The Tampa Bay Lightning and Orlando Solar Bears announced Monday they will be entering a three-year affiliation agreement beginning with the upcoming 2019 season. It makes the Solar Bears the Lightning’s official minor-league affiliate in the ECHL.
The Orlando Solar Bears were previously affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs and their AHL squad the Toronto Marlies. The Bears tenure with the Leafs organization was a successful one as the Marlies won the Calder Cup last season and the Solar Bears made the Playoffs in each of the last two years.
As for the Tampa Bay Lightning, their AHL affiliate remains with the Syracuse Crunch.