Sean Avery's comeback to professional hockey was cut short after the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears released the forward from his contract.
Avery was signed by the Solar Bears — an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning — on Wednesday and started on the team's reserve list. The 41-year-old was looking to play 10 years after his final season.
An infamous tough guy, the undrafted Avery appeared in 580 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars and New York Rangers, collecting 247 points and 1,533 penalty minutes over 10 seasons. His career totals were 90 goals and 157 assists for 247 points.
The Toronto native last played in 2011-12, when he appeared in 15 games with the Rangers and seven with the AHL's Connecticut Whale. Since retiring he has started acting, most notably in Christopher Nolan's 2020 feature Tenet. He also competed on ABC's Dancing With The Stars in 2014.
