Solar Bears Add Former Vipers Captain Ullrich To Teams Protected List:

 On June 2nd the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) announced its Protected Lists as submitted by each of its member teams. The ECHL Orlando Solar Bears have twenty five players listed on their protected list one of is former Vernon Vipers forward-captain Mike Ullrich.

Ullrich finished his first season with the ECHL Orlando Solar Bears collecting (10-goals-25-assists-35-points) in 42 games.  Ullrich become an unrestricted free agent after last season, after the ownership group of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) Trenton Titans pulled the franchise out of the ECHL. According to a statement from the ECHL, all Titans players signed to ECHL contracts, except those owed as future considerations, are unrestricted free agents.  Ullrich signed as a free-agent with the Solar Bears on July, 1st 2013.

Ullrich also spent time in the American Hockey League this past season playing with St. Johns, Manchester & Iowa.  Ullrich was invited to a pro tryout with the AHL St. John's IceCaps in September before being released on September 30th 2013 returning to Orlando.  Ullrich signed a professional tryout agreement with the AHL Manchester Monarchs on November 15th 2013 before being released after playing in three games returned to Orlando before signing a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with the AHL Iowa Wild.  After picking up two assists in 9 games with the Wild Ullrich was released on March 14th 2014 finishing the season with the ECHL Orlando Solar Bears.   

Ullrich played for three different teams last season (South Carolina, Tulsa & Trenton).
Ullrich started last season with the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) South Carolina Stingrays after signing a contract over the summer. Ullrich left the Stingrays before signing with the Central Hockey League (CHL) Tulsa Oilers on November, 7th 2012. The Stingrays suspended Ullrich after leaving the club but then took Ullrich off suspension before trading the rights of Ullrich to the ECHL Trenton Titans for future considerations on January, 18th 2013. In five games with the Stingrays Ullrich collected 1 goal & 4 assists. The Oilers then suspended and then deleted Ullrich from the clubs roster on January, 17th 2013 after Ullrich left the Oilers for the ECHL Trenton Titans. In 29 games with the Oilers Ullrich collected (7-goals-12-assists-19-points). In 26 games last year with Trenton Ullrich collected (15-goals-14-assists-29-points).

Ullrich played parts of two years in Vernon (2005-2007) Ullrich left the Vipers during the 2005-06 season before returning to Vernon the following season after a short stint with the WHL Lethbridge Hurricanes. In 103 games with the Vipers Ullrich collected (39-goals-92-assists-131-points).

Mike Ullrich's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=13474

No official press release from the Solar Bears but here is the press release from the ECHL website:

ECHL announces Protected Lists

June 2, 2014

The ECHL on Monday announced the Protected Lists as submitted by each of its Member teams.

Teams are allowed to protect as many players as they wish provided the players protected meet the guidelines as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association which state that teams shall retain the rights to each player that:

1. Signed an SPC in 2013-14 with the Member, and has not been traded or released, OR

2. Signed an SPC in 2013-14, and was recalled to the NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released, OR

3. Had received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current Season, DID NOT sign an SPC, and has not been traded or released, OR

4. Has been suspended by the Member or League, and has not been traded or released, OR

5. Signed an SPC on or after the first day of the 2013-14 Regular Season, then subsequently signed an NHL/AHL contract, and has not been traded or released, OR

6. Has executed the ECHL Retirement Form, and has not been traded or released.
Protected lists may exceed 20 players.

The ECHL also announced that teams must complete all Future Consideration trades by 3 p.m. ET on June 13 and that teams must submit their Season-Ending Roster by 3 p.m. ET on June 15.

Season-ending rosters may include up to 20 players and cannot include any players who did not sign an ECHL contract in 2013-14.

Orlando Solar Bears Protected List:

Tyler Beskorowany, Cody Reichard, Ross MacKinnon, Corey Fienhage, Bryce Aneloski, Cody Wild, Eric Baier, Connor Goggin, Evan Renwick, Blake Kessel, Paul Baier, Ryan Donald, Trevor Gillies, C.J. Severyn, Mickey Lang, Tyler Murovich, Mike Ullrich, Ian Slater, Kory Nagy, Jacob Cepis, Zach Harrison, Scott Tanski, Francis Verreault-Paul, Rob Mignardi & Mike Liambas