Everything about The Orlando Solar Bears totally explained
The
Orlando Solar Bears were a
professional ice hockey team based out of
Orlando, Florida that played their home games at the TD Waterhouse Centre (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 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. However, their comeback remains a shining example of team unity and pride not often seen at the minor league level where individuality all too often dominates.
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
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
Garry 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)
Further Information
Get more info on 'Orlando Solar Bears'.
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