Orlando Pro Hockey Operations, L.P. and primary owners Joe Haleski, Bob Ohrablo, and Jason Siegel, obtained an expansion franchise in the
ECHL in November 2011. The team revived the name of the
original Orlando Solar Bears, who played in the
International Hockey League from 1995 to 2001. The franchise also retained the original colors of their IHL predecessor, while adding the color Sunrise Gold. They are Orlando's third professional hockey team, after the original Solar Bears and
Orlando Seals (2002–2004). Together with the
Florida Everblades of
Estero and the
Jacksonville Icemen, they are one of three ECHL franchises in Florida. They are the eighth ECHL franchise to have the name of a previous IHL franchise, joining four current teams (
Cincinnati Cyclones,
Fort Wayne Komets,
Utah Grizzlies and
Kalamazoo Wings) and three former teams (the defunct Phoenix Roadrunners and
Long Beach Ice Dogs; and the
Peoria Rivermen). The Solar Bears utilize RDV Sportsplex Ice Den as their training facility and offices. For their first season in 2012–13, the team became affiliated with the
Minnesota Wild of the
NHL and the
Houston Aeros of the
AHL. They hired former NHL player
Drake Berehowsky as the team's first head coach. During their inaugural season, the Solar Bears posted a 20–11–1–4 record on home ice; however, the team struggled on the road and missed the playoffs with a 28–27–7 overall record. The Solar Bears then named
Vince Williams, a former Solar Bears defenseman, as head coach for the 2013–14 season. They also added an affiliation with the
Toronto Maple Leafs of the
NHL and the
Toronto Marlies of the
AHL while also keeping the Wild as an affiliate. The Leafs extended their affiliation with the Solar Bears for an additional two years in 2014 and the Leafs became the Solar Bears' sole NHL affiliate. The Solar Bears hosted the 2015
ECHL All-Star Game at
Amway Center on January 21, 2015. For the 2015–16 season,
Anthony Noreen became the head coach of the Solar Bears after guiding the
United States Hockey League's
Youngstown Phantoms to the league championship and being named USHL Coach of the Year. The Solar Bears also renewed their affiliation with the Maple Leafs and Marlies. The Solar Bears missed the 2016 playoffs and then started the 2016–17 season with a 5-5-1-0 record. On November 14, 2016, head coach Anthony Noreen was replaced by former Solar Bears' head coach
Drake Berehowsky. In the
2018 Kelly Cup playoffs, the Solar Bears swept the
South Carolina Stingrays to win their first playoff series, before losing to the regular season champions, the
Florida Everblades, in the division finals. After the season, the Solar Bears and the Toronto Maple Leafs ended their five-season affiliation when Toronto affiliated with the expansion
Newfoundland Growlers team. The Solar Bears then affiliated with the
Tampa Bay Lightning on a three-year agreement, which was then extended through at least the 2022–23 season. On April 25, 2022, the team announced that they and Drake Berehowsky had mutually agreed to part ways. ==Media==