It was announced on July 15th that Orlando Solar Bears goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick has signed overseas in Europe with HK 32 Liptovsky Mikulus in Slovakia. This comes after Fitzpatrick had a nice stretch at the end of the season and into the playoffs. Fitzpatrick was on an AHL contract with the Syracuse Crunch last season.
Fitzpatrick has been on the AHL/ECHL level since the 2018-2019 season when he played with the San Antonio Rampage and the Tulsa Oilers. Last season, he played most of the year with Orlando, playing 24 games, having a 2.59 goals-against-average, going with a .915 save percentage. He also had two shutouts last season. His best week of the season came April 1-April 7 of last season, as he had a shootout loss, along with three wins, all against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. He helped the Solar Bears clinch the playoffs on the last day of the regular season, as Fitzpatrick had a 43-save shutout against the Reading Royals.
Fitzpatrick also started all 11 games of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, going 5-5-1, having a 2.93 and a .908 save percentage before getting eliminated by the Florida Everblades. Fitzpatrick also played one game for the Crunch, having a 4.16 GAA and .852 save percentage. Prior to turning pro, the St. Johns, Newfoundland native played four years in the QMJHL, mostly with the Sherbrooke Phoenix, where he went 73-76-4 in 181 games, including three shutouts. He also tagged a 3.30 goals-against-average, adding an .894 save percentage.
Fitzpatrick is the third player from Orlando’s roster/protected list to head overseas this off-season, following Mitchell Hoelscher and Max Balinson.
