The connection between

Bond between Orlando teammates grows into unifying force

Orlando Solar Bears teammates Darryl Bootland and Sean Zimmerman, both of whom formerly played on the ECHL champion Colorado Eagles, is a unifying force.

The first time that Darryl Bootland and Sean Zimmerman practiced together, a puck slid into a corner of the rink.

As Bootland went to retrieve it, Zimmerman closed in. A big hit ensued. “He hurt me,’’ Bootland said. Bootland and Zimmerman were used to fighting when they were on opposing professional hockey teams, but on that occasion, they were on the Colorado Eagles.

Bootland, 36, and Zimmerman, 30, have been teammates in the ECHL for the past four seasons — three with the Colorado Eagles and now with the Orlando Solar Bears. The Solar Bears (13-16-4-1, 31 points) will continue their road trip at 7:30 tonight against the Jacksonville Icemen (9-16-3-2, 23 points).

“[It’s] kind of like a love-hate relationship,’’ said Zimmerman, a defenseman. “We definitely need our breaks from each other. We’re more like brothers than friends.’’

Despite their differences — Bootland, a married father of three, is talkative while Zimmerman, who has a girlfriend, is more reserved — they share plenty in common.

Both have crafted lengthy careers after being selected in the NHL draft, Bootland by the Colorado Avalanche in the eighth round in 2000 and Zimmerman by the New Jersey

JACOB LANGSTON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Darryl Bootland, left, and Sean Zimmerman, in their first season with Orlando, were teammates for three seasons with the Colorado Eagles.