Solar Bears add Cox, Perna

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, announced the signings of forward Ryan Cox and defenseman Chris Perna tocontracts for the 2023-24 season. 

Cox appeared in 12 games last season for Toledo, scoring 11 points (5g-6a). The native of St. Albert, Alberta was named Inglasco/ECHL Player of the Week for the week of March 20-26, when hescored six points (3g-3a) in three games. Cox started his professional career on a five-game point streak that included three multi-point games. Orlando acquired his rights in a future considerations trade with the Walleye that completed the deal for Andrew Sturtz on Dec. 6, 2022. 

The 24-year-old played collegiately at Niagara University, where in five seasons that spanned 152 games, he scored 69 points (35g-34a). Following the 2018-19 season, Cox was named to the Atlantic Hockey Association All-Academic Team. Cox competed in the Alberta Junior Hockey League for four seasons from 2014-18, scoring 134 points (65g-68a) in 154 games. 

Perna appeared in 54 regular season games last year for the Tulsa, accumulating eight assists and 20 penalty minutes. The 25-year-old was acquired by the Solar Bears in the future considerations trade that completed the deal that sent Dante Sherriff to the Oilers on Dec. 6, 2022. 

The Pittsford, New York native played college hockey at SUNY-Geneseo from 2018-22, serving as an alternate captain in his senior season and totaling 62 points (15g-47a) in 81 games.