MAITLAND, FLA – So far we have seen how the Orlando Solar Bears have been building their training camp roster from the back line to the new faces up front of the forward lines. The third and final piece of the puzzle for head coach Anthony Noreen was which players from last season’s squad would return to take another run at the ECHL’s Kelly Cup championship.
In addition to goalie Ryan Massa, and defensemen Eric Baier and Chris Bradley, Noreen has invited back a solid group of five forwards – well, four and a very familiar face making a return to Central Florida. They will be expected to take their games to another level and lead the Solar Bears back to the post season.
Coming back for his fourth year of prefessional hockey and third in a Solar Bears jersey is Quincy, Massachusetts native Johnny McInnis. McInnis, who came to Orlando in a mid-season trade two seasons ago, has become one of the heart and soul members of the franchise and a fan favorite. At 27 years of age, McInnis has become one of the team’s leaders and was given the Kevin L. Heller award as the team’s “unsung hero” as voted by his teammates following the 2015-2016 campaign.
Since arriving from the Florida Everblades, McInnis has played in 106 games – which puts him sixth on the Solar Bears ECHL list for most games played – while racking up 27 goals and 37 assists for 64 points which ties him for seventh most in franchise history. Last season he was the only player to suit up in all 72 regular season games when he collected 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points while leading the team with 197 shots on net.
“Johnny McInnis is a heart and soul player that leaves everything on the ice every night,” Noreen said about the Minnesota State-Mankato product. “He’s a leader for us, extremely active in the community and he’s consistently productive on the ice.”
Fergus, Ontario native Denver Manderson is set to come back for his third year in the City Beautiful and sixth pro year overall.
The Solar Bears 2014-2015 Most Valuable Player started his year mid-season last year and injuries curtailed his playing time to 25 games but he made the most of it, scoring eight goals and picking up twelve assists for 16 points. In 77 games overall with the Solar Bears, Manderson has 22 goals and 44 assists for 66 points, putting him sixth on the scoring list.
Manderson’s pro career started in Wheeling and includes stretches in the AHL with both Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and the Toronto Marlies. Including his time in Finalnd playing for HeKi in the Mestis league, Manderson has 53 goals and 96 assists in 213 professional games.
“We’re excited to bring Denver back as he can be one of our most productive players on and off the ice,” Noreen said about the 27-year old center. “He possesses strong play making abilities, scoring touch and sets a tremendous example for his teammates.”
Following a year away, 24-year old winger Brock Montgomery returns for his second time around with the Solar Bears and fourth year at the professional level. The Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan native was traded prior to last season to Fort Wayne for the ECHL rights to forward Eric Faille who is now currently on an AHL contract with Orlando’s AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.
In 2014-2015, Montgomery played in 58 games for the Solar Bears, posting 13 goals and 24 assists for 37 points and 73 penalty minutes. Injuries curtailed his playing time in Fort Wayne, limiting him to 40 games with five goals and eight assists. Over the course of his 143-game ECHL career, Montgomery has scored 27 goals and added 47 assists for 74 points to go along with 123 penalty minutes.
Prior to going pro, he had a very successful four-year junior career with the Kootenay Ice in the Western Hockey League. In 243 games with Kootenay, Montgomery posted 119 points and 328 penalty minutes.
“Brock is a team first guy who will do whatever it takes for his team to win,” Noreen said. “He will help bring a physical edge and scoring presence every time he’s on the ice.”
Preparing for his third year of pro hockey, center Patrick Watling will be returning to Orlando for his third season. Assigned to the Solar Bears by Toronto, Watling has been a big plus to the lineup.
The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native split his first season between the Marlies (2 goals, 1 assist, 12 penalty minutes in 29 games) and Orlando where he scored 11 goals and added 14 assists while picking up 20 penalty minutes in 24 contests. An injury around Halloween cut Watling’s season down considerably but he did return late in the year and showed that he still had the speed and hands to be an offensive threat. He proved it when he scored the game winning goal in overtime with four tenths of a second left against the Florida Everblades. For the year, he had six goals and 22 assists in 24 games, putting him in the company of Jake Cepis and Mickey Lang as the only players to average more than a point per game in their multiple-year careers with the Solar Bears.
“Patrick is a dynamite forward who will add speed and scoring to our group,” Noreen said. “He is dedicated to this game and does things the right way at and away from the rink.”
The last of the returning forwards is 27-year old Austin Block. A native of Denver, Colorado, Block came to the Solar Bears in a February trade with the Manchester Monarchs.
Block is entering his fourth year as a pro and second in Orlando. His stops have taken him to Finland, Sweden and Slovakia as well as both Bakersfield and Manchester in the ECHL. In 63 games between Manchester and Orlando last year, Block posted 5 goals and 14 assists for 19 points and 37 penalty minutes.
Prior to turning pro, Block played for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in the NAHL (junior hockey) where he led the entire league in scoring with 76 points during the 2008-2009 campaign. He then went on to play four seasons at the University of New Hampshire where he tallied 25 goals and 25 assists in 136 career games in the rugged Hockey East conference.
“Austin brings a high level of energy to our team,” Noreen said. “Having someone who competes as hard as he does sets a great example for the rest of the group.”
Overall, the forward group seems to be the one that will be affected most by Toronto assignments. With Faille, Brett Findlay and T.J. Foster all potential send downs –Â in addition to any others the Maple Leafs and Marlies would want to learn the pro game – it would appear that the biggest dogfights for roster spots would come from the group of thirteen. Only time will tell how the roster will look when the Solar Bears open their fifth ECHL season on October 22nd at the Amway Center against the Florida Everblades.
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