Axemen Alumni Kevin Baker Brings Scoring Touch to Orlando Lineup

FORMER ECHL MVP ADDED TO SOLAR BEARS ROSTER

Orlando, FL – The Orlando Solar Bears announced today that they have agreed to terms with forward Kevin Baker.

Baker (6’1”, 192 lbs.) brings proven goal-scoring ability to the Solar Bears. The Kingston, Ontario, native was a member of the Stockton Thunder last season and led his team in goals (27) and points (56) while finishing fourth in assists (29). He posted 39 points in 39 games in Italy two seasons ago, and spent both 2008-09 and 2009-10 as a member of the Florida Everblades. During the 2008-09 season, Baker led the ECHL with 57 goals and 102 points while being named the league’s MVP and was selected as an ECHL First Team All-Star.

His ECHL experience includes stops in Florida, Texas, and Johnstown, totaling 168 goals, 185 assists, and 353 points in 317 games played. Along with his First-Team All-Star selection in 2008-09, Baker was chosen as a First-Team All-Star in 2006-07 when he picked up 81 points (35 goals, 45 assists) in 62 games with the Texas Wildcatters.    
Baker has appeared in 83 games at the American Hockey League (AHL) level throughout his professional career, notching 36 points on 21 goals and 15 assists. His longest stint in the AHL came in 2001-02, as he played 46 games for the Saint John Flames, scoring 13 goals and adding seven assists.

“It is always a benefit to the team to have a top-flight goal-scorer of Kevin’s quality,” said Head Coach Drake Berehowsky. “Any time you can bring in a former league MVP it will help the club.”

His amateur hockey numbers are equally impressive. From 2002-2006, Baker spent four seasons with Acadia University in Canada where he was the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) player of the year in 2005-06 while tallying 24 goals and 23 assists in 28 games. Baker played 191 games over three seasons (1997-2000) with the Belleville Bulls of the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) and recorded 93 goals and 89 assists during that span. In 1998-99, Baker was second on his team in goals (44) and fourth in points (81) en route to collecting the OHL championship.

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.  Fans will have the opportunity to purchase individual tickets for all 36 regular season home games beginning at 8:00 am on Wednesday, September 19th, with tickets starting as low as $15. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com or the Amway Center Box Office beginning Wednesday, September 19th.

The Solar Bears expect to announce a number of player signings, details regarding the formation of the OSB Alumni Association, two trophies that will be awarded annually to a current Bears player in honor and memory of both Dan Snyder and Rob Kenny, and a number of exciting promotional events over the next 2-4 weeks. The team also plans to unveil its 3rd jersey during the early portion of the season.