Orlando Solar Bears

The Orlando Solar Bears are an American professional ice hockey team. They began playing in 2012. The team plays in the ECHL. They play their home games in Orlando, Florida at Kia Center. They are the ECHL affiliate for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). They are also the affiliates for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL).

The team was started in 2012 by Joe Haleski, Bob Ohrablo, and Jason Siegel. They would name the team the Orlando Solar Bears. Another team called the Orlando Solar Bears played in the International Hockey League (NHL) from 1995 until 2001. They would also keep the original Solar Bears colors.  

On October 12, 2012, the team would play their first game as the Orlando Solar Bears. They would be defeated by the Florida Everblades 5–4 in overtime.

In the 2017–18 season, the Solar Bears would make it to their first playoffs. They would finish third in the South Division but would lose to the Florida Everblades four games to one in the Division Finals.

On August 13, 2018, the Solar Bears and the Tampa Bay Lightning announced their affiliation. The Icemen were previously affiliates with the Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers.

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Other websites

Category:2011 establishments in the United States
Category:2010s establishments in the United States
Category:ECHL teams
Category:Sports in Orlando, Florida
Category:Minnesota Wild
Category:Tampa Bay Lightning
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs