ORLANDO (Mon., Jan. 20, 2025) – In a nerve-racking, action-packed, score fest Monday afternoon, the Orlando Solar Bears teach the Atlanta Gladiators a little about ice warfare by beating them 8-5!
Nearly 5300 hockey fans poured into the Orlando KIA Center to enjoy a Martin Luther King Day hockey battle. And quite the battle it was! The Solar Bears had battled the Gladiators in Atlanta just three days earlier (1-17-25), extending the Bears’ winning streak to seven games! When they met the South Carolina Stingrays the very next day, the streak came to an end.
Though tired from the road and with only one day of rest, the Solar Bears took the ice with an indomitable spirit, determined not to let their fatigue and the loss affect the outcome of this game.
Solar Bear Domination
The first ten minutes of Period One bore comparison to two hungry dogs fighting over a bone! Both teams carved up the ice. Of the Bears’ 13 shots and the Gladiators’ 12 of the first period, the first five shots from each team were unsuccessful. However, the dam broke when Jack Adams found the net at 12:10 (assist by Forward Anthony Bardaro) and again at 17:05 (assist by Defender Mark Auk and Goalie Ryan Fanti)! Then 23 seconds later, Spencer Kersten slaps another one by Atlanta goalie Ethan Haider (assisted by Tyson Feist)!
Second Period Scare
The Solar Bears came out of the first intermission with a comfortable 3-0 lead. At 11:20 into period two, Ben Carroll decided to extend the lead by one more (assist by Mark Auk and Forward Andrew Coxhead)!
Then, out of what Forrest Gump aptly described as “the blue, clear sky,” the Gladiators battled back. At 12:33 (Derek Topatigh), then again at 13:15 (Carson Denomie), and again at 17:10 (Blake Murray), Atlanta scored three consecutive goals narrowing the Solar Bears’ lead to just one. The arena was silent.
Everyone had to be thinking the same thing: Were the Bears going to blow a four-nothing lead?
It only took 13 seconds for the answer. At 17:23 Jack Adams popped the puck past Haider for a hat trick! Brayden Low put his two cents in as well by lighting the lights just 1:14 seconds later (18:37), ending the second period with a score of 6-3 and Ethan Haider feeling utterly defeated!
Period Three: Tired Solar Bears
The third period was now a simple contest of stamina. As I took photos, it was easy to see the wear on the faces of both teams. Fighting through the exhaustion, both teams scored two more times! For the Orlando Solar Bears, it was Brayden Low with the second hat trick of the game joining Jack Adams!
Solar Bear goalie, Ryan Fanti took several hits – including some from his own team – but was still able to stop an impressive 32 shots on goal!
Some Bear Records
This game saw the Orlando Solar Bears hit a single-game high in goals as well as Aaron Luchuk becoming the new Solar Bears all-time leader in points! To catch the video recap and complete stats of the game head over to the Bears’ website!
The next Solar Bear home game will be Sunday afternoon, Jan. 26, 2025, against the Jacksonville Icemen! Grab your tickets now while the best seats are still available (though there isn’t a “bad” seat in the house)!
