The Orlando Solar Bears have begun training camp with a bit of a skeleton crew as they await the arrival of several players from the Toronto Marlies.
The Orlando Solar Bears have begun practice at RDV Sportsplex (they are open to the public if you want to watch) but the real work will begin Tuesday when most of the roster returns from Toronto Marlies training camp.
In the meantime, eight players were going through scoring, passing and shooting drills at the beginning of camp.
Goalmouth scramble + *PING!* = a surefire sign that #HockeyIsBack. pic.twitter.com/ZC5wRdGbQ6
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) October 5, 2015
Running some shooting drills at #SolarBears Training Camp… pic.twitter.com/CQI9R1nDr4
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) October 5, 2015
The group on the ice included Johnny McInnis who scored eight of his 16 goals last season in 34 games with the Solar Bears and defenders Carl Nielsen and Spencer McAvoy. Returning stalwarts like defenseman Eric Baier are still with the Marlies.
The Solar Bears should be an interesting mix of young players from the Maple Leafs farm system and returning ECHL players. In all, the Solar Bears training camp roster has 12 polayers who played in the ECHL last year. And there are promising rookies on the roster like Reggie Traccitto and goalkeepers Ryan Massa and Keegan Samundson, recently signed to the team.
The Solar Bears will likely pick up a few more players as Marlies camp finishes up, but they have signed 18 players to fill out their roster. That should be enough to begin full training camp this week as coach Anthony Noreen and the six Solar Bears players participating in camp up in Canada fly south for the season.
Orlando’s season opener is Oct. 17 at the Amway Center against Greenville.
