Sean Avery Released From ECHL Team Two Days After Signing Contract

Prior to signing a standard player contract with the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears on Wednesday, former NHLer Sean Avery had not played a professional hockey game since 2011-12. 

After today's announcement, it appears as if it will stay that way. 

The Solar Bears announced on Friday afternoon that the club has released Avery from his contract effective immediately. Avery had been placed on the team's reserve list after signing his deal two days ago, and ultimately did not suit up for a single game. 

It's unclear as to why the Solar Bears even signed Avery in the first place, only to then release him roughly 48 hours later. 

Avery was on the downswing of his career roughly a decade ago, when his time in professional hockey came to a close after the New York Rangers demoted him to the AHL's Connecticut Whale midway through the 2011-12 season. 

From there, Avery dabbled in Broadway stage productions and the odd guest appearance as an analyst for certain hockey shows, never sticking with one thing for very long. 

For him to stage a comeback at age 41 after having been out of the sport entirely for nearly 10 years was puzzling enough. For that comeback to last as short as it did, with Avery never even being activated off of the Solar Bears' reserve list, is just plain odd. 

Regardless, the Solar Bears gained some online attention as a result of the signing, while Avery will now be free to pursue any potential off-ice endeavor he desires. 

And so ends a truly strange saga.