The Orlando Solar Bears have officially announced the signing of forward Ryan Mahshie for the 2024-25 season. The 2024-25 season will mark his second professional season with Orlando.
Mahshie is returning to the Solar Bears after signing his inaugural professional contract with Orlando this past January. In his 12 appearances with the team, Mahshie netted his first professional goal on February 7 against Jacksonville.
Before his professional career start, Mahshie played collegiate hockey at the University of Connecticut during the 2023-24 season, tallying five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 17 games. Prior to his time at UCONN, Mahshie completed four seasons at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), after recording 45 points with 24 goals and 21 assists in 85 games. He had a total of 83 shots on goal during the 2022-23 season, with at least one shot on goal in 29 games. His season-high was recording five shots on goal twice. In that same season, Mahshie scored three power-play goals and one empty-net goal against Mercyhurst. On the defensive end, he blocked 18 shots, with at least one block in 14 games. His season-high for blocked shots in a single game was three, achieved against Quinnipiac. He finished that season as the leader on the team in both points and goals, while ranking second on the team in shots.
Preceding his college tenure, Mahshie competed for the Brooks Bandits in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) for two seasons, accumulating 43 goals and 42 assists) across 107 games for 85 points, and contributing to the 2018-19 AJHL Championship victory.
The Solar Bears 2024-25 preseason roster now includes the following players: Forwards Alex Frye, Tyler Bird, Brayden Low, Spencer Kersten, Tanner Schachle, Aaron Luchuk; Defensemen Chandler Romeo, Robbie Stucker, Kurt Gosselin, Avery Winslow, Matt Stief, Ben Carroll and Goaltender Alexis Gravel
The Solar Bears will kick off their season on the road against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Friday, October 18th.
