ALL PHOTOS BY JAYDEN BLYTHE
The Florida Everblades beat the Orlando Solar Bears 5-1 on Sunday in the Solar Bears’ home opener at Kia Center, completing a weekend sweep to start the 2026-27 ECHL season, and Orlando Shine Photo Friend Jayden Blythe (Instagram) was there to catch the action for us.
The Solar Bears (0-2) opened the season Saturday with a 3-1 loss in Estero, where the defending Kelly Cup champion Everblades held strong. Sunday’s game, billed as Opening Night and Sunday Funday, sadly followed the same script.
Mark Estapa scored twice in his Everblades debut. He gave Florida the lead on a power play 5:43 into the first period, shooting from the left circle. Tyler Duke made it 2-0 about six minutes later with his first professional goal.
Brendan Harris cut the lead to 2-1 for Orlando on a power play 1:35 into the second period. Estapa answered late in the second to restore a two-goal lead.
Isaac Nurse made it 4-1 four-on-four at 3:29 of the third period. Tyson Dyck closed the scoring on a power play at 15:28, also his first professional goal.
Florida outshot Orlando 44-18, which is insane. Everblades goalie Cam Johnson made 17 saves on 18 shots in his second win of the weekend. Orlando’s Scott Ratzlaff stopped 39 shots. Math.
The win was Florida’s eighth straight over Orlando, and the Everblades have won the last eight meetings played in Orlando. Their last loss at Kia Center was a 5-4 overtime defeat on February 2, 2025.
The Solar Bears play again on Saturday, October 24, at 7 p.m. at Kia Center against South Carolina on ASL Awareness Night, according to the team’s schedule.
