The present incarnation of the Orlando Solar Bears has been residing in Orlando, Florida since 2012, the year it was founded.
The Orlando Solar Bears, a professional ice hockey team, were founded by Bob Ohrablo, Joe Haleski, and Jason Siegel in 2011. This creation marked a significant milestone in the sports landscape of Orlando, Florida. The team began competing in the ECHL (East Coast Hockey League) during the 2012-2013 season, showcasing a blend of skill, sportsmanship, and commitment to the game. The Solar Bears are affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL and the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, highlighting their integral role in the professional hockey hierarchy.
Central to the Solar Bears’ history are their remarkable achievements. They have made notable strides in the ECHL, particularly in their playoff performances. Their most significant accomplishment came in the 2013-2014 season when they reached the ECHL’s Eastern Conference Finals. This achievement underscored their competitive spirit and established them as a formidable force in the league. The team’s roster has seen a mix of emerging talents and experienced players, contributing to their dynamic and engaging style of play.
As of now, the Orlando Solar Bears continue to thrive as an influential team in the ECHL. They maintain a strong presence in the league, with a focus on nurturing young talent and engaging with their community. Their current position reflects a commitment to growth and excellence in the sport, continuously striving to elevate their performance and deepen their impact in the world of professional ice hockey.
What is Orlando Solar Bears?
The Orlando Solar Bears are a professional ice hockey team competing in the ECHL. Affiliated with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning and the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, they represent a crucial step in the career progression of aspiring hockey players.
The very first logo of the Orlando Solar Bears hockey club was created in 1995 and stayed with the team for almost six years. It was a bright and friendly badge with the cool polar bear in sunglasses holding a yellow and blue hockey stick and placed on a sunset-orange circular background with a small black palm tree on the right. The “Orlando” lettering was written in white capitals arched above the circle, on a black background. As for the main logotype, it was executed in a bold and a bit narrowed serif typeface in a title case. The letters were intense blue, placed on a green background, and outlined in black.
If we compare the logo from the 90s and the one designed for the new franchise, we clearly see that the latter is an improved version of the previous one.
The Orlando Solar Bears retained “Shades”, the mascot that was so popular in the 1990s. Yet, in the new interpretation the polar bear has a more athletic-looking body as if he spends a lot of time in the gym. The new team’s bear is also wearing sunglasses but his pose is different. He is holding a hockey stick on his shoulders and looks cool and confident. There is the Sun, or rather the stylized letter “O” for Orlando, behind “Shades”.
The logo is completed with the wordmark “Orlando Solar Bears” below. “Orlando” is in orange color and “Solar Bears” is in teal trimmed in sunrise gold.
Having inherited the name of the hockey team that was based in Orlando from 1995 to 2001, the new franchise also brought back their original colors ‒ teal (they call it seafoam green), solar purple, white and sunset orange. But they didn’t stop there and added sunrise gold to the historical color scheme.