Massa returns to SolarBears' crease

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL's Toronto Marlies, have announced that the club has agreed to terms with goaltender Ryan Massa for the 2016-17 season.

Massa, 25, appeared in 37 games for the Solar Bears last season, going 19-13-2 with a 2.91 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage along with two shutouts for Orlando in his first season of professional hockey. His 37 games played tied with Rob Madore for the most appearances in a single season by a Solar Bears goalie, while his 19 wins and two shutouts were the most in a single season by a Solar Bears rookie netminder. Massa also picked up the win in his AHL debut with Toronto on Nov. 27 at Syracuse, stopping 16 of 17 shots he faced in a 3-1 Marlies victory over the Crunch.

Prior to turning pro, the 6-foot-0, 180-pound stopper played for the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he compiled a 32-27-9 record, along with a 2.47 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and four shutouts in 75 games for the Mavericks. In his senior season, he backstopped the program to its first appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four.