The Orlando Solar Bears re-signed defenseman Xavier Lapointe to a contract for the 2026-27 season, the ECHL club announced Thursday, Sept. 10.
Lapointe, 24, joined the Orlando Solar Bears after completing his collegiate career at Rochester Institute of Technology. The 6-foot, 190-pound defenseman recorded two goals, six penalty minutes and a plus-1 rating in eight games with the Solar Bears.
The Saint-Jerome, Quebec, Canada, native appeared in 100 games over four seasons at Rochester Institute of Technology, recording 36 points with 10 goals and 26 assists, along with 105 penalty minutes. Before his collegiate career, Lapointe played for the Flin Flon Bombers of the SJHL, where he recorded 50 points in 58 games. He was named SJHL Defenseman of the Year during the 2021-22 season.
The Orlando Solar Bears are an ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning.
Orlando Solar Bears 2026 preseason roster
Forwards: Camaryn Baber, Tyler Bird, Connor Eddy, Massimo Lombardi, Aaron Luchuk, Keegan McMullen, John Parker-Jones, Kobe Walker and Luciano Wilson.
Defensemen: Jarod Crespo, Tony Follmer, Dustin Geregach, Colton Kammerer, Kade Landry, Xavier Lapointe and Ethan Szmagaj.
Goaltender: Ryan Bednard.
Upcoming Orlando Solar Bears home games
The Orlando Solar Bears will host the Florida Everblades at 5 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 18, at Kia Center. Orlando will host the South Carolina Stingrays at 7 p.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 24, also at Kia Center. The Solar Bears will then welcome the Florida Everblades at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Kia Center.
Source: Original report