Kelly Cup champion Bootland joins Solar Bears

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears have agreed to terms with veteran forward Darryl Bootland 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.

Bootland joins Orlando after capturing the Kelly Cup last season with the Colorado Eagles, where he recorded 22 points (10g-12a) and 229 penalty minutes in 55 regular-season contests while serving as alternate captain, and added one goal and 30 penalty minutes in 18 playoff games as the Eagles claimed their first ECHL title.

The Kelly Cup victory marked the third championship for Bootland at the “AA” level, as the Schomberg, Ontario native previously won back-to-back Central Hockey League Ray Miron President’s Cups with the Allen Americans from 2013-14.

The 35-year-old has produced 493 points (235g-258a) and 3,423 penalty minutes in 896 career professional games. He has 32 games of experience in the NHL, as Bootland suited up for the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders, registering a combined three points (1g-2a) and 85 penalty minutes.

Bootland’s ECHL career totals are 199 points (94g-105a) and 1,322 penalty minutes in 308 games with the Eagles, Kalamazoo Wings and Toledo Storm.

Additionally, Bootland has played in 382 American Hockey League games with the Manitoba Moose, Portland Pirates, Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Grand Rapids Griffins, notching 168 points (82g-86a) and 1,480 penalty minutes. He has 156 games of CHL experience with Allen and the Odessa Jackalopes under his belt, amassing 108 points (53g-55a) and 441 penalty minutes. Bootland has also skated for the Vienna Capitals and EC Salzburg of Austria’s Erste Banke Eishockey Liga, registering 15 points (5g-10a) and 95 penalty minutes in 18 games.

Prior to turning pro, Bootland played four seasons of major junior hockey with the Barrie Colts and Toronto St. Michael’s Majors of the Ontario Hockey League, amassing 263 points (127g-136a) and 608 penalty minutes in 248 career games. Bootland was an eighth-round selection (252nd overall) by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.