The Orlando Solar Bears were a

professional A professional is a member of a profession or any person who work (human activity), works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the partic ...

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nort ...

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...

team based in

Orlando, Florida Orlando ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States. The city proper had a population of 307,573 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville ...

. The Solar Bears played in the International Hockey League's Eastern Conference. They played their home games at the

Orlando Arena Amway Arena (originally known as Orlando Arena and later TD Waterhouse Centre) was an indoor arena located in Orlando, Florida. It was part of the Orlando Centroplex, a sports and entertainment complex located in Downtown Orlando. The arena wa ...

Facts

Turner Cup The Turner Cup was the championship trophy of the International Hockey League from 1945 to 2001 and the renamed United Hockey League from 2007 to 2010. The Cup was named for Joe Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario. Turner became professi ...

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 The Detroit Vipers were a professional ice hockey team that competed in the International Hockey League (IHL). Originally founded in 1969 as the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in Salt Lake City, the team was purchased by Palace Sports & Entertainment ...

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 The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional ice hockey team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They compete in the American Hockey League (AHL), playing their home games at Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of t ...

and the

Kansas City Blades The Kansas City Blades were a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League (1945–2001), International Hockey League (IHL) from 1990 until 2001, when the league folded. The Blades were based in Kansas City, Missouri, at Kempe ...

of the IHL and the

Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NB ...

of the

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

. During their time in the IHL, the team made it to three Turner Cup finals, being swept by the

Utah Grizzlies The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play their home games at Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah. Franchise history The current Utah Grizzlies franchise started in 1981 as the Nashville South Stars i ...

in 1996, losing in game seven to the Houston Aeros in 1999 and defeating the

Chicago Wolves The Chicago Wolves are a professional ice hockey team based in Rosemont, Illinois. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena ...

in five games in 2001, which was the final

Championship. Several IHL teams were taken into the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...

, 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

. A handful of Solar Bears went on to play for the team they defeated for the championship, the

, in the AHL, most notably goalie Norm Maracle, the IHL

MVP MVP most commonly refers to: * Most valuable player, an award, typically for the best performing player in a sport or competition * Minimum viable product, a concept for feature estimating used in business and engineering MVP may also refer to: ...

of that deciding playoff series. That Wolves team went on to win the

Calder Cup The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champions of the American Hockey League (AHL). It was first presented in 1937 to the Syracuse Stars. The cup is made of sterling silver mounted on a base of Brazilian mahogany. In it ...

in their first AHL season. During its inaugural season, the Solar Bears starred center Alfie Turcotte, former first round pick of the

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

. Other notable team members included:

Hubie McDonough Hubert Boniface McDonough (born July 8, 1963) is an American professional ice hockey executive and former player. He played in the National Hockey League between 1988 and 1993 with the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, and San Jose Sharks. ...

(

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

), C.; Pat Neaton, D.; Barry Dreger, D.; Todd Richards, F.; Craig Fisher (

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

), D.; Curtis Murphy, D.;

Allan Bester Alan Bester (born March 26, 1964) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Dallas Stars between 1984 and 1996. Playing career Bester w ...

, G.; Scott LaGrand; Dave Barr. C.; Mark Beaufait, F.; Todd Krygier (

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

), 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

. 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 The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a minor professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams across the United States and Canada. Competitively, it is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The ...

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 The Orlando Solar Bears are a professional ice hockey team that plays their home games at Kia Center (formerly Amway Center) in Orlando, Florida. They play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference and are affiliated with the Tampa ...

Season-by-season record

''Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against'' 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

*2000–01 Eastern Conference Champions Trophy *1995–96, 1998–99, 2000–01

James Norris Memorial Trophy The James Norris Memorial Trophy, or simply the Norris Trophy, is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top " defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position". It is named after Ja ...

(Best Goaltender – Statistical) * Norm Maracle, Scott Fankhouser: 2000–01 Commissioners' Trophy (Coach of the Year) * Pete Horachek: 2000–01

Ken McKenzie Trophy The Ken McKenzie Trophy was awarded annually to the Central Hockey League's leading points scorer in the regular season. The award was named for Ken McKenzie, the co-founder and longtime president and publisher of ''The Hockey News''. Previously, ...

(American Born Rookie of the Year) * Brian Felsner: 1996–97 * Eric Nickulas: 1997–98 *

Brian Pothier Brian Pothier (born April 15, 1977) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. Pothier played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2000 until 2010. Playing career As a youth, Pothier played in the 1991 Quebec International Pe ...

: 2000–01

James Gatschene Memorial Trophy The James Gatschene Memorial Trophy was awarded annually to the International Hockey League player selected as most valuable through his display of outstanding playing ability and sportsmanlike conduct over the course of the regular season, as ch ...

(Most Valuable Player) * Norm Maracle: 2000–01 N.R. Poile Trophy (Playoff MVP) * Norm Maracle: 2000–01

Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy The Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy, was awarded annually by the International Hockey League (1945-2001), International Hockey League to the Rookie of the Year (award), most outstanding first year player as voted on by the league's coaches. Prior t ...

(Rookie of the Year) *

: 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:

, 37 (1996–97)
Most Shutouts in a season: Norm Maracle, 8 (2000–01)

References

{{IHL (1945–2001) International Hockey League (1945–2001) teams Ice hockey teams in Orlando, Florida Defunct ice hockey teams in the United States Ice hockey clubs established in 1995 Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2001 Defunct ice hockey teams in Florida 1995 establishments in Florida 2001 disestablishments in Florida Atlanta Thrashers minor league affiliates