Monfredo set to wear the ‘C’
Mike Monfredo is getting a new letter on his Orlando Solar Bears’ jersey.
The veteran defenseman has been named the Solar Bears captain for the 2018-19 season, the team announced Thursday. Monfredo, in his second season with Orlando, becomes the sixth player in team history to be named a full-time captain.
“Mike is a core piece of this team – he’s someone who primarily leads by example, but when he speaks in the locker room, he commands everybody’s full attention,” Solar Bears head coach and general manager Drake Berehowsky said in the press release. “He’s an excellent ambassador for our team, and someone we’re proud to select as our captain.”
Veteran forward Curt Gogol and forward Brady Shaw will serve as alternate captains, while forward Troy Bourke will serve as a third alternate.
Monfredo, 28, has eight points (2 goals, 6 assists) and 40 penalty minutes in 20 games this season.
“It’s an honor to be named captain,” Monfredo said in the press release. “We’ve got a great group of players in our locker room this season, and we’ve got what it takes to contend for a championship.”
The Solar Bears’ previous captains were Ryan Cruthers (2012-13); Eric Baier (13-14); Stefan Della Rovere (14-15); Baier and Carl Nielsen (15-16); Baier (16-17); and Sean Zimmerman (17-18).
Time for teddy bears: Mark your calendars for Dec. 21, when the Solar Bears host their annual Teddy Bear Toss as they face the rival Florida Everblades.
Fans can throw a new teddy bear or stuffed animal onto the ice after Orlando's first goal. The animals are then collected and given to Central Florida children in need during the holidays.
In addition, the Solar Bears will wear Ugly Holiday Sweater jerseys to be auctioned off following the game. Fans can compete in an ugly holiday sweater contest during the game by wearing their own ugly holiday sweater.
The Western Hockey League’s Kamloops Blazers started the teddy bear promotion nearly 25 years ago, and thousands of stuffed animals have gone to children in need since. The AHL’s Hershey Bears collected a record 34,798 teddy bears in their 6-3 win over the Binghamton Devils on Sunday.