Trio of players join Solar Bears

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears have agreed to terms with rookie forwards Jeremy Olinyk and Michael Turner and rookie defenseman MacKenzie Braid 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.

Olinyk, 25, will begin his first season of professional hockey after spending the 2016-17 season with St. Norbert College, where he compiled 16 points (7g-9a) and 14 penalty minutes in 22 games. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native had transferred to St. Norbert from Adrian College, where he logged an additional 78 points (29g-49a) and 70 penalty minutes in 81 games. He is currently attending training camp with the Marlies.

Turner, 22, returns to Orlando after skating in four games with the Solar Bears during the 2016-17 campaign, during which he racked up seven penalty minutes. The Chicago native also notched four points (1g-3a) and 11 penalty minutes in 19 contests with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and added 15 points (6g-9a) and 29 penalty minutes in 25 games with the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs. Prior to turning pro, Turner captured an Ontario Hockey League championship with the Oshawa Generals in 2015-16, recording 12 points (6g-6a) and 24 penalty minutes in 41 games.

Braid, 24, begins his first full season of professional hockey after appearing in four games with the Brampton Beast last season. He also skated in four contests with GKS Katowice, a club in Poland’s Polska Hockej Liga, where he notched two assists and two penalty minutes. Prior to turning pro, Braid played three seasons at Wilfrid Laurier University, where he amassed 24 points (8g-16a) and 91 penalty minutes in 70 games. Braid also skated in 133 Ontario Hockey League games with the Barrie Colts, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Windsor Spitfires and Sudbury Wolves, logging 21 points (6g-15a) and 135 penalty minutes.