Flinton Reassigned, Element Loaned from Syracuse to Orlando

Tampa Bay Lightning Reassigns Forward Cooper Flinton and Loans Shawn Element to Orlando Solar Bears

The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned forward Cooper Flinton from the Syracuse Crunch to the Orlando Solar Bears, according to an announcement made by Joel Bouchard, the General Manager and Head Coach of the Crunch. Alongside that roster adjustment, the Crunch also loaned forward Shawn Element to the Solar Bears.

Flinton, 23, has appeared in five games with the Syracuse Crunch this season. During the previous campaign, the 6-foot-2, 212-pound forward logged 50 appearances for the Crunch, tallying five goals and one assist, while also playing eight contests with the Solar Bears. Since 2024, the Auburn, New Hampshire, native has accumulated 59 career AHL games entirely with Syracuse, collecting six goals and one assist.

Prior Collegiate Record and NHL Draft Position

Before turning professional, Flinton skated in 89 career games with Dartmouth College, registering 32 goals and 64 total points. The Tampa Bay Lightning drafted him in the seventh round, 211th overall, at the 2021 NHL Draft.

The @TBLightning have reassigned forward Cooper Flinton from the Crunch to @OrlandoHockey.We have also loaned forward Shawn Element to the Solar Bears.https://t.co/pY5zBxk5bD

— https://x.com/SyracuseCrunch/status/2115171677248340419

Meanwhile, 26-year-old Shawn Element has skated in two games with the Crunch during the current season. Last year, Element played 31 games with the Milwaukee Admirals—recording five goals and one assist—while also appearing in five games with the Providence Bruins and eight games with the Maine Mariners, where he recorded one goal and four assists.

AHL and QMJHL Career Statistics for Element

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound forward has skated in 246 career AHL games across stints with Syracuse, Milwaukee, Providence, and Ontario, earning 61 points on 34 goals and 27 assists, alongside 301 penalty minutes. Element has additionally played 23 career ECHL games between Maine and Orlando, accumulating 14 points on five goals and nine assists.

Between 2016 and 2021, the Victoriaville, Quebec, product appeared in 274 career QMJHL matches for the Victoriaville Tigres, Cape Breton Eagles, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, and Baie-Comeau Drakkar prior to his pro career, putting up 170 points split between 89 goals and 81 assists.

Fans can purchase single-game tickets and ticket packages for the 2026-27 season by visiting the Crunch office in person at the Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial—situated at 800 S. State St. in Syracuse—by placing a phone call to 315-473-4444, or by going online through Ticketmaster. Further updates are accessible via the official Syracuse Crunch website and their social media channels on Facebook, X, and Instagram.