Solar Bears add defenseman Boutet

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears have agreed to terms with defenseman Étienne Boutet for the 2018-19 season.

The Solar Bears are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning and the American Hockey League's Syracuse Crunch.

Boutet joins the Solar Bears after spending the 2017-18 season with the Wichita Thunder, where he posted 14 points (3g-11a) and 57 penalty minutes in 68 games, and added three points (1g-2a) and eight penalty minutes in three playoff contests. Additionally, Boutet earned a two-game stint with the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League, where he received two penalty minutes.

The 26-year-old's professional career also includes a 25-game stretch with the Idaho Steelheads during the 2013-14 campaign, in which Boutet logged nine points (2g-7a) and 16 penalty minutes while under contract to the AHL’s Texas Stars.

Between his two seasons of pro hockey, the native of Saint-Nicolas, Quebec played for McGill University, amassing 33 points (6g-27a) and 74 penalty minutes for the Redmen.

Prior to turning pro with Idaho, Boutet collected 113 points (28g-85a) and 299 penalty minutes in 289 combined games with the Gatineau Olympiques, Rimouski Oceanic and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.