Orlando Solar Bears The Orlando Solar Bears were a professional team based out of Orlando , Florida that played their home games at the TD Waterhouse Centre ( now the Amway Arena ) . Franchise history . The Solar Bears started in 1995 and played in the International Hockey League until the league folded in 2001 . They were owned by the DeVos family , who also owned the Grand Rapids Griffins of the IHL and the Orlando Magic of the NBA . During their time in the IHL , the team made it to three Turner Cup finals , being swept by the Utah Grizzlies in 1996 , losing in game seven to the Houston Aeros in 1999 and defeating the Chicago Wolves in five games in 2001 . Several IHL teams were taken into the American Hockey League , but the Solar Bears were not among them . The DeVos family could only bring one team into the AHL , and chose the Griffins because the Solar Bears had never drawn well despite their on - ice success . However , the IHL ' s prestigious " Turner Cup " resides in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto , Ontario with the Orlando Solar Bears team name inscribed for all posterity as the last team to win it . A handful of Solar Bears went on to play for the team they defeated for the cup , the Chicago Wolves , ( AHL ) , most notably goalie , Norm Maracle , the IHL MVP . of that deciding playoff series 1999 – 2001 . That Wolves team went on the win the Calder Cup in their first AHL season . During its inaugural season , the Solar Bears starred center Alfie Turcotte , former first round pick of the Montreal Canadiens . Other notable team members included : Hubie McDonough ( New York Islanders ) , C . ; Pat Neaton , D . ; Barry Dreger , D . ; Todd Richards , D . ; Curtis Murphy , D . ; Allan Bester , G . ; Dave Barr . C . ; Mark Beaufait , F . ; Todd Krygier ( Washington Capitals ) , F . ; Kirby Law , F . ; Mike Hartman , F . ; Jason Blake , F . ; Zac Boyer , F . ; Grigori Panteleev , F ; Herbert Vasiljevs , F . ; and Dan Snyder ( Atlanta Thrashers ) , F . Historic comeback from 0 – 3 deficit : In the 1999 Turner Cup Conference Finals , the Solar Bears completed the only successful comeback from a 0 – 3 deficit in the 56 - year history of the International Hockey League . It came at the expense of the Detroit Vipers . In a thrilling Game 7 , rookie Jason Blake scored twice in regulation and winger Todd Krygier got the game - winner 25 seconds into the second overtime , giving Orlando a 5 – 4 victory . Unfortunately for the Solar Bears , they lost in the finals , 4 games to 3 , to the Houston Aeros . Season - by - season record . " Note : GP = Games played , W = Wins , L = Losses , T = Ties , OTL = Overtime losses , Pts = Points , GF = Goals for , GA = Goals against , PIM = Penalties in minutes " IHL Awards and Trophies . Turner Cup Eastern Conference Champions Trophy James Norris Memorial Trophy ( Best Goaltender - Statistical ) Commissioners ' Trophy ( Coach of the Year ) Ken McKenzie Trophy ( American Born Rookie of the Year ) James Gatschene Memorial Trophy ( Most Valuable Player ) N . R . Poile Trophy ( Playoff MVP ) Gary F . Longman Memorial Trophy ( Rookie of the Year ) Comeback Player of the Year Orlando Solar Bear Individual Records . Most Goals in a season : Craig Fisher , 74 ( 1995 – 96 ) < br > Most Assists in a season : Mark Beaufait , 79 ( 1995 – 96 ) < br > Most Points in a season : Craig Fisher , 130 ( 1995 – 96 ) < br > Most Penalty Minutes in a season : Barry Dreger , 387 ( 1996 – 97 ) < br > Most Wins in a season : Norm Maracle , 33 ( 2000 – 01 ) < br > Most Shutouts in a season : Norm Maracle , 8 ( 2000 – 01 )