Solar Bears add Harris

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning, announced the club has agreed to terms with forward Brendan Harris on a contract for the 2026-27 season.

Harris joins the Solar Bears after helping the Nottingham Panthers capture both the Elite Ice Hockey League championship and IIHF Continental Cup during the 2025-26 season. The Port Jefferson, New York native brings six seasons of professional experience in North America and Europe, appearing in more than 230 games across the American Hockey League, ECHL and EIHL.

The 30-year-old has recorded 196 points (63g-133a) in 230 ECHL games with the Wheeling Nailers and Jacksonville Icemen, adding 46 penalty minutes and a +34 rating. Harris earned ECHL All-Star honors in 2023-24 after posting career highs in assists (45) and points (66), leading Jacksonville in both categories. His performance also earned a three-game call-up to the American Hockey League's Cleveland Monsters.

Prior to turning professional, Harris played four seasons at Bemidji State University, registering 56 points (17g-39a) in 104 NCAA Division I games.

Before his collegiate career, Harris spent four seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League, United States Hockey League and North American Hockey League. He enjoyed a breakout season with the Wenatchee Wild in 2016-17, leading the BCHL with 98 points and earning the Vern Dye Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player. Harris was also named a BCHL First Team All-Star and received the Bob Fenton Trophy as the league's Most Sportsmanlike Player.