Matt Carkner to pursue coaching opportunity in the American Hockey League

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, announced today Head Coach and General Manager Matt Carkner will be leaving his position immediately to pursue a coaching role in the American Hockey League.

Carkner, 44, was hired by the Solar Bears prior to the start of the 2022-23 season following a five-year stint (2016-21) as an Assistant Coach with the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League (AHL) and led the Solar Bears to two playoff appearances in his three seasons at the helm.

In each of their playoff appearances under Carkner, the Solar Bears knocked off the first place team in the South Division, including the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs, when Orlando upset the Brabham Cup Regular Season Champion South Carolina Stingrays in seven games.

Carkner's 105 regular season wins are the second most in Solar Bears history trailing only Drake Berehowsky.

As a player, Carkner enjoyed a 15-year professional career that included 237 games in the National Hockey League with the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders, where he recorded 27 points (4g-23a) and 556 penalty minutes. Carkner also played 587 games in the American Hockey League, collecting 152 points (36g-116a) and 1,756 penalty minutes with the Cleveland Barons, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Binghamton Senators and Bridgeport. Carkner served as team captain while with Cleveland and held alternate captain roles for each AHL club he played for. Carkner was named the recipient of the AHL’s Yanick Dupré Memorial Award in 2006-07 for his community involvement.

Carkner was a second-round pick (58th overall) by the Montréal Canadiens in the 1999 NHL Draft, and played four seasons of major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League with the Peterborough Petes prior to turning pro, serving as team captain in his final two seasons.

The Orlando Solar Bears thank Matt Carkner for his contribution to the organization and the Central Florida community. The search for Carkner's replacement will begin immediately.

About the Orlando Solar Bears:
The Orlando Solar Bears are the proud affiliate of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning and members of the ECHL, the premier “AA” hockey league in North America. In 13 seasons of operation, the team has qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs seven times. The Solar Bears are owned and operated by the Orlando Magic and the DeVos Family, and play at the AdventHealth Rink at Kia Center, the 2012 Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year.

 Officially licensed Orlando Solar Bears replica team jerseys, apparel, and headwear can be purchased at orlandosolarbearshockey.com/shop.