Hockey Operations

Matt Carkner enters his second season as Head Coach and General Manager in 2023-24. Carkner, 43, comes to Orlando after spending five seasons (2016-21) in the professional coaching ranks as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, now known as the Bridgeport Islanders. While part of Bridgeport’s coaching staff, Carkner oversaw the team’s defensive zone schemes and penalty-killing unit, in addition to handling individual player skill development, video pre-scouting and analytics. During that time, Carkner aided in the development of current NHL defensemen including Sebastian Aho, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock and Devon Toews. Carkner’s coaching experience also includes serving as assistant coach of the Mid Fairfield (Conn.) Rangers during the 2021-22 season, helping guide the team to a quarterfinal appearance at the 2022 USA Hockey Tier I 14U National Championships. In addition to coaching the Solar Bears, Carkner will be responsible for overseeing the club’s hockey operations – including managing support staff, recruiting and signing players and coordinating with both the Tampa Bay Lightning and AHL’s Syracuse Crunch as the coach of Tampa Bay’s ECHL affiliate – and supporting the local youth hockey initiatives of the Solar Bears. As a player, Carkner enjoyed a 15-year professional career that included 237 games in the National Hockey League with the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders, where he recorded 27 points (4g-23a) and 556 penalty minutes. Carkner also played 587 games in the American Hockey League, collecting 152 points (36g-116a) and 1,756 penalty minutes with the Cleveland Barons, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Binghamton Senators and Bridgeport. Carkner served as team captain while with Cleveland and held alternate captain roles for each AHL club he played for. Carkner was named the recipient of the AHL’s Yanick Dupré Memorial Award in 2006-07 for his community involvement. Carkner was a second-round pick (58th overall) by the Montréal Canadiens in the 1999 NHL Draft, and played four seasons of major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League with the Peterborough Petes prior to turning pro, serving as team captain in his final two seasons. A native of Winchester, Ontario, Carkner and his wife Kary have two children, Chase and Corbin, and are involved with the Capital City Condors (Ottawa) and Long Island Blues (N.Y.), adapted hockey team programs for players with special needs.

Holmstrom joined the Orlando Solar Bears coaching staff prior to the 2022-2023 season. Prior to joining the Solar Bears organization, Holmstrom completed his professional playing career from 2010-2022. Holmstrom played 7 NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers and 611 AHL games with the Adirondack Phantoms, Charlotte Checkers, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and Rochester Americans. He also spent time in the ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals, Cincinnati Cyclones, South Carolina Stingrays, and a season in the Norwegian top league with Lillehammer Ice Hockey Club. Before turning pro Holmstrom played four years of NCAA Division 1 hockey at UMass-Lowell where he was captain for the Riverhawks for 3 seasons and earned a degree in Economics. Originally from Colorado Springs, CO, Holmstrom and his wife Morgan have one son, Brooks.

Nathan Craze joins the Solar Bears for his first season as Goaltending and Video Coach. Craze enjoyed a nine-year professional career in England playing for the Cardiff Devils (2001-04), Bracknell Bees (2006-07), Swindon Wildcats (2007-08), Belfast Giants (2008-11), and Edinburgh Capitals (2011-12). The Merthyr Tydfil, Wales native transitioned into coaching and was a part of the U18 and U20 Great Britain National Ice Hockey Team.  Craze then moved to Canada to coach the goaltenders at Western University in London, Ontario for the 2017-18 season and moved on to Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario spending three seasons with that program. Craze then moved to Montreal, when he was operating Nathan Craze Goaltending, before accepting the Solar Bears job prior to the season. Craze lives in Orlando with his wife Sarha and son Jackson. 

Nelson enters his first season with the Solar Bears as Head Athletic Trainer. The Chesapeake, Virginia native gradated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Athletic Training from Longwood University. While he was in school, Nelson received the opportunity to work with the Norfolk Admirals. He is currently working on his Masters of Exercise Science from Pennsylvania Western University. 

 

Nelson comes to Orlando by way of the Mississippi Sea Wolves in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL).