Solar Bears represented in Stanley Cup Final

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Solar Bears will be represented in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final when a former player and their current NHL affiliate square off, as goaltender Darcy Kuemper and the Colorado Avalanche face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the best-of-seven series that begins with Game 1 on Wednesday, June 15 at Ball Arena, in Denver.

Kuemper, 32, is in his 11th season of professional hockey and his 10th season in the NHL. He has posted a record of 6-2-0 in 10 appearances this postseason with a 2.65 goals-against average and a save percentage of .897 to help guide the Avalanche to their third appearance in the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history and their first since 2001. During the regular season, his first with Colorado, Kuemper went 37-12-4 in 57 outings with a 2.54 GAA, a save percentage of .921 and five shutouts.

Kuemper was assigned to the Solar Bears during the 2012-13 season by the Minnesota Wild and appeared in three contests for Orlando, going 0-2-1 with a 2.61 GAA and a save percentage of .929. That same season, he became the first developmental player in Solar Bears history to reach the NHL when he debuted with the Wild on Feb. 12, 2013 at Vancouver.

In 299 career NHL games with Minnesota, Los Angeles, Arizona and Colorado, Kuemper has posted a record of 143-95-36 with a 2.48 GAA, a save percentage of .918 and 25 shutouts.

The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native was originally a sixth-round selection (161st overall) by the Minnesota Wild in the 2009 NHL Draft.

The Lightning, Orlando’s affiliate since the 2018-19 season, are making their third consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Final and fifth in franchise history, as Tampa Bay aims to become the fourth club in NHL history – and first in nearly 40 years – to claim at least three consecutive Stanley Cup championships. The last club to do so was the New York Islanders dynasty from 1980-83.

Every game in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final will start at 8 p.m. ET and will be available on ABC, ESPN+ and the ESPN app in the U.S. In Canada, every game will be available on Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports.

Game 1 – Wednesday, June 15 – 8 p.m. – Tampa Bay at ColoradoGame 2 – Saturday, June 18 – 8 p.m. – Tampa Bay at ColoradoGame 3 – Monday, June 20 – 8 p.m. – Colorado at Tampa BayGame 4 – Wednesday, June 22 – 8 p.m. – Colorado at Tampa Bay*Game 5 – Friday, June 24 – 8 p.m. – Tampa Bay at Colorado*Game 6 – Sunday, June 26 – 8 p.m. – Colorado at Tampa Bay* Game 7 – Tuesday, June 28 – 8 p.m. – Tampa Bay at Colorado

*If necessary

About the Orlando Solar Bears:

The Orlando Solar Bears are the proud affiliate of the NHL’s Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and members of the ECHL, the premier “AA” hockey league in North America. In 10 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.