McAuley back with Solar Bears

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

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

McAuley returns to Orlando after he was loaned to the club during the 2018-19 season while under contract with the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League. In 39 regular-season games for Orlando, the 23-year-old collected 31 points (15g-16a) and 96 penalty minutes. McAuley also played in four regular-season games with the Barracuda, adding two penalty minutes. He contributed three points (2g-1a) and 22 penalty minutes for the Solar Bears in eight postseason appearances.

In 73 career ECHL games split between the Solar Bears and Allen Americans, McAuley has registered 51 points (23g-28a) and 168 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 36 career AHL games with the Barracuda, tallying 10 points (3g-6a) and 36 penalty minutes.

Prior to turning pro, the Sherwood Park, Alberta native played major junior hockey for the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League, where he recorded 96 points (44g-52a) and 318 penalty minutes in 191 games. During the 2015-16 season, McAuley led the league in penalty minutes with 156.