ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, announced Wednesday forward Spencer Kersten has been named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team for the 2024-25 season.
Kersten, 24, is the second Solar Bear in history to be named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team, joining Joseph Gareffa, who tallied 21 points in 41 games during the 2020-21 season.
The Waterloo, ON native has appeared in nine games scoring one goal with the Syracuse Crunch this season after signings an American Hockey League (AHL) contract on February 23. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound forward also skated in two AHL games with the Belleville Senators this season.
Kersten is third in ECHL rookie point scoring (54) and tied for fourth in goals (24). He was named ECHL Rookie of the Month in January recording 17 points (11g-6a) in 12 games. He is currently tied with T.J Foster, who set the Solar Bears single-season, rookie plateau with 54 points during the 2015-16 season.
Prior to his professional career, Kersten appeared in 36 games during the 2023-24 season at Bowling Green State University, scoring 16 points (9g-7a). The 5-foot-10, 187-pound forward played at Princeton University from 2019-2023, scoring 38 points (15g-23a) in 93 games, while captaining the 2022-23 team.
During his time at Princeton, Kersten was a three-time Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) All-Academic player.
2024-25 ECHL All-Rookie Team:
G – Justen Close, Jacksonville Icemen
D – Parker Berge, Idaho Steelheads
D – Chas Sharpe, Cincinnati Cyclones
F – Spencer Kersten, Orlando Solar Bears
F – Kyler Kupka, South Carolina Stingrays
F – Sloan Stanick, Tahoe Knight Monsters
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