Solar Bears add Jerome, Stevens

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, announced forward D-Jay Jerome and defenseman Jake Stevens have agreed to terms on contracts for the 2023-24 season. 

Jerome enters his third professional season and first with the Solar Bears. The Lethbridge, Alberta native appeared in 14 regular-season games for the Trois-Rivières Lions and 14 games with the SPHL's Fayetteville Marksmen during the 2022-23 season scoring 16 total points (7g-9a). The 23-year-old skated in 30 games with the Allen Americans during the 2020-21 season, scoring 10 points (4g-6a). 

Prior to his professional career, Jerome played in 233 Western Hockey League games over four seasons for Red Deer, Prince Albert, Victoria, Lethbridge and Swift Current, scoring 105 points (49g-56a) from 2016-20. 

Stevens begins his first full professional season after appearing 11 games during the 2021-22 season with the Iowa Heartlanders, following the conclusion of his collegiate season at Long Island University. The 26-year-old has scored eight points (1g-7a) in those 11 professional games after posting 17 points (4g-13a) in 34 NCAA games during the 2022-23 season. 

Stevens started his junior hockey career in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Victoria Grizzles appearing in 112 regular-season games, scoring 72 points (14g-58a). Following the 2016-17 season, Stevens was named the BCHL’s Top Defenseman and BCHL Second Team All-Star. He began his collegiate career at St. Lawrence University, skating in 115 games over four seasons from 2017-21 and capturing the Eastern College Athletic Conference championship for the 2020-21 season. He transferred to Long Island University for his final year of college hockey and led team defensemen in assists (13) and points (17).