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Estero, FL – The Orlando Solar Bears ended their preseason schedule with a 5-1 loss to the Florida Everblades at the Germain Arena on Saturday Night. The Solar 
Bears return to Estero to take on the Everblades in their inaugural ECHL game on Friday, October 12.
The Florida Everblades opened up the scoring after an attempted dump-in took a strange bounce off the boards and landed right on the stick of LW Mathieu Roy, who deposited it into an open net at the 6:16 mark. The lead was increased to 2-0 when C David Rutherford picked up a rebound and flipped a shot past a sprawled-out G Brooks Ostergard with 7:23 remaining in the period. Ostergard ended the first frame with 15 saves.
F Samson Mahbod cut the Everblades lead to 2-1 after a great pass from F David Lun found him all alone in the low-slot. Mahbod’s initial chance was stopped by Florida G Rob Madore, but Mahbod found his own rebound and tapped it home at 10:26 of the second stanza. The score remained 2-1 until LW Matt Marquardt blasted a one-timer into the top right corner of the net at 14:04, ending the period with a 3-1 Everblades lead.
Special teams became the story in the third period, as Marquardt lifted the Everblades to a 4-1 advantage with a shorthanded goal 2:59 into the period. C Trevor Bruess put home the game’s final goal on the power play with three minutes remaining, as the Everblades skated away with a 5-1 victory.
Power Plays: ORL: 0/5; FLA 1/5
Shots: ORL: 24; FLA: 38
Notes:
G Brian Markowicz served as an Emergency Backup Goaltender for the Solar Bears tonight… Tonight’s game marked the end of the Solar Bears preseason schedule. The team will play it’s inaugural regular season game at Florida on Friday, Oct. 12… The Solar Bears open the regular season with four straight games against Florida.
The Orlando Solar Bears, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and AHL’s Houston Aeros, are coming Out of Hibernation and will play 36 regular season home games at the 2012 Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year, the Amway Center, beginning October 20, 2012. Individual tickets for all 36 regular season home games are now on sale beginning as low as $15. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com or the Amway Center Box Office.
Follow the Solar Bears at www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com, Facebook, and Twitter(@OrlandoHockey) for all the latest news and updates.
Season ticket plans are available now. Everyone is invited to take advantage of the Orlando Solar Bears season ticket pre-sale offer by placing a $50 deposit per ticket now to receive seat selection priority. Full and half season ticket plans range in price from $225-$1480 per season ticket (includes facility fee), reflecting a savings of up to 42% off box office pricing. Call the Solar Bears at 407-951-8200 to speak to a Ticket Sales Account Manager.
Group tickets are a great way to entertain employees, co-workers, clients, friends and family. For more information on discounted group tickets and a list of group benefits, call407-951-8200 or click here.
Orlando Solar Bears merchandise can be purchased online at: http://shop.orlandosolarbearshockey.com/
