Solar Bears reach into junior hockey for coach

ORLANDO, FLA – Tuesday afternoon the Orlando Solar Bears surprised everyone by dipping into the junior hockey ranks while looking for the ECHL franchise’s third head coach. Who they came out with , while short on professional pedigree, could be just what the team needs to become a Kelly Cup champion.

Anthony Noreen was announced as the Orlando Solar Bears head coach on Tuesday (Photo courtesy of Orlando Solar Bears)

Anthony Noreen was the name announced as the man who will replace Vince Williams behind the bench when October rolls around. Noreen comes to Orlando from the Youngstown Phantoms of the Tier 1 United States Hockey League, the highest level junior hockey league in the US.

“I am honored and excited to be the next head coach of the Orlando Solar Bears,” Noreen said in the team’s release announcing him. “I want to thank Joe Haleski (Orlando Solar Bears Chairman), Jason Siegel (Solar Bears President/C.E.O.) and the entire Toronto Maple Leafs organization for this special opportunity. I look forward to putting a team together that will make this city proud by the way they compete on the ice and carry themselves in the community.”

A 32-yead old native of Chicago, Noreen has been the Phantoms’ bench boss since 2011, posting a 126-99-19 record in that time. His teams have made the playoffs three times and in 2014-2015 he was named USHL Coach of the Year after Youngstown won a franchise high 40 games including a stretch of 17 victories in a row late in the regular season.

Tuesday’s announcement ended what had been a nearly two-month search by the Solar Bears.

“After a thorough and extensive search, we are pleased to welcome Anthony to the Solar Bears family,” Haleski said. “He comes to us with a terrific track record for developing young talent and we expect big things from him as we pursue a Kelly Cup championship.”

Noreen played junior hockey for the Springfield Junior Blues in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), the second highest junior league in the country. He played two season for the Blues, amassing four goals and eight assists in 84 games on the blueline as a key defenseman. From there he headed to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where he anchored the defensive corps and captained the team in his junior and senior seasons.

He stayed in Stevens Point after graduation as an assistant, learning the coaching trade for two seasons before moving on to Youngstown as an assistant in 2010.

Last season was the high point of a successful and steady career as the head coach for the Phantoms. His team led the USHL in goals scored (223), power play goals (65) and short-handed goals (16). They had the second best penalty killing percentage at 86.7 percent and allowed the third fewest goals (166).

Several of Noreen’s players were noticed by NHL scouts during his time in Youngstown, the most recent being Kyle Connor who was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets with the 17th selection in the first round of last weekend’s NHL Entry Draft. It was his positive attitude and ability to work well with his players that made a lasting impression on hockey people at all levels.

“He’s young and he’s energetic,” former Youngstown V.P. of Operations Scott Brand said. “He’s a player’s coach. He gets a lot out of them. He’s also one of the smartest coaches I’ve worked with.”

Noreen’s reputation even reached across the border where Toronto Maple Leafs Assistant General Manager Kyle Dubas – he himself a product of junior hockey in Canada – took notice.

“Over the last number of seasons, I’ve had the chance to watch Anthony’s teams in Youngstown and have always come away impressed with the pace, energy and structure that his team played with,” Dubas said. “Anthony comes very highly regarded amongst those in junior and college hockey. He’s very well connected and his teams continually produce excellent results and develop players for the next level. We are very excited that Anthony will be working with our prospects in Orlando.”

Noreen will have to learn everything on the go as the ECHL free agency period starts on July 1st and October isn’t that far off. He will have to learn the Toronto systems and Orlando culture almost as quickly as he learns his players’ names.

“Coach Noreen will hit the ground running recruiting free agents, re-signing players from last season and monitoring the affiliated players that may join us from Toronto as we prepare our roster for training camp,” Siegel said. “He will be participating in the Maple Leafs development and pre-season camps to familiarize himself with the entire organization and the players that may begin the season in Orlando.”

Despite Noreen’s lack of professional experience on his resume, Brand expects that his move into the pro ranks will be both seamless and successful.

“Hockey has evolved some much because of the use of video and other technologies,” Brand said. “The transition is not as big as it used to be.”