MAITLAND, FLA – Not too long ago, Orlando Solar Bears forward Austin Block and his dog Runkle joined two teammates to shoot a promotional video on the Orlando Eye, a gigantic Ferris wheel that gives patrons views over the metro Orlando area from 400 feet above International Drive, the area’s iconic tourist district. At one point Block pointed out the Amway Center, where the team plays its home games, and exclaimed “Look, there’s our office”.
Orlando forward Austin Block warming up prior to a recent game (Photo courtesy of Gary Bassing / Orlando Solar Bears)
It may be an office to all but for Block and Runkle, it has become much more. It has become a home and a chance to become both the person and player that he wants to be.
“I knew the Solar Bears were a first class organization and I’m excited to be a part of that,” Block said during a recent interview. “It was a new chapter for me to kind of establish myself as a person and as a player and be whatever the organization needs me to be. I’m happy that they brought me back for this season and I’m excited to see what we can do in the post-season.”
The “it” that Block referred to was the trade in February of 2016 that brought him from the Manchester Monarchs to Orlando. His time in the City Beautiful is however just the latest stop in a career that has made him a world traveler.
Born in Denver, Block spent much of his life in Southern California growing up in the city of Thousand Oaks. It was where he got his first real exposure to hockey – not to mention a precursor to his latest stop.
“Growing up in Southern California, I got to see the popularity of the sport grow as I grew up,” Block said. “I kind of got a little taste of hockey in warmer climate cities.”
By the time he reached the age for playing junior hockey, it was time to Block to see the world. His first port of call was Fairbanks, Alaska where he played for two seasons, racking up 97 points in 109 games for the NAHL’s Fairbanks Ice Dogs.
In 2009, Block headed east to play college hockey for the University of New Hampshire Wildcats in the Hockey East conference. In four years, he had 25 goals and 50 points including 15 goals and 23 points in his senior season.
During his junior season, Block experienced a lifetime thrill when UNH played the University of Maine on the outdoor rink set up on the field at Fenway Park in Boston. Even though the Wildcats fell 5-4 in overtime to the Black Bears, playing at the historic ballpark in the dead of a New England winter in front of 38,456 hockey fans was unforgettable.
“It was something I’ll definitely never forget. Sold out crowd. We played our rival Maine. It was something I’ll never forget,” he said. “We ended up losing the game – it was a close back and forth game – but just playing in such a historic moment, who gets to do that? Not very many people so I’ll cherish that forever.”
After UNH, Block and Runkle, a Boston terrier pug mix, began their international journey. It was off to Finland in the fall of 2013 and stops with Kerava HCK (Mestis league) and HIFK Helsinki (SM-Liga) before finishing the season with Karlskrona HK in Sweeden. The following year, Slovakia was the port of call as Block signed with Banska Bystrica HC. When the Slovakian season ended, he came back to the USA and caught on with the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors where he put up eight points in 14 games.
When the 2015-16 season began, he found himself in Manchester with the Monarchs. After 40 games and 12 points, he was on his way to sunny Orlando with Runkle by his side. He arrived at the Amway Center with just enough time to get dressed and get out on the ice with his new team. Runkle, who had never seen his best friend play, ended up sitting in the front row with the girlfriend of a teammate – a shot that was caught by veteran photographer Bruce Bennett and included in a photo essay that was run by ESPN.
“Any time you get traded – especially before the trade deadline – it’s usually pretty hectic. To be able to pack your life up in about three hours, jump on a plane and go somewhere I’d never been. Luckily I knew a few guys that were on the team which helps alot. I was welcomed to the team at the Amway Center when I arrived after coming straight from the airport,” Block said about that crazy day. “My dog Runkle was with me. He sat in the front row and watched the entire game which is pretty cool.”
At the same time he was getting acclimated to his new teammates, Block set about getting himself familiar with the area. He said that getting involved in the community through team appearances was one of the best ways to do that.
Austin Block lines up for a face-off against former Solar Bear Tyler Murovich during a recent game (Photo cuurtesy of Gary Bassing / Orlando Solar Bears)
“We have quite a few appearances that we try to make throughout the community. I made sure to sign up for any and all of them just to get out there, network and meet people and represent the organization,” he said. “It’s rewarding to go to the elementary schools, the hospitals and go and do things in the community. Just [by] doing that, I’ve gotten to learn the lay of the land and meet sponsors’ affiliates, all those different types of people. We’re [team] a tight group so team camaraderie and learning the lay of the land out here in Orlando wasn’t too hard to do.”
As for getting Runkle adjusted to their new home, Block said their experiences together made it an easy transition.
“Luckily I had quite a bit of experience with traveling with him. He’s been with me overseas for a couple of years. He literally travels with me everywhere so getting him adjusted really isn’t as hard as people might think,”Block said. “He’s pretty low maintenance.”
From his experience in California, Block said he can see the potential for hockey in Central Florida and wants to be a part of helping it grow.
“I can see that there’s a ton of potential here in Orlando to grow the hockey culture. We’ve been getting a ton of fans for the whole season pretty much,” he said. “I really want to help build the popularity of the sport, do what I can to give my knowledge of the game to the youth here in Orlando that are interested in playing hockey. I think there’s a huge market for that.”
As for the rest of the season, Block thinks the Solar Bears have the potential to make a deep run in the upcoming Kelly Cup playoffs.
“Now that we’ve solidified our roster, the potential is a championship. No doubt about it,” Block said. “We have a goaltender that’s hot that’s the backbone of the team [in Ryan Massa], a different variety of defensemen – puck moving guys, offensive guys – and some big guys that are going to get physical – and plenty of highly skilled and fast forwards. When we are playing the structured game the way the coaches want, it’s fun to watch I’m sure and it’s fun to be a part of. We’re only going to be getting better game in and game out. As long as everyone on our team is bringing it and doing things the way that Drake [Berehowsky, head coach] and Snowy [John Sonwden, assistant coach] taught us, there isn’t a team that should beat us in my opinion.”
As for he and Runkle, Block said that he is happy being with a team and organization that embodies the all-for-one attitude that makes it feel like a family – and home.
“The Solar Bears, we’re a big happy family. The organization is a big, happy family,” he said. “If I ever need anything, I know someone will be there to help me out if need be.That’s peace on mind you can’t find everywhere.”
Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com
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