LAST WEEK’S RECORD: 0-3-0-0RECORD IN LAST 10 GAMES: 4-6-0-0SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS: 4th of 7

ACTIVE LEADERS

TOP SCORER: Tristin Langan – 38 pointsMOST GOALS: Tyler Bird & Luke Boka – 14MOST ASSISTS: Michael Brodzinski – 29 assistsPIM LEADER: Luke McInnis – 51 PIMPLUS-MINUS LEADER: Tyler Bird – +7

LAST WEEK’S GAMES:

Tuesday, March 15 at Atlanta Gladiators: 3-2 LFabrizio Ricci and Jake Transit scored, but the Gladiators netted two goals in a 12-second span to tie the game and Kamerin Nault netted the game-winner with the man advantage with less than four minutes to play.

Friday, March 18 at Florida Everblades: 3-0 LTomas Vomacka made 23 saves for his second shutout of the season to blank the Solar Bears.

Saturday, March 19 at Florida Everblades: 3-2 LTristin Langan netted his 54th career goal with the Solar Bears, but the Everblades scored late goals in the first and second periods to take a 2-1 lead. After Hunter Fejes scored in the third period to tie the game, the Everblades countered on the ensuing faceoff.

BITES:

• Odeen Tufto leads the Solar Bears in March with 10 points (2g-8a) in 10 games.
• Tyler Bird leads Orlando for the month with 30 shots in nine games.
• Shawn Element (currently with AHL Syracuse) leads the Solar Bears for the month with a plus-minus of +4.
• The Solar Bears are 5-8-0-0 against Florida, with two games remaining in the regular season series.
• Orlando is 1-2-1-0 against Greenville, with three games remaining in the regular season series.
• Brad Barone is tied for the ECHL lead with 22 wins; his next victory will tie Clint Windsor (2020-21) for the most wins by a Solar Bears goaltender in a single season.
• The Solar Bears lead the ECHL with 18 wins when tied after the first period.
• Tristin Langan scored his 54th career goal with the Solar Bears on Saturday at Florida, passing Joe Perry for the most regular season goals in club history. He already ranks first on the team’s all-time scoring list with 138 points (54g-84a).
• The Solar Bears are 17-1-1-0 when leading after two periods.

BEARS IN THE NHL:

Several former Solar Bears have appeared on NHL rosters during the 2021-22 season – here we will track their performance:

* Currently assigned to AHL

BEAR TRACKS PRESENTED BY PINK WHITNEY BY NEW AMSTERDAM VODKA:

On the latest episode of Bear Tracks, presented by Pink Whitney by New Amsterdam Vodka, we're joined by rookie forward Jackson Keane, who joined the Solar Bears for his first full season of pro hockey after getting into nine games with the Wheeling Nailers following a three-year stint at the University of North Dakota. The son of three-time Stanley Cup champion Mike Keane, Jackson talks about his time growing up in Winnipeg, his friendship with Solar Bears teammate Odeen Tufto and how he has adjusted to the ups and downs of pro hockey.

BECOME A VYSTAR CREDIT UNION MEMBER! 

VyStar Credit Union is the official credit union of the Orlando Solar Bears – take advantage of member benefits including discounted tickets and more! 

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A VYSTAR CREDIT UNION MEMBER