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Rugged Forward Kelly Bent Returns To Solar Bears

Monday, September 30th
Rugged Forward Kelly Bent Returns To Solar Bears

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, announced forward Kelly Bent has agreed to terms on an ECHL Standard Player Contract, re-signing for the 2024-25 season.

Bent, 29, returns for his second season in purple and orange after leading the Solar Bears and recording a career-high in penalty minutes during the 2023-24 season with 174. The 6-foot-3, 203-pound forward appeared in 62 games last season with Orlando and Wichita, posting seven points (6g-1a). 

Bent has appeared in 137 ECHL games over four seasons with Kansas City, Allen, Wichita and Orlando, scoring 15 points (9g-6a) and recording 428 penalty minutes. 

Prior to his professional career, the Halifax, Nova Scotia native played USports at Dalhousie University from 2016-2020, scoring 26 points (10g-16a) in 116 games. Bent also played major junior hockey from 2012-2016 for Prince Edward Island, Gatineau, Saint John, and Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), scoring 36 points (13g-23a) and racking up 522 penalty minutes in 215 regular season games. 

During the 2015-16 season, Bent was the QMJHL’s most penalized player with 150 minutes in penalties.  

The Orlando Solar Bears have also announced four players have signed tryout contracts ahead of training camp. 

  • D Gabriel Belley-Pelletier (Professional Tryout) 
  • G Ryan Kenny (Professional Tryout) 
  • G Jaxon Friedman (Amateur Tryout) 
  • F Janis Vizbelis (Amateur Tryout) 

Belley-Pelletier, 23, appeared in 24 games last season for Tours (France2), scoring eight points (1g-7a) and recording 33 penalty minutes. The Saint-Pascal, Quebec native has previous experience in the ECHL, appearing in 16 games for Fort Wayne and Trois-Rivières during the 2021-22 season.   

Kenny, 25, spent most of the 2023-24 season with the Fayetteville Marksmen of the SPHL, posting a 18-10-4 record in 32 games and led the league with a .929 save percentage. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida native appeared in two ECHL games last season for Reading and Atlanta.  

Friedman, 25, spent four years at Johnson & Wales University (NCAA Div. III) going 5-16-1 in 24 games. The Kennebunk, Maine native made a season-high 51 saves on December 2, 2023 at Hobart College. 

Vizbelis, 25, is coming off four years of college hockey at Elmira College (NCAA Div. III) scoring 86 points (45g-41a) in 94 games. During the 2021-22 season, the Riga, Latvia native was named New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Third Team All-Conference.

Solar Bears 2024 Preseason Roster:

Forwards: Tyler BirdAlex Frye, Brayden Low, Spencer Kersten, Tanner Schachle, Aaron Luchuk, Ryan Mahshie, Kohei Sato, Jesse Jacques, Jarrett Lee, Carson Focht, Thomas Belgarde, Anthony Bardaro, Kelly Bent
Defensemen: Chandler Romeo, Robbie Stucker, Avery Winslow, Matt Stief, Ben Carroll, Wyatt Wilson, Jimmy Mazza
GoaltendersAlexis Gravel

Upcoming Games

Full Schedule
Savannah Ghost Pirates
Orlando Solar Bears
Saturday, October 26th
Savannah Ghost Pirates @ Orlando Solar Bears
Puck Drops:
7:00 PM EDT
Kia Center
Savannah Ghost Pirates
SAV Savannah Ghost Pirates
at
Orlando Solar Bears
ORL Orlando Solar Bears
Kia Center

Upcoming Home Games

Full Schedule
Savannah Ghost Pirates
Orlando Solar Bears
Saturday, October 26th
Savannah Ghost Pirates @ Orlando Solar Bears
Puck Drops:
7:00 PM EDT
Kia Center
Savannah Ghost Pirates
SAV Savannah Ghost Pirates
at
Orlando Solar Bears
ORL Orlando Solar Bears
Kia Center
Jacksonville Icemen
Orlando Solar Bears
Saturday, November 2nd
Jacksonville Icemen @ Orlando Solar Bears
Puck Drops:
7:00 PM EDT
Kia Center
Jacksonville Icemen
JAX Jacksonville Icemen
at
Orlando Solar Bears
ORL Orlando Solar Bears
Kia Center
Savannah Ghost Pirates
Orlando Solar Bears
Monday, November 4th
Savannah Ghost Pirates @ Orlando Solar Bears
Puck Drops:
7:00 PM EST
Kia Center
Savannah Ghost Pirates
SAV Savannah Ghost Pirates
at
Orlando Solar Bears
ORL Orlando Solar Bears
Kia Center

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