Solar Bears sign Lodge

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears have agreed to terms with forward Jimmy Lodge for the 2019-20 season.

Lodge, 24, spent last season pursuing academic opportunities through Canadian U Sports athletics. He last played professionally during the 2017-18 season, splitting the campaign with the Jacksonville Icemen and the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose while under contract to the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. In 57 games with Jacksonville, Lodge tallied 49 points (17g-32a) to finish second in team scoring, racked up 47 penalty minutes and led the team with a +22. He added one assist and two penalty minutes in six games with Manitoba.

In 70 career ECHL games with Jacksonville and the Tulsa Oilers, Lodge has produced 57 points (18g-39a) and 59 penalty minutes. In 114 career AHL contests for Manitoba and the St. John’s IceCaps, he has added 25 points (11g-14a) and 46 penalty minutes.

Prior to turning pro, the Downingtown, Pennsylvania native played major junior hockey for the Mississauga Steelheads and Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League, where he collected 188 points (83g-105a) and 140 penalty minutes in 226 career games.

Lodge was a third-round selection (84th overall) of the Jets in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.