Orlando Solar Bears president and CEO Jason Siegel has stepped down from his position to pursue other interests, the Orlando Solar Bears announced Tuesday. Siegel had been the main point person for the day-to-day operations of the team and ownership’s representative to the media.
“We have a tremendous front office staff and coaching staff and we expect big things from them for next season and in many seasons to come,” Siegel said in a statement posted to OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com. “We were disappointed that we didn’t make the playoffs last season and disappointed that we didn’t reach our potential, but confident that the pieces are in place to make a strong championship playoff run this upcoming season. Joe and I will continue to work on future projects together; most notably we will continue to chair the upcoming 2016 Greater Orlando Heart Walk in September.”
Team chairman and majority owner Joe Haleski will take over the day-to-day operation of the team for Siegel.
Siegel will retain a minority interest in the team, but will no longer act as the team’s president or CEO. His involvement with the Solar Bears, if any still exists, will decrease dramatically.
It comes at an important time for the Solar Bears as their affiliation agreement with the Toronto Maple Leafs is set to expire this season. At a meeting between Orlando Sports Daily, Pro Hockey News and Pension Plan Puppets with coach Anthony Noreen that Siegel sat in on, Siegel said negotiations were ongoing but nothing was done until it was done. Certainly this change will have some kind of effect there.
There is a lot up in the air. Along with the typical concerns of a minor league team.
In some ways, the Solar Bears’ not only retreated some in the standings, missing the playoffs for the first time in three years, but also struggled some at the Amway Center. Orlando’s record fell to 15-18-3 at home. The team’s attendance rose from an average of 6,209 to 6,226 per game. That was helped by several promotional nights late in the season, including setting an Amway Center record for attendance.
It was a strange home season for sure and an inconsistent season overall on the ice. Certainly a season of transition with the Maple Leafs setting up a new management group and system for its minor league affiliates and Noreen coaching his first year in the pros.
It is hard to know what was expected in the end. Or even if Siegel’s decision is tied to any of this.
The Solar Bears have a lot of things to figure out as the NHL offseason comes closer and closer before their scheduled Oct. 22 opener.
