Kelly Cup champion Zimmerman joins Solar Bears

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears have agreed to terms with veteran defenseman Sean Zimmerman for the 2017-18 season.

The Solar Bears are the ECHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

Zimmerman, 30, joins Orlando after serving as captain of the 2017 Kelly Cup champion Colorado Eagles. Zimmerman recorded 13 points (1g-12a) and 168 penalty minutes in 58 regular-season games for Colorado, and added three points (2g-1a) and 10 penalty minutes in 17 postseason contests.

Zimmerman brings 622 games of professional experience to the Solar Bears, and has tallied 90 points (11g-79a) and 973 penalty minutes. He enters his 11th full season of pro hockey, and has played in the American Hockey League (Syracuse Crunch, Providence Bruins, Rochester Americans, San Antonio Rampage and Lowell Devils), ECHL (Colorado and Trenton Devils) and Central Hockey League (Denver Cutthroats).

Prior to turning pro, the Denver, Colo. native skated in 270 games with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs, where he totaled 59 points (10g-49a) and 165 penalty minutes. He also helped the United States capture the bronze medal at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championships in Sweden.