It must have been a dream come true for rookies Brian Christie and Chris Bradley. They were wrapping up their college careers and turning pro.
The immediacy of it all and the urgency though certainly had to dull the celebration. They were dropping into a team making a late-season Playoff run and needing every point and every game to go their way. And they were immediately relying on these two young players to make a difference.
The Solar Bears dropped these two rookies into the lineup two weeks ago against the Adirondack Thunder and both produced in their first three games.
That showed the spark they can provide and the talent they possess.
“Those two guys are here for a reason,” coach Anthony Noreen said shortly after they were acquired. “Those are the type of people we want in this organization. They are great people. They are captains of excellent universities. Both places — Merrimac and RPI — they value character. Those guys are as high a character human beings as you are going to find. We need that here. They will give us a spark on the ice as well, but it starts with the type of people they are. I hope they can rub off on some of the other guys and help them along. I know from a character standpoint and a leadership standpoint, I know what those guys are.”
Noreen has had to deal with call ups and injuries whittling his roster. The boost from adding Christie and Bradley was undeniable as the team turned in one of its best weekend performances in the wins over Adirondack.
Christie’s first goal came off a redirect in the front of the net. A tip in that Christie barely even recognized he touched. Bradley scored a day later against Adirondack a little cleaner with a rebound shot. Both goals were part of a complete team effort that kicked the Solar Bears’ playoff drive into high gear.
Entering Wednesday’s game against the rival Florida Everblades, the Solar Bears are five points back of the final playoff spot with three games in hand. Every point matters. And Orlando has to make up ground after picking up only one point in a weekend duo of games at Norfolk.
So not only are these two rookies — along with recent rookie signee Jordan Rowley of the University of Alberta — learning a different brand of hockey, but they are also jumping in at its most critical time.
“In the ECAC it’s a lot of run and gun and there are two guys coming hard especially on defensemen,” Bradley said after his first game. “Here you have a little more time to make plays. It’s little things you want to adjust to. I like to keep my game simple. That’s what I did in college and that’s what I plan to do down here.”
So far Bradley has made the bigger impact with an assist in addition to his first goal. He is +6 on the year too, being on the ice when goals are scored. As a defenseman that is a pretty big impact. Teams are not scoring when he is on the ice. Other factors, of course play a role.
Both Bradley and Christie have held their own. They have added that energy Noreen wanted to see and begun making an impact.
While the Solar Bears continue to rely on and build with these young players, they still have to get wins. The Marlies sent Eric Faille and Brett Findlay back to the Solar Bears earlier this week, putting all hands on deck for the final seven games of the season. Orlando still controls some of its destiny with those three games in hand and are in a decent position.
But every point and every game certainly matters. And everyone on the roster will be called on to contribute.
Including these rookies.
“I think they are in great position right now,” Bradley said. “I’m looking to come in and help any way that I can. Playoffs are our goal.”
