Mazza Looks to Continue Success with Solar Bears This Season

After the Orlando Solar Bears acquired Jimmy Mazza in a trade with the Adirondack Thunder in 2022, the Kings Park, New York native has come into his own.

The 30-year-old defenseman posted career-highs in goals, assists, points, and penalty minutes during the 2023-24 campaign.

Mazza hopes to continue that success for a third season with Orlando after agreeing to terms on an ECHL Standard Player Contract with the club for the 2024-25 season.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound blueliner has appeared in 231 ECHL games over five professional seasons with Orlando, Adirondack, and the Reading Royals, scoring 48 points (12-36-48).

Mazza earned career-highs in all three scoring categories this past season for Orlando, scoring seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points. He also picked up a career-high 127 penalty minutes during the 2023-24 season.

Before turning pro, Mazza played collegiate hockey for Canisius College, where he skated in 141 games for the Golden Griffins program and totaled 68 points (18-50-68). Mazza helped Canisius capture the Atlantic Hockey Association regular season conference title in 2016-17.

Related: Japanese Forward Signs with Solar Bears

Over his junior hockey career, Mazza played for the United States Premier Hockey League’s P.A.L. Junior Islanders, winning the league’s Defenseman of the Year award in 2014-15. He also skated one season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League, where he recorded 10 points (2-8-10) in 58 games.

As of September 11, the Solar Bears’ roster consists of eight forwards, seven defenseman and one goalie. Check back often with The Hockey News for the latest signings and transactions as the season approaches.