Sean Avery has signed a contract with the ECHL Orlando Solar Bears

Cam Lewis
Cam Lewis
Feb 23, 2022, 10:54 EST
Sean Avery has signed a contract with the ECHL Orlando Solar Bears

Sean Avery — yes, that Sean Avery — is making a comeback in professional hockey.

The Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL announced on Wednesday that the 10-year NHL veteran has signed a Standard Player Contract. He’ll begin his career with the Solar Bears on the team’s reserve list.

Avery, now 41 years old, hasn’t played professionally since the 2011-12 season when he played 15 games for the New York Rangers and seven games for their AHL affiliate, the Connecticut Whale.

Undrafted out of Major Junior, Avery was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Red Wings in 1999. He made his NHL debut with the Wings in 2001-02, scoring two goals and four points over the course of 36 games.

At the height of his game, Avery was a super pest who could also contribute offensively. He led the league in penalty minutes in 2003-04 and 2005-06 as a member of the Los Angeles Kings and set a career-high in goals with 18 and points with 48 in 2006-07 with the New York Rangers.

Avery was also a very controversial player during his career. In 2008, he was suspended for making comments about other NHL players (Dion Phaneuf and Jarrett Stoll) dating two of his ex-girlfriends. The NHL also created an ‘Avery Rule’ when he aggressively screened Martin Brodeur in front of the net.

Since retiring from the NHL, Avery has focused full-time on working in the creative industry. He’s worked as a model, most notably for Vogue, and he has multiple acting credits, including in Christopher Nolan’s 2020 film Tenet.

The Solar Bears currently own a 25-19-3 record and sit fourth in the ECHL’s South Division.

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