Michael Brodzinski signs for fourth season with Solar Bears

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Solar Bears have agreed to terms with defenseman Michael Brodzinski on an ECHL Standard Player Contract for the 2022-23 season.

Brodzinski, 27, enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his pro career in 2021-22, as the defenseman tallied a career-high 42 points (7g-35a) in 68 games for the Solar Bears, and skated in three contests with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.

The 2022-23 season will represent Brodzinski’s fourth total season with the Solar Bears. In his tenure with the club, he has laid claim to several individual franchise player records, including most career points by a defenseman (115), most career assists (91 – tied), most career power-play points (41) and most career power-play assists (33). Brodzinski holds the club record for most points in a single game with six (1g-5a; December 21, 2019 at Atlanta) and the fastest two goals scored at 24 seconds (February 15, 2020 vs. Norfolk). Brodzinski represented the Solar Bears at the 2020 Warrior / ECHL All-Star Classic in Wichita, Kansas.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound rearguard has accumulated 125 points (27g-98a) in 218 career ECHL games with Orlando and Allen, and he has also collected 10 points (2g-8a) in 64 AHL games with Hartford and San Jose. Brodzinski has also played overseas with Slovakian club HC Slovan Bratislava, where he produced nine points (3g-6a) in 21 games.

Prior to turning pro, the native of Ham Lake, Minnesota played college hockey at the University of Minnesota, where he generated 48 points (18g-30a) in 99 career games for the Golden Gophers program.

Brodzinski played junior hockey for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League, appearing in 64 career games and registering 34 points (16g-18a). During the 2012-13 season, Brodzinski was named a USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game selection and led all defensemen on the junior circuit with 16 goals, earning USHL All-Rookie Team and USHL Second All-Star Team honors.

Brodzinski was originally a fifth-round selection (141st overall) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2013 NHL Draft.

Orlando’s preseason roster now includes the following players:

Forwards:Braydon BarkerMatthew BarnabyTyler BirdLuke BokaRoss OlssonDante SheriffShawn Szydlowski

Defensemen:Michael BrodzinskiJimmy MazzaLuke McInnisAndrew McLeanSteven Oleksy

Goaltenders:Brad BaroneBrandon Halverson

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