Orlando Solar Bears (IHL)

Not to be confused with the ECHL franchise Orlando Solar Bears
The Orlando Solar Bears were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Orlando, Florida. The Solar Bears played in the International Hockey League's Eastern Conference. They played their home games at the Orlando Arena.
==Facts==
:Turner Cup Champions: 1 — 2000–01
::Runner-up: 2 — 1995–96, 1998–99
:Conference Champions: Eastern: 3 — 1995–96, 1998–99, 2000–01
:Division Champions: Central: 1 — 1995–96
:Main Rival: Detroit Vipers
==Franchise history==
The Solar Bears franchise started in 1995 and played in the International Hockey League (IHL) until the league folded in 2001. They were owned by the DeVos family, who also owned the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Kansas City Blades 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, which was the final Turner Cup Championship.
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, including being the second-last team to win the Turner Cup. A handful of Solar Bears went on to play for the team they defeated for the championship, the Chicago Wolves, in the AHL, most notably goalie Norm Maracle, the IHL MVP of that deciding playoff series. That Wolves team went on to 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, F.; Craig Fisher (Philadelphia Flyers), D.; Curtis Murphy, D.; Allan Bester, G.; Scott LaGrand; 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, F.
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, against the Detroit Vipers. In 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. The Solar Bears went on to lose in the finals, 4 games to 3, to the Houston Aeros.
In 2011, the ECHL announced a new franchise had been awarded to Orlando. On November 16, 2011, it was announced that the new team would be named the Orlando Solar Bears.
==Season-by-season record==
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Turner Cup Champions †	Fred A. Huber Trophy *	Conference Champions ^	Division Champions ¤
IHL season 	Conference 	Division 	Regular season 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Postseason	Postseason	Postseason	Postseason	Postseason	Postseason
IHL season 	Conference 	Division 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Result
1995–96 	Eastern ^ 	Central ¤ 	1st 	82 	52 	24 	6 	110 	352 	307 	23 	11 	12 	71 	73 	Won in conference quarterfinals, 3–2 (Komets)Won in conference semifinals, 4–3 (Vipers)Won in conference finals, 4–3 (Cyclones)Lost in Turner Cup Final, 0–4 (Grizzlies)
1996–97 	Eastern 	North 	2nd 	82 	53 	24 	5 	111 	305 	232 	10 	4 	6 	30 	33 	Won in first round, 3–2 (Griffins)Lost in quarterfinals, 1–4 (Lumberjacks)
1997–98 	Eastern 	Northeast 	2nd 	82 	42 	30 	10 	94 	258 	251 	17 	9 	8 	62 	54 	Won in 1/8 Finals, 3–2 (Ice)Won in quarterfinals, 4–2 (Lumberjacks)Lost in semifinals, 2–4 (Vipers)
1998–99 	Eastern ^ 	Northeast 	2nd 	82 	45 	33 	4 	94 	264 	253 	17 	10 	7 	54 	58 	Won in quarterfinals, 3–0 (K-Wings)Won in semifinals, 4–3 (Vipers)Lost in Turner Cup Final, 3–4 (Aeros)
1999–00 	Eastern 	— 	2nd 	82 	47 	23 	12 	106 	250 	202 	6 	2 	4 	11 	19 	Lost in quarterfinals, 2–4 (Cyclones)
2000–01 	Eastern ^ 	— 	2nd 	82 	47 	28 	7 	101 	241 	193 	16 	12 	4 	56 	41 	Won in quarterfinals, 4–1 (Cyclones)Won in semifinals, 4–2 (Griffins)Won in Turner Cup Final, 4–1 (Wolves) †
IHL Totals (6 seasons)	IHL Totals (6 seasons)	IHL Totals (6 seasons)	IHL Totals (6 seasons)	492 	286 	162 	44 	616 	1,670 	1,438 	89 	48 	41 	284 	278 	6 playoff appearances
Wins are worth two points, losses are worth zero points and ties, overtime losses and shootout losses are worth one point.
==IHL Awards and Trophies==
Turner Cup
*2000–01
Eastern Conference Champions Trophy
*1995–96, 1998–99, 2000–01
James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best Goaltender – Statistical)
*Norm Maracle, Scott Fankhouser: 2000–01
Commissioners' Trophy (Coach of the Year)
*Pete Horachek: 2000–01
Ken McKenzie Trophy (American Born Rookie of the Year)
*Brian Felsner: 1996–97
*Eric Nickulas: 1997–98
*Brian Pothier: 2000–01
James Gatschene Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player)
*Norm Maracle: 2000–01
N.R. Poile Trophy (Playoff MVP)
*Norm Maracle: 2000–01
Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year)
*Brian Pothier: 2000–01
Comeback Player of the Year
*Kevin Smyth: 1996–97
==Orlando Solar Bear Individual Records==
Most Goals in a season: Craig Fisher, 74 (1995–96)
Most Assists in a season: Mark Beaufait, 79 (1995–96)
Most Points in a season: Craig Fisher, 130 (1995–96)
Most Penalty Minutes in a season: Barry Dreger, 387 (1996–97)
Most Wins in a season: Allan Bester, 37 (1996–97)
Most Shutouts in a season: Norm Maracle, 8 (2000–01)
==See Also==
*List of Orlando Solar Bears players
==References==
Category:International Hockey League (1945–2001) teams
Category:Ice hockey teams in Orlando, Florida
Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in the United States
Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1995
Category:Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2001
Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in Florida
Category:Atlanta Thrashers minor league affiliates