The Orlando Solar Bears opened the 2023-24 season at home against the Florida Everblades tonight at Amway Center in Orlando. The Solar Bears looked to avenge missing the playoffs last season while the Everblades aimed to start their campaign toward a three peat as Kelly Cup Champions. 

Florida got on the scoreboard first at the 15;09 mark from a goal from Mark Senden with the assist from Nathan Staios.  Orlando evened the score 3 minutes later when Jaydon Dureau, assisted by Brayden Low & Chris Harpur, found the net past goalie Cam Johnson. The Solar Bears took the 2-1 lead with :08 left in the 1st period with a goal from Steve Jandric assisted by Mitchell Hoelscher and Aaron Luchuk.  

Both teams skated scoreless for the majority of the 2nd period until Orlando scored at the 6:14 mark with a Luke Boka goal assisted by Aaron Luckuk and Patrick Newell.  Florida’s Bobo Carpenter responded a minute later with a goal assisted by Dennis Cesana to cut the Solar Bears lead to 3-2 before heading into the 3rd period.

The 3rd period saw the Solar Bears holding onto their 3-2 lead for the majority of the last period until the Everblades evened the score at the 7:36 mark with a goal from Makerin Nault, assisted by Andrew Fyten and Logan Lambdin.  Both goalies held firm for the remainder of the period thus sending the game in to overtime.

Overtime, Orlando held a 6-5 shot advantage over Florida but neither team found success forcing a shootout.

In the shootout, Florida’s Sean Josling opened the scoring with a successful shot past Johnson.  The next 11 combined shot attempts were defended until the game winner for the Everblades came from Mark Seden.  

Up next, the Solar Bears will travel to Charleston, SC to play the South Carolina Stingrays on Saturday, October 21 at the North Charleston Coliseum with the puck dropping at 6:05 p.m.  Florida will visit face the Jacksonville Ice Men on Saturday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.

Photo credit: (cover)Sean Russell

(gallery)Brianna Russell, Cameron Robertson, & Sean Russell/FAAZ Sports