ECHL: Orlando Solar Bears Add Defenseman Nick Anderson

The Orlando Solar Bears continue to build out their 2025–26 roster, this time re-signing defenseman Nick Anderson. At 26 years old, the Portsmouth, New Hampshire native brings a well-rounded skill set to the blue line, blending mobility, vision, and leadership. Orlando got a brief look at him late last season when he made his ECHL debut with the Solar Bears, and now they’ve locked him in for the year ahead.

NCAA Experience and Production

Anderson made his biggest mark at Colgate University, where he became one of the Raiders’ most reliable puck-moving defensemen. Across four seasons, he appeared in 132 games and posted 77 points (8g, 69a), finishing tied for fifth in program history in career assists by a defenseman (Colgate University Athletics, 2024).

His junior year in 2022–23 stood out as his breakout season. He logged 29 points in 40 games with three goals and 26 assists, leading the Raiders in helpers, ranking fifth in ECAC Hockey, and helping Colgate capture the ECAC Championship. That year, he delivered in big moments, including a game-winning goal at Merrimack, two assists against Yale, a four-point weekend against Cornell, and a key assist in the championship win over Harvard.

Anderson’s senior season in 2023–24 was equally impactful. He produced 21 points in 36 games, including multi-point efforts against Yale, LIU, Princeton, Clarkson, and RPI. By the end of his Colgate career, he had firmly established himself as a leader on the blue line — steady in his own end while consistently driving offense.

He followed that up with another strong showing in his graduate season at UMass-Lowell, where he chipped in 14 points in 35 games. In total, Anderson posted 82 points in 167 NCAA games, a mark that speaks to his consistency and ability to generate offense from the back end.

Early Pro Debut and Development Path

Anderson made his professional debut with Orlando last spring, appearing in one game at the end of the 2024–25 season. While the sample size was small, it gave the Solar Bears an early glimpse of his skating, puck-moving ability, and poise under pressure.

Before college, he developed in junior hockey with the NAHL’s Amarillo Bulls and Minnesota Wilderness, and later in the USHL with Sioux Falls. At each level, Anderson showed the same strengths: quick transitions, smart reads, and the ability to create scoring chances from the blue line.

What He Brings to Orlando

At 5’10” and 170 pounds, Anderson doesn’t rely on size but instead on speed, positioning, and decision-making. His right-handed shot and championship experience add balance to Orlando’s defensive group. For the Solar Bears, he represents both a steady option on the blue line and a potential power-play contributor.

As training camp approaches, the Solar Bears continue to build a roster that blends proven ECHL talent with fresh collegiate standouts. Anderson’s arrival checks both boxes — a steady defender with more than 160 games of NCAA experience and a history of stepping up in big moments. He looks ready to seize his opportunity and could become a key piece of Orlando’s defensive group in 2025–26.

Reference

Colgate University Athletics. (2024). Nick Anderson – Men’s Ice Hockey. Colgate University. https://colgateathletics.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/nick-anderson/13691