Rylan Schwartz did not start the season playing hockey. The player who had reached the pinnacle in the San Jose Sharks organization and spent most of his season in 2015 split between their ECHL and AHL affiliate was looking for a place to play when the Orlando Solar Bears came calling.
Schwartz immediately made an impact for the Solar Bears and may have helped turn their season around.
In 11 games since he joined the Solar Bears, he scored seven goals and dished out seven assists. He scored on 25.0 percent of his shots and had a +6.
His impact was immediate for the team too. Since signing on Dec. 27, the Solar Bears have gone 7-5 for 14 points, including winning seven of the past 10 games. That stretch, most of it on the road, has saved the Solar Bears’ season in many ways.
Of course, it being the ECHL, Schwartz was called up to the Toronto Marlies and so will not be playing with the Solar Bears as they open a three-game set with the Manchester Monarchs beginning Wednesday at Amway Center.
The addition of Nicklas Lindberg too has added some needed veteran leadership. The 35-year-old forward is older than the coach, but he too has had some impact on the young Solar Bears.
Orlando signed Lindberg during the road trip on Jan. 8. The team has continued chugging along there and hopefully keeping him in Orlando will give he young players some needed leadership on the bench. The up-and-down nature of the ECHL requires some stability on the roster to keep them winning and competing each game.
“The way he carries himself, being a pro, is good for guys to see early in their career,” Solar Bears forward Brady Vail told Stephen Ruiz of the Orlando Sentinel. “He talks to guys he is playing with, and he’s good at bringing us together. He’s going to do us a lot of good.”
The veteran presence of having both Schwartz and Lindberg around has undoubtedly helped the Solar Bears climb out of their funk from December.
The unsettled nature of the ECHL keeps the door revolving on the roster. Each week, the Solar Bears have to mix and match lines. A little bit of stability and veteran leadership can help the young players stay hungry and stay together within the system.
The team is playing much better even with some new call ups taking away from the roster.
The two new players have made an impact. They are not the only reason for the Solar Bears beginning to pile up wins, but they certainly have helped.
