The Florida Everblades are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Estero, Florida, in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan area. They play in the ECHL and play their home games at Hertz Arena. The Everblades are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins and the American Hockey League's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The Everblades were founded in 1998. They play in the South Division of the Eastern Conference in the ECHL. They have failed to qualify for the playoffs just once in team history (2013–14) and have made eight appearances in the Kelly Cup finals, winning in 2012, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2026; the 2022, 2023, and 2024 championships were the first three-peat in ECHL history.
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History
The team was founded in 1998 by Craig Brush, Peter Karmanos Jr., and Thomas Thewes and was named based on the Florida Everglades. The Everblades' logo features a gator-head design fused in the form of an ice skate. Barnstorm Creative Group, a Vancouver graphic design company, designed the logo. Barnstorm was contacted by Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr., who came up with the idea of choosing the Everblades' colors as blue and green, in tribute to the Hartford Whalers team that Karmanos moved to Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Everblades' inaugural home opener featured a pre-game ceremony in which a large alligator was brought onto the ice to pay tribute to the team's name and logo, as well as Florida's vast population of reptile species. The Everblades won their first Kelly Cup on May 23, 2012, against the Las Vegas Wranglers. Brandon MacLean scored the championship-winning-goal in overtime during game five. Everblades goaltender, John Muse, was named the most valuable player of the 2012 Kelly Cup playoffs.
2012 Kelly Cup Finals
Florida won the 2012 Kelly Cup playoffs with a 4–1 victory at home in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 7,290. The first period saw Las Vegas Wranglers goalie Joe Fallon beaten by Justin Shugg and Mike Ratchuk, but Las Vegas edged back to even the score by the third, with Ash Goldie and Peter MacArthur beating John Muse to force the overtime. At 4:54 into the overtime, after Ryan Donald passed to Matt Beca, who in turn sent the puck to Brandon MacLean, who beat Fallon and secured the victory.
The win earned Florida the 2012 Kelly Cup and secured a perfect home record of 11–0 in the postseason (two victories over Greenville and three each over Elmira, Kalamazoo, and Las Vegas). Additionally, John Muse earned the Kelly Cup Finals MVP award.
Ownership and affiliation changes
In April 2013, owner Peter Karmanos, Jr. announced he would be selling the team along with Germain Arena to "simplify things" in his life, as he had just retired from the company he founded, Compuware. The team was made for sale and was being shopped by Park Lane, a sports investment-banking firm that specializes in the sale of sports teams. In 2018, Karmanos gave up majority control of the Hurricanes to new majority owner Thomas Dundon. After the 2018–19 season, the Everblades dropped the Hurricanes affiliation for the first time and partnered with the Nashville Predators.
On August 5, 2019, reports states Karmanos had sold both the team and arena to David Hoffmann, a Naples, Florida, resident and real estate investor. Starting in the 2022–23 season, the Everblades ended their affiliation with the Predators and entered a multi-year agreement with the Florida Panthers. On June 13, 2024, team president Craig Brush announced that the team would not be renewing its agreement with the Panthers. On July 10 of that year, the Everblades announced a new multi-year agreement with the St. Louis Blues, which lasted until the end of the 2026 season. On July 16, 2026, with the Hoffmann family purchasing the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Everblades announced that they would become the new ECHL affiliate of the Penguins, ending their 29-year relationship with the Wheeling Nailers.
Logos
Through the Everblades' history, they have had five anniversary logos: the fifth anniversary logo in 2002–03, the 10th anniversary logo in 2007–08, the 15th anniversary logo in 2012–13, the 20th anniversary logo in 2017–18, and the 25th anniversary logo in 2022–23.
Season-by-season record
1 The 2008–09 team played 71 games because of scheduling changes caused by the Augusta Lynx and Fresno Falcons ceasing operations mid-season. Four of the five teams (Florida, Charlotte, South Carolina, Mississippi) played 71 games, with Gwinnett playing 72.
2 The 2019–20 ECHL season was suspended on March 12, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rest of the season was cancelled on March 14, 2020.
Players
Retired numbers
Berg and Buckley's numbers were retired during a pre-game ceremony on October 19, 2007, as the Everblades hosted the Mississippi Sea Wolves, in what would be the Sea Wolves' first official regular season game after being placed on a two-year hiatus due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Banners made with their jersey numbers were hung to the rafters of Germain Arena.
Hartlieb's number was retired in a ceremony before a game against the Orlando Solar Bears on October 19, 2012. Hartlieb was presented with an ECHL Championship ring (he filled in on with the team in the 2011–12 regular season, but did not appear in the playoffs), and hoisted the Kelly Cup. A banner made with his number was hung to the rafters of Germain Arena next to Berg and Buckley's.
McCarron's number was retired before a game against the Reading Royals on April 18, 2026, with Berg, Buckley and Hartlieb in attendance.
Notable players
Florida Everblades alumni that advanced to play in the NHL after playing for the club:
Florida Everblades that played in the NHL before playing with the team:
Franchise records and leaders
All-time franchise record holders
Games Played: Mathieu Roy – 374
Goals: John McCarron – 152
Assists: John McCarron – 212
Points: John McCarron – 364
Power play goals: Mathieu Roy – 40
Penalty minutes: Kyle Neuber – 900
Goaltender Games Played: Cam Johnson – 243
Goaltender Wins: Cam Johnson - 150
Individual records and streaks
Individual records
Most goals - game: 4 (5 times, last by Sam Stange, Mar. 21, 2026 vs. Orlando)
Most assists - game: 4 (13 times, last by Ben Masella Mar. 17, 2023 at Trois-Rivieres)
Most points - game: 6 (twice, both by Jacob Micflikier, last on Nov. 5, 2009 at Charlotte)
Most shots - game: 12 (3 times, last by Kevin Baker, Jan. 13, 2009 at Charlotte)
Most penalty minutes - game: 37 (Kyle Kos, Mar. 22, 2003 at South Carolina)
Most saves - game: 58 (Rob Zepp, Dec. 27, 2003 at Gwinnett)
Most saves - period: 25 (twice, last by Rob Zepp, Dec. 27, 2003 at Gwinnett (1st))
Individual streaks
Consecutive game goal scoring streak: 9 (Keith Anderson 10/18/03 – 11/8/03 and Brendan O'Donnell 3/25/16 – 04/09/16)
Consecutive game assist streak: 10 (Daniel Sisca (12/9/05 – 12/28/05))
Consecutive game point streak: 16 (Tom Buckley (10/26/01 – 12/7/01))
Consecutive games started streak: 15 (twice, last by Craig Kowalski (2/10/07 – 3/10/07))
Longest winning streak: 10 (Cam Johnson (11/9/24 - 12/13/24))
Longest unbeaten streak: 12 (Cam Johnson (11/9/24 – 12/20/24) (11-0-1)
ECHL Hall of Fame
Former Florida Everblades goalie Marc Magliarditi was inducted into the ECHL's Hall of Fame on January 23, 2013. Magliarditi played for the Everblades from 1998 through 2001.
Florida Everblades President and General Manager Craig Brush was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame on February 5, 2016. Brush has served as the team's President and General Manager since the team's inception in 1998 and he oversees all aspects of both the hockey club and the sports complex. Brush also served as the Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors for three seasons from 2003 through 2006.
Awards and trophies
E.A. "Bud" Gingher Memorial Trophy
The Everblades have won the E.A. "Bud" Gingher Memorial Trophy seven times, in 2004, 2005, 2012, 2018 and 2022, 2023 and 2024.
In 2004, the trophy was given to the champion of the Eastern Conference; the Everblades beat the Reading Royals 3–2 to win the conference but lost the Kelly Cup to the Idaho Steelheads. In 2005, the Gingher trophy was given to the American Conference champion. The Everblades beat the Charlotte Checkers 4–2 to win the conference before losing to the Trenton Titans in the Cup finals. In 2012, the Everblades won the Gingher Memorial Trophy by defeating the Kalamazoo Wings 4–1 in the Eastern Conference finals and went on to win the Kelly Cup over the Las Vegas Wranglers. In 2018, the Everblades went 12–2 through three rounds of conference playoffs and won the Gingher Memorial Trophy before losing the Kelly Cup in seven games to the Colorado Eagles. In 2022, the Everblades went 12–3 through three rounds of conference playoffs and won the Gingher Memorial Trophy by defeating the Newfoundland Growlers 4–1 in the Eastern Conference finals and went on to win the Kelly Cup in five games against the Brabham Cup Champion Toledo Walleye. In 2023, the Everblades went 12-3 through three rounds of the playoffs defeating the Newfoundland Growlers in the conference finals before sweeping the Brabham Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads 4-0 in the Kelly Cup Finals. In 2024, the Everblades went 12-6 through three rounds of the playoffs knocking off the Adirondack Thunder and then defeated the Brabham Cup Champion Kansas City Mavericks 4-1 in the Kelly Cup Finals.
Brabham Cup
In the 1999–00, 2008–09, 2017–18, and 2020–21 seasons, the Everblades won the Brabham Cup, a trophy given to the team that has the best regular season record in the league. The Everblades took the trophy with 108 points in 1999–2000 and 112 points in 2017–18. The 2008–09 and 2020–21 trophies were awarded to the team with the best points percentage due to imbalanced schedules, where the Everblades had 0.725 and 0.667 winning percentages, respectively.
Kelly Cup Titles
The Florida Everblades have won the Kelly Cup an ECHL league record five times. The Everblades hoisted their first Kelly Cup in 2012 taking the series 4 games to 1 over the Las Vegas Wranglers. A decade later, they won the Cup in 2022 in another five game series, defeating the Toledo Walleye 4 games to 1. The Everblades would repeat as champions in 2023 4 games to none over the Idaho Steelheads. In 2024, the Everblades became the first team to win three consecutive Kelly Cups by defeating the Kansas City Mavericks 4 game to 1. In 2026, Florida won its 5th Kelly Cup and 4th over a span of 5 years defeating the Kansas City Mavericks 4 games to 2.
Individual and Team Honors
1998–99: John Brophy Award (Bob Ferguson)
1999–00: Brabham CupJohn Brophy Award (Bob Ferguson)Plus Performer Award (Andy MacIntyre)
2000–01: Executive of the Year (Craig Brush)
2003–04: Gingher Memorial Trophy
2004–05: Gingher Memorial TrophyReebok Goaltender of the Year (Chris Madden)
2005–06: Sportsmanship Award (Steve Saviano)Reebok Equipment Manager of the Year (John Jennings)
2008–09: Brabham CupCCM U+ Most Valuable Player (Kevin Baker)Leading Scorer (Kevin Baker)
2011–12: Gingher Memorial TrophyKelly CupKelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player (John Muse)
2012–13: Leading Scorer (Mathieu Roy)
2015–16: ECHL CCM Rookie of the Year (Matt Willows)ECHL Community Service Award (Rob Florentino)
2017–18: Brabham CupGingher Memorial TrophyJohn Brophy Award (Brad Ralph)
2020–21: Brabham CupGoaltender of the Year (Jake Hildebrand)Plus Performer Award (John McCarron)
2021–22: Gingher Memorial TrophyKelly CupKelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player (Cam Johnson)
2022–23: Gingher Memorial TrophyKelly CupKelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player (Cam Johnson)