Bear Bites | Week of April 14

Hockey Season or Not, the Heat Never Stops! 🏒🔥

The regular season may be over, but the heat keeps going! Keep the fire alive all year long with 15% off all Stanky Sauce flavors, including Solar Flare Hot Sauce—the official hot sauce of the Orlando Solar Bears! Plus, enjoy FREE shipping on orders of $40 or more!

Use code GOBEARS15 at checkout and keep bringing the heat to every meal.

🔥 Shop Now & Save 15% 🔥

This offer is valid year-round at stankysauce.com, but cannot be combined with other discounts or applied to bundle packs.
Stay bold, stay spicy, and Go Bears! 🐻‍❄️🔥

#1 South Carolina Stingrays (52-15-5) vs. #4 Orlando Solar Bears (37-25-10)

Game 1 – Friday, April 18 at 7:-05 p.m. ET at South Carolina
Game 2 – Saturday, April 19 at 6:05 p.m. ET at South Carolina
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. ET at Orlando
Note: Dates for games 4 & 5 in Orlando are TBD based on Orlando Magic playoff schedule
Game 6 – Tuesday, April 29 at 7:05 p.m. ET at South Carolina (If Necessary)
Game 7 – Wednesday, April 30 at 7:05 p.m. ET at South Carolina (If Necessary)

AT A GLANCE:
2024-25 RECORD: 37-25-10-0 (.583)
LAST WEEK’S RECORD: 2-0-0-0

2024-25 LEADERS:
TOP SCORER: Aaron Luchuk - 59 points
MOST GOALS: Spencer Kersten – 25 goals
MOST ASSISTS: Aaron Luchuk – 35 assists
PIM LEADER: Kelly Bent – 217 PIM
PLUS-MINUS LEADER: Spencer Kersten - +19

LAST WEEK’S GAMES:
Friday, April 11 vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits: 3-0 W
Video Highlights | Box Score
Solar Bears goaltender Jon Gilles shut down the Swamp Rabbits, making 34 saves and earning his first ECHL shutout. Aaron Luchuk (24), Jaydon Dureau (14), and Tyler Bird (20) all tallied for the Solar Bears in a dominating 3-0 victory in front of a sellout crowd at Kia Center.

Sunday, April 13 at Jacksonville Icemen: 3-2 W
Box Score
The Solar Bears wrapped up the 2024-25 season with a one-goal victory of the Jacksonville Icemen. Milo Roelens tallied his first as a Solar Bear in the first period, but the Solar Bears trailed 2-1 after the first period. Rookie Ryan O'Reilly scored his first professional goal in the second period to tie the score the score and Spencer Kersten gave Orlando the lead with his 25th goal of the season and 55th point, becoming the new Solar Bears single-season rookie scoring leader.

 BITES: 

• Jon Gilles recorded his first ECHL shutout with 34 saves Friday night vs. Greenville.
• Tyler Bird tallied his 200th professional point Friday night vs. Greenville.
• Ryan O'Reilly scored his first professional goal Sunday at Jacksonville.
• Cole Kodsi picked up his first professional point on an assist on Milo Roelens goal Sunday at Jacksonville.
• Orlando has 35+ wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2013-14 (43 - most in franchise history) and 2014-15 season (37)
• Orlando meets South Carolina in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the third time. Orlando is 2-0 in their all-time meetings and holds an 8-1 head-to-head against South Carolina in the playoffs. Last meeting was 2019 South Division Semi-Final, ORL def SC, 4-1.

BEARS IN THE NHL:
Two former Solar Bears currently occupy spots on NHL rosters for the 2024-25 season – here we will track their progress:

• Darcy Kuemper - Goaltender - Los Angeles Kings - 49 GP, 30-11-7, .921%
• Mason Marchment - Forward - Dallas Stars - 61 GP, 21g-25a