ORLANDO, FLA – In the grand scheme of things, the fact that the ECHL All-Stars defeated the host Orlando Solar Bears 8-4 Wednesday night at the Amway Center is now a printed line in the league’s record book.
What will be remembered are the memories of a week’s worth of fun.
In front of an announced crowd of 9,288 and millions more at home watching via regional sports networks, Evansville IceMen forward Myles Bell earned Most Valuable Player honors by scoring two goals including the game-winner and adding an assist plus getting called for the game’s lone penalty. Alaska’s Olivier Archambalt chipped in with two goals of his own as part of an offensive attack that saw eleven all-stars earn at least a point.
There were plenty of memorable moments for the host Solar Bears as well including fan favorite Scott Tanski scoring the game’s opening goal and an impromptu performance by goalie Garret Sparks that had the crowd roaring. Beyond that, the lasting images will be of a successfully run event that left ear-to-ear smiles on thousands of fans, players and officials.
“Right from the get go, we had great weather and great hosts. The Solar Bears did a terrific job [hosting]. [The Amway Center is a] beautiful facility that doesn’t take a second seat to any arena in North America,” ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna said. “We had an entertaining game here as well. From a league perspective, certainly it was an overwhelming success and we’ll look back very fondly on the all-star event here.”
The twelve-goal total for the two teams certainly did not seem attainable based on the outcome of the opening period. Sparks and Ontario Reign netminder Joe Cannata both faced a barrage of shots early and often and appeared to be locked in. The only blink came at the 4:15 mark when Orlando defenseman Eric Baier made a stretch pass to Tanski who sped into the All-Stars end. As he got into the faceoff circle to Cannata’s left, Tanski fired and beat Cannata over the shoulder.
“It felt great,” Tanski said about scoring the first goal. “It (All-Star week) was just a great experience. I had a smile on my face even before the game started. If felt awesome to get that first one with the crowd going out of control. It’s been kind of a dream come true to be able to participate in something like this.”
Sparks outdueled Cannata in the frame, making huge saves on several occasions including stopping a breakaway by Archambalt after flashing his glove to deny Gwinnett’s Brenden Walker. He stopped 16 shots in the stanza while Cannata settled in after Tanski’s score finish his night with eleven saves.
Orlando goalie Garret Sparks made 19 saves in Wednesday’s ECHL All-Star Classic (Photo courtesy of F. Medina & G. Bassing/Orlando Solar Bears)
Sparks, who has a reputation as a free spirit, then put on a show for the fans. During a delay while setting up the fastest skater competition between periods, the building staff played its “bear guitar” game on the jumbotron. Sensing the moment, Sparks flipped his stick over and started jamming out to the music and lighting up the crowd.
“I like to keep things loose. Obviously I know the song and I’ve seen the bear guitar before and I know what it’s all about,” Sparks said about his rock star performance. “I started just kind of playing at the bench and got egged on (by his teammates). I just like to have fun. Hockey’s a game and a lot of guys lose sight of that. It’s an all-star game, have some fun.”
The fun of the first turned around for the host team in the second. Kalamazoo’s Curtis Valk set up Wichita’s Danick Gauthier for a goal just 2:27 into the frame to tie the score and when Walker collected the rebound of a shot by Stockton’s Lucas Sutter and stuffed it behind Sparks 84 seconds later, the All-Stars had the lead.
Just over a minute later, Solar Bears forward Marshall Everson made a perfect cross-ice pass to teammate Carson McMillan who one-timed a shot past Greenville goalie Jeff Malcolm to even the score at two. It would be as close as the Solar Bears would get the rest of the way.
The All-Stars took over the rest of the period, victimizing Orlando goalie Sean Bonar for three goals before the second intermission. Bell scored his first at the 11:59 mark, beating Bonar between the legs after walking the puck into the faceoff circle. Not long after, Utah’s Alex Krushelnyski took advantage of a clean breakaway to score to push the lead to 4-2. Then in the final minute, Bell knocked a puck out of mid-air and into the back of the net for his second of the frame.
“You can’t come into these things (all-star games) expecting a whole lot,” Bell said about being named MVP. “I’m fortunate to have gotten a couple of good goals.”
Idaho netminder Olivier Roy started the final period in net for the All-Stars and opened with three solid saves on shots off the stick of Everson. When Nick Larson beat Roy with a backhander 3:32 in, Orlando was within two and ready to stage a comeback. Archambalt put a momentary halt to the Solar Bears’ momentum with a tally off an assist by Toledo’s Tyler Barnes.
Spencer McAvoy, seeing his first action in a Solar Bears uniform, trimmed the All-Stars’ lead again exactly one minute after Archambalt’s score. It stayed that way until Archambalt scored his second of the night on a breakaway at the 11:12 mark. Wheeling’s Riley Brace finished off the scoring with a late goal off assists from Bell and Valk.
Even in losing, Orlando head coach Vince Williams was happy with what hosting the event had done for hockey in Central Florida.
“The atmosphere and the energy in the building was great. I know a lot of people had a lot of fun tonight,” he said. “Overall I thought it was a real victory in showing what this organization has done for ECHL hockey in Central Florida and the type of fan base and passion for hockey that is down here in Orlando.”
Game Notes: Utah’s Krushelnyski won the fastest skater competition, completing his lap around the ice in 13.47 seconds, beating hometown favorite Tanski by .12 seconds…Orlando’s Yann Sauve collected the hardest shot trophy with shots of 94 and 92 miles per hour. Reading’s Cam Reid was second with his best drive clocking in at 90 mph…Greenville’s Malcolm recorded the win in net, making 17 saves while Orlando’s Bonar suffered the loss despite 24 saves…Final shots for the night were 51-47 in favor of the All-Stars…The 9,288 attendance was the largest crowd for the All-Star Classic since the 2000 game played in Greenville, SC…Commissioner McKenna said that the process for finding a host for next year’s game is currently underway.
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