Solar Bears Re-Sign Mahshie, Carroll for Upcoming Season

The Orlando Solar Bears are welcoming a forward and a defenseman back to their roster, re-signing forward Ryan Mahshie and blueliner Ben Carroll for 2024-25.

Mahshie, a Stony Creek, Ontario native, returns to Orlando after signing his first pro contract with the club last January. He appeared in 12 games for the Purple and Orange, scoring his first professional goal February 7 in Jacksonville against the Icemen.

Before turning pro, Mahshie spent the 2023-24 season playing collegiate hockey for the University of Connecticut, posting five points (2-3-5) in 17 games.

Before transferring to UConn, Mahshie played four seasons at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), registering 45 points (24-21-45) in 85 contests.

The 25-year-old Mahshie's junior hockey career included two seasons with the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL, where he put up 85 points (43-42-85) over 107 games, helping the club to the 2018-19 AJHL Championship.

Carroll, 29, is entering his sixth season in professional hockey and second with the Solar Bears. The 6-foot, 190-pound defenseman appeared in 67 regular-season games last season, scoring 35 points (5-30-35) to lead all Bears blueliners.

Carroll has appeared in 191 ECHL regular-season games and 23 playoff games over four seasons with the Allen Americans and Solar Bears. The Sherwood Park, Alberta native also won the Danish Championship with the Aalborg Pirates during the 2022-23 season.

Carroll's major junior hockey career included four seasons with the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings, spanning 180 regular-season games and 25 playoff contests. He also won a WHL Championship and Memorial Cup title during the 2013-14 season.

In 2016, Carroll committed to the University of Alberta. He led the Golden Bears to a USports University Cup Championship during the 2017-18 season. In 107 games, he tallied 42 points (6-36-42).