Bear Bites | Week of April 28

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

the heat keeps going IN THE PLAYOFFS! 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! 🐻‍❄️🔥

AT A GLANCE:
2024-25 PLAYOFF RECORD: 3-1-2 (.500)
LAST WEEK’S RECORD: 3-0-1

2024-25 PLAYOFF LEADERS:
TOP SCORER: Aaron Luchuk - 8 points
MOST GOALS: Aaron Luchuk – 5 goals (Leads ECHL)
MOST ASSISTS: Mark Auk, Ara Nazarian – 4 assists
PIM LEADER: Kelly Bent – 14 PIM
PLUS-MINUS LEADER: Tyler Bird, Brayden Low - +5

LAST WEEK’S GAMES:
Monday, April 21 Game Three vs. South Carolina: 4-2 W
Video Highlights | Box Score
The Solar Bears were lead by the first playoff hat trick in franchise history by Tyler Bird and Jon Gillies made 39 saves en route to a 4-2 win in Game Three. Brayden Low also recorded a goal for Orlando in the win. The Solar Bears were 5-for-5 on the penalty kill in Game Three.

Wednesday, April 23 Game Four vs. South Carolina: 3-2 W OT
Video Highlights | Box Score
Ara Nazarian provided the overtime winner as the Solar Bears tied the series, 2-2 with a 3-2, Game Four victory in Orlando. All the scoring in regulation came in the second period with Mark Auk and Aaron Luchuk scoring for Orlando and Kyler Kupka and Andrew Perrott scoring for South Carolina. Jon Gillies made a series-high, 41 saves in the win for the Bears.

Thursday, April 24 Game Five vs. South Carolina: 3-4 L OT
Video Highlights | Box Score
Game Five proved to be another tight game that saw a 2-2 after the first period, with Aaron Luchuk scoring both goals for Orlando. South Carolina took the lead in the second period, but Alex Frye tied the game with 5:37 remaining in the third period. In overtime, Charlie Combs recorded his second game-winning goal of the series to give South Carolina the series lead back.

Sunday, April 27 Game Six at South Carolina: 6-2 W
Video Highlights | Box Score
The Solar Bears stormed back with the largest margin of victory in the series with a 6-2 win in Game Six. Orlando jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead with goals from Spencer Kersten and Anthony Bardaro (2). South Carolina got on the board with a shorthanded goal in the final minute to make it 3-1 after one. The Solar Bears extended their lead again on a second period goal from Alex Frye, but again gave up a shorthanded goal to make it a 4-2 game going into the third period. Tyler Bird made it a three-goal bulge again and Spencer Kersten scored an empty net goal to secure a 6-2 win.

BITES: 

• Aaron Luchuk leads the ECHL in playoff goals with five.
• Jon Gillies leads the ECHL with 201 saves.
• Anthony Bardaro is tied for second in ECHL rookie scoring with five points.
• Orlando will play in its second Game Seven in franchise history on Tuesday night. The last was on April 26, 2017 against the Florida Everblades.

BEARS IN THE NHL:
Two former Solar Bears currently occupy spots on NHL rosters for the 2025 Playoff season – here we will track their progress:

• Darcy Kuemper - Goaltender - Los Angeles Kings - 4 GP, 2-1-0, .887%
• Mason Marchment - Forward - Dallas Stars - 4 GP, 0g-2a