Solar Bears add Sato

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, announced that forward Kohei Sato has agreed to terms on a contract for the 2024-25 season. 

Sato joins the Solar Bears after spending the 2023-24 campaign with the Belfast Giants of the Elite Ice Hockey League and the 2022-23 season with KeuPa HT and JoKP of Metsis (Finland). In his two professional seasons, Sato tallied 56 points (28g-28a) in 91 regular-season games. 

Internationally, Sato has competed for the Japan Men’s Ice Hockey National Team and medaled three times at the Division 1 (B) World Championships in 2019 (Bronze), 2022 (Silver), and 2023 (Gold). 

Prior to his professional career, Sato played five seasons of college hockey at University of New Hampshire (2017-21) and Bentley University (2021-22). In 135 games, Sato scored 41 points (15g-26a). While playing for the North Iowa Bulls during the 2015-16 season, Sato led the team to an NA3HL championship and was voted to the All-Tournament Team after scoring 17 points (9g-8a) in 19 playoff games.