Valleau inks deal with Solar Bears

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

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

Valleau joins the Solar Bears for his third season of pro hockey after spending the previous two seasons under contract with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks while playing for Chicago’s AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.

The 24-year-old notched eight points (3g-5a) and 14 penalty minutes in 46 games for Rockford last season, and tallied 12 points (1g-11a) and 20 penalty minutes in 62 games during his 2015-16 rookie campaign.

Prior to turning pro, Valleau played one season of college hockey as a redshirt freshman at Bowling Green State University, where the Novi, Mich. native was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team following a 19-point (2g-17a) and 35 penalty minute performance over 39 games.

Valleau also played junior hockey for the Des Moines Buccaneers and Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, where he put up totals of 26 points (8g-18a) in 64 games during the 2012-13 season. Prior to that, he posted 31 points (6g-25a) and 52 penalty minutes in 53 games with the North American Hockey League’s Port Huron Fighting Falcons and New Mexico Mustangs.