JEFF SOLYLO
A founding member of Apocalypse Now, Jeff Solylo is certainly a
solid member in the Apocalypse Now Hall of Fame (if there was one).
Jeff was the principal organizer in bringing the team together for
the first season. He coined the franchise name, ‘Apocalypse Now’,
although Francis Ford Coppola whines that he thought of the name
first.
After winning the scoring derby in 1986, Jeff was lost to the team
due to knee surgery for almost two full years. This really irked
Solylo because the team was really awful and then had a great year
as soon as he was hurt. No one told Jeff, but it helped that
Apocalypse moved down about 15 divisions that year and played against
kids in penny loafers and parkas while the goalies wore no mask and
tiny 1940’s equipment.
Jeff Solylo was a member of the 1990 championship team, scoring a
personal best one-season total of 8 points in only three playoff
games. But possibly Jeff’s greatest claim to fame, is that he holds
the club record for game opening goals. He scored a record 9 in one
season, a record which will likely never be broken. Jeff ended up
with a club record 26 game opening goals in his career. Jeff broke a
record number of sticks over the crossbar due to Apocalypse defenseman
and goalies that did not meet his standards.
Jeff was unsuccessful on his only career penalty shot, but did score
a semi-final series-winning goal and was the playoff leading scorer
in 1985.
Solylo scored his first goal in 1983 in Game 2 vs. Team Fridays.
In 1990-91, Jeff became only the fourth player in franchise history
to score 50 career goals. His 50th goal was scored in his 63rd game
vs. the Jetsons. In Game 5 of the 1991-92 season, Solylo scored the
franchise 1000th regular season scoring point. Jeff retired from this
marvelous game after his ninth season of spongee. His last goal was
scored vs. the Melrose Missiles in 1993 Jeff retired while in 4th
place in goals, points, penalty minutes, GWG’s and GTG’s. When he
quit, Jeff was in 6th place for games played. Solylo accumulated a
combined 131 points in 98 regular season and playoff games. “And I’ve
never worn anything but the beautiful, original red jersey,”
he stressed.
