Orlando Solar Bears (IHL)

For the Irish electronic music duo, see Solar Bears.

Orlando Solar Bears
City	Orlando, Florida
League	IHL
Conference	Eastern Conference
Division	Central (1995–96) Northeast (1996–99)
Founded	1994 (1994)
Operated	1995–2001
Home arena	Orlando Arena
Colors	Solar purple, seafoam green, sunset orange, white
Owner(s)	RDV Sports, Inc.
General manager	Don Waddell (1995–97) John Weisbrod (1997–2001)
Head coach	Curt Fraser (1995–99) Pete Horachek (1999–2001)
Media	Sunshine Network WZKD (AM 950) WFLF (AM 540)
Affiliates	Atlanta Thrashers (NHL) 1999–2001 Greenville Grrrowl (ECHL) Mississippi Sea Wolves (ECHL)
Championships
Division Championships	1 1995–96
Conference Championships	3 1995–96, 1998–99, 2000–01
Turner Cups	1 2000–01

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 (now the Amway 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 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.

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 2nd to 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, 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 (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.

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.^[1]

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

Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	Pts	GF	GA	PIM	Finish	Playoffs
1995–96	82	52	24	6	0	110	352	307	2161	1st in Central	Final, 0–4 (UTA)
1996–97	82	53	24	0	5	111	305	232	2218	2nd in Northeast	Lost in Semi-final (CIN)
1997–98	82	42	30	10	3	94	258	251	2321	2nd in Northeast	Lost in ECF (DET)
1998–99	82	45	33	4	0	94	264	253	2324	2nd in Northeast	Final, 3–4 (HOU)
1999–00	82	47	23	0	12	106	250	202	2020	2nd in East	Lost in Semi-final (CIN)
2000–01	82	47	28	0	7	101	241	193	1592	2nd in East	Won Turner Cup, 4–1 (CHI)
Grand Totals	492	286	162	20	29	535	1670	1438	12636

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: Norm Maracle, 33 (2000–01)
Most Shutouts in a season: Norm Maracle, 8 (2000–01)

See also

List of Orlando Solar Bears players

References

1. ^ Press release (November 16, 2011). "Orlando welcomes back the Solar Bears". ECHL. http://echl.com/orlando-welcomes-back-the-solar-bears-p174193. Retrieved November 16, 2011.