Last we heard from the Leafs' ECHL affiliate, the Solar Bears were eliminated from a hard-fought first round of ECHL playoffs in OT of game 7. The players dispersed for working summers in far-away parts (Garret Sparks, for example, headed to Australia for exhibition tournaments) -- and the organization also fired their coach of two seasons, Vince Williams.

The biggest question on the minds of people who follow Toronto's prospects was, how much input will Toronto have in the selection of the new coach? Today, Bob Mills, the Public Relations manager of the Bears, took some time to interview the Bears' President, Jason Siegel, and got some answers.

In short:

  • The Solar Bears waited for the Marlies to announce their coach before selecting one, which seems to indicate a rather close relationship between the organizations.
  • At least 24 people from the USHL, NAHL, NCAA, Canadian colleges and junior leagues, SPHL, ECHL, and AHL interviewed for the position.
  • Next season's players will be signed on June 16, keeping future considerations in mind./

Here is the full press release:

Q&A with Solar Bears President, Jason Siegel

Solar Bears President/CEO Jason Siegel sat down with Director of Public Relations and Broadcasting Bob Mills to discuss the coaching search, plans for next season, and more.

Q: The Solar Bears are currently in the process of securing a Head Coach. Can you provide an update on the search?

A: Our AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, announced their selection on Monday. We expect to do the same in the very near future.

Q: Are you able to discuss the candidate pool for the coaching position?

A: We have had a tremendous pool of candidates and a lot of interest in the opportunity here in Orlando. We have had no less than two dozen conversations, along with a number of face-to-face interviews with candidates from the USHL, NAHL, NCAA, Canadian Colleges, Canadian Junior leagues, the SPHL, the ECHL, and the AHL.

Q: As we begin to look forward to next season, how is the roster shaping up so far?

A: To start with, we can't sign any players until June 16, and we also have to complete all future considerations deals from last season. We have had conversations with each of the players who played for us last year. We are pleased and comfortable with our options and look forward to announcing our first sets of signings once the signing period opens up. The easiest way to keep up with player signings is to follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and our website, OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com, as there are a number of league imposed deadlines in which we can qualify returning players.

Q: Next year will mark the 10th season of Solar Bears hockey (IHL and ECHL combined) in Orlando. What are the plans for next fall?

A: Our front office staff is hard at work preparing to roll out the celebration of 10 years of Solar Bears hockey in Orlando. There will be a lot more information as we get closer to Opening Night on Saturday, October 17. Season ticket renewals for next season are ahead of our pace from last summer. We certainly can't wait for October to come around!

Q: The importance of community involvement has been a focus of the Solar Bears since coming "Out of Hibernation" in November of 2011. What has the team been doing in the community this summer?

A: We have already had an exciting summer in the community. Just last week we (the Haleski Foundation and the Solar Bears) were honored to be able to help West Orange High School raise the money they needed to replace their turf. The Central Florida High School Hockey League playoffs just started this week, and the championship game will be played tomorrow, Saturday, June 13, at 4:00 p.m. at the RDV Sportsplex Ice Den. On June 1st and June 6th, Eric Baier and Danny Brooks helped the OYHA Jr. Knights with their tryouts and Solar Bears Youth Hockey Camp begins on Monday at RDV. Stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter pages for updates on where to find us. To make any requests for donations or player and/or mascot appearances, please visit our website. We will also publish the 2014-15 Report to the Community in the next four to six weeks which recaps last season's activities.

Orlando Solar Bears