Brodzinski to represent Solar Bears at 2020 Warrior Hockey/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Toyota

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears have announced that defenseman Michael Brodzinski has been named to the roster for the Eastern Conference All-Stars for the 2020 Warrior Hockey/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Toyota, to be hosted by the Wichita Thunder on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT from INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. The game will air LIVE exclusively on NHL Network.

Brodzinski, 24, has tallied 22 points (4g-18a) and 22 penalty minutes in 32 games. In Orlando’s 8-2 win at Atlanta on Dec. 21, Brodzinski set club single-game records with five assists and six points.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound blueliner has 69 points (16g-53a) and 52 penalty minutes in 122 career ECHL games with the Solar Bears and Allen Americans. He has also added 10 points (2g-8a) and 46 penalty minutes in 61 career games with the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League.

Prior to turning pro, the Ham Lake, Minnesota native played three seasons of college hockey at the University of Minnesota, where he collected 48 points (18g-30a) and 62 penalty minutes in 99 career games for the Golden Gophers program. In each of his three seasons in the Twin Cities, Minnesota finished Big Ten regular season champions, and Brodzinski was named to the Big Ten Second All-Star Team in his junior season.

Brodzinski played his junior hockey with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League over parts of two seasons, where he tallied 34 points (16g-18a) and 47 penalty minutes in 64 games. During his lone full season with Muskegon, Brodzinski was named to the junior circuit’s All-Rookie Team and earned Second All-Star Team honors, and participated in the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Brodzinski was a fifth-round selection (#141 overall) of the San Jose Sharks in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Solar Bears ECHL All-Star Classic Selection History

Season – Host Team – Solar Bears Representative2012-13 – Colorado Eagles – C.J. Severyn (replaced Nick Petersen)2013-14 – No game2014-15 – Orlando Solar Bears – Solar Bears roster (host team)2015-16 – No game2016-17 – Adirondack Thunder – Tony Cameranesi (did not play)2017-18 – Indy Fuel – Nolan Valleau2018-19 – Toledo Walleye – Brent Pedersen (alternate, did not play)2019-20 – Wichita Thunder – Michael Brodzinski

Following the format established last season, the Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic will feature a 3-on-3 tournament with four teams competing for the top spot. The host Wichita Thunder will make up two of the four teams and face-off against the other two teams made up of All-Star players from the Eastern and Western Conference. These four teams will compete in a 3-on-3 tournament with rally scoring in order to crown a winner. The 2020 Kansas Star Casino/ECHL All-Star Skills Competition will take place in between rounds of the tournament, with results counting towards the cumulative score.

There have been 68 players from the ECHL All-Star Game have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 52 since 2002 when the lineups began having players who coaches felt were prospects to move up to a higher level.

The rosters for the Eastern Conference and Western Conference All-Stars were determined in a vote of coaches, team captains, media relations directors, broadcasters and members of the media.

Eastern Conference All-Stars

G – Parker Milner, South Carolina StingraysD – Michael Brodzinski, Orlando Solar BearsD – Joseph Duszak, Newfoundland GrowlersD – T.J. Melancon, Brampton BeastD – Logan Roe, Florida EverbladesF –Roman Ammirato, Norfolk AdmiralsF – Ralph Cuddemi, Reading RoyalsF – Jake Elmer, Maine MarinersF – Tommy Marchin, Atlanta GladiatorsF – Robbie Payne, Adirondack ThunderF – Liam Pecararo, Greenville Swamp RabbitsF – Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Worcester RailersF – Brendan Warren, Jacksonville Icemen 

Western Conference All-Stars

G – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Cincinnati CyclonesD – Brady Norrish, Idaho SteelheadsD – Taylor Richart, Utah GrizzliesD – Justin Woods, Kansas City MavericksF – Cam Brown, Wheeling NailersF – Josh Kestner, Toledo WalleyeF – J.J. Piccinich, Tulsa OilersF – Peter Quenneville, Rapid City RushF – Dylan Sadowy, Kalamazoo WingsF – Tyler Sheehy, Allen AmericansF – Shawn St-Amant, Fort Wayne KometsF – Spencer Watson, Indy Fuel

The Wichita Thunder will host a draft party on Wednesday where the team will be split into Team Bolts and Team Hammers for the All-Star Classic.

In partnership with the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association, four members of the U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team will participate in the All-Star Classic as part of the PWHPA’s barnstorming “Dream Gap Tour” that is visiting several cities in Canada and the United States.

Taking part in the All-Star festivities will be three members of the 2018 U.S. Olympic Gold Medal squad – Dani Cameranesi, Kali Flanagan and Gigi Marvin – along with 3-Time World Champion Annie Pankowski. Each player will be assigned to one of the four All-Star Classic teams, as well as participating in the Kansas Star Casino/ECHL All-Star Skills Competition.

The 13th class of the ECHL Hall of Fame will be officially inducted at a banquet, presented by BFL CANADA and Sutton Special Risk, on Tuesday, January 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview, the Official Host Hotel of the 2020 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic.

For more information on the Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic and to purchase tickets, please visit www.echlallstarclassic.com.

About the ECHL

Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 26 teams in 19 states and two Canadian provinces for its 32nd season in 2019-20. There have been 670 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including eight who have made their NHL debuts in the 2019-20 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 25 of the 31 NHL teams in 2019-20, marking the 23rd consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com.

NEXT GAMES:

The Solar Bears open up a six-game road trip when they face the Norfolk Admirals at the Norfolk Scope on Friday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. The Solar Bears return home to face the Jacksonville Icemen on Thursday, Jan. 23 for a Thirsty Thursday, presented by Coors Light – fans can take advantage of $5 domestic draft beers during the game. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for this game.

Purchase Single-Game Tickets:

Single-game tickets for all Solar Bears home games are now on sale at the Amway Center box office and Ticketmaster. CLICK HERE to download the calendar for the 2019-20 season.

Order New Jerseys:

The Orlando Solar Bears will wear new jerseys for the 2019-20 season. Replica jerseys are available for purchase online, with adult sizes available for $149.95 and youth sizes available for $109.95. Fans can visit bit.ly/OSBJerseys to place their order today.

2019-20 Season Ticket Memberships on Sale Now:

Upgrade to Solar Status and become a Season Ticket Member today. Season ticket memberships for the 2019-20 season are now on sale and start as little as $270 – CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

2019-20 Season Presented by XYMOPrint:

The 2019-20 Orlando Solar Bears season is presented by XYMOPrint, Orlando’s digital printing experts. As a special offer, fans who call XYMOPrint at (888) 223-9390 from now until June 15, 2021 and reference the Solar Bears will receive 15% off their first order and a free Orlando Solar Bears poster!

About the Orlando Solar Bears:

The Orlando Solar Bears are the proud affiliate of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning and members of the ECHL, the premier “AA” hockey league in North America. In seven seasons of operation, the team has qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs five times. The Solar Bears are owned and operated by the Orlando Magic and the DeVos Family, and play at Amway Center, the 2012 Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year.

Officially licensed Orlando Solar Bears replica team jerseys, apparel, and headwear can be purchased at orlandosolarbearshockey.com/shop.