ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning, announced today the club has agreed to terms with forward Brendan Harris on a contract for the 2026-27 season.
Harris, 30, joins the Solar Bears after helping the Nottingham Panthers capture both the Elite Ice Hockey League championship and IIHF Continental Cup during the 2025-26 season. The Port Jefferson, New York native brings six seasons of professional experience in North America and Europe, appearing in more than 230 games across the AHL, ECHL and EIHL.
The 5-foot-9, 161-pound forward has recorded 196 points (63g-133a) in 230 ECHL games with the Wheeling Nailers and Jacksonville Icemen, adding 46 penalty minutes and a plus-34 rating. Harris earned ECHL All-Star honors in 2023-24 after posting career highs in assists (45) and points (66), leading Jacksonville in both categories. His performance also earned a three-game call-up to the American Hockey League's Cleveland Monsters.
Prior to turning professional, Harris played four seasons at Bemidji State University, registering 56 points (17g-39a) in 104 NCAA Division I games.
Before his collegiate career, Harris spent four seasons in the BCHL, USHL and NAHL. He enjoyed a breakout season with the Wenatchee Wild in 2016-17, leading the BCHL with 98 points and earning the Vern Dye Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player. Harris was also named a BCHL First Team All-Star and received the Bob Fenton Trophy as the league's Most Sportsmanlike Player.
Solar Bears 2026 Preseason Roster:
FORWARDS: Camaryn Baber, Tyler Bird, Connor Eddy, Brendan Harris, Massimo Lombardi, Aaron Luchuk, Keegan McMullen, John Parker-Jones, Kobe Walker, Luciano Wilson
DEFENSEMEN: Jarod Crespo, Tony Follmer, Dustin Geregach, Colton Kammerer, Kade Landry, Xavier Lapointe, Ethan Szmagaj
GOALTENDER: Ryan Bednard
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