Solar Bears sign veteran forward Shawn Szydlowski

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Solar Bears have agreed to terms with forward Shawn Szydlowski on an ECHL Standard Player Contract for the 2022-23 season.

Szydlowski, 31, joins the Solar Bears for what will be his 12th full season in professional hockey after recording 27 points (11g-16a) in 31 games with the Fort Wayne Komets during the 2021-22 season.

The 6-foot, 198-pound forward has played the bulk of his pro career in the ECHL with a combined 490 points (180g-310a) in 482 games with Fort Wayne and Gwinnett/Atlanta. Szydlowski was named ECHL MVP in 2017-18 and claimed the league scoring title with 79 points, and later helped the Komets capture their first Kelly Cup title in 2021. He has earned All-ECHL First Team honors twice (2014-15; 2017-18) and was named to the All-ECHL Second Team in 2015-16.

Szydlowski’s pro résumé also includes 10 points (1g-9a) across 80 games in the American Hockey League with Cleveland/Lake Erie, Norfolk, Binghamton, Rochester and Portland; the veteran forward also spent part of one season overseas with Norwegian club Frisk Asker, collecting seven points (4g-3a) in 11 games. Szydlowski’s AA-level tenure includes a season with the Fort Worth Brahmas of the now-defunct Central Hockey League, where he posted 26 points (10g-16a) in 45 games.

Prior to turning pro, the native of St. Clair Shores, Michigan played major junior hockey for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, where he tallied 197 points (94g-103a) in 258 games.

Orlando’s preseason roster now includes the following players:

Forwards:Tyler BirdLuke BokaShawn Szydlowski

Defensemen:Jimmy MazzaAndrew McLean