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.
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 SeasonConferenceDivisionRegular seasonPostseasonFinishHead coachGPWLResult 1998–99SouthernSoutheast2nd70452005950.679253180Bob Ferguson633Won conference quarterfinal 3–0 vs. BirminghamLost conference semifinal 0–3 vs. Mississippi 1999–00SouthernSoutheast1st705315021080.771277181Bob Ferguson523Lost conference quarterfinal 2–3 vs. Augusta 2000–01SouthernSoutheast2nd72382608840.583236242Bob Ferguson523Lost conference quarterfinal 2–3 vs. Pee Dee 2001–02SouthernSoutheast5th72372708820.569207221Gerry Fleming633Won division wildcard 1–0 vs. South CarolinaLost conference quarterfinal 2–3 vs. Greenville 2002–03SouthernSoutheast4th723523014840.583239243Gerry Fleming101Lost division wildcard 0–1 vs. Greenville 2003–04EasternSouthern3rd723725010840.583239221Gerry Fleming18108Won division semifinal 3–2 vs. RoanokeWon Division Finals 3–0 vs. South CarolinaWon conference final 3–2 vs. ReadingLost Kelly Cup final 1–4 vs. Idaho 2004–05AmericanSouth2nd72422046940.653237192Gerry Fleming19127Won conference quarterfinal 3–1 vs. South CarolinaWon in Conference Semifinal 3–0 vs. GreenvilleWon conference final 4–2 vs. CharlotteLost Kelly Cup final 2–4 vs. Trenton 2005–06AmericanSouth2nd724820311000.694267208Gerry Fleming844Won division semifinal 3–1 vs. GreenvilleLost division final 1–3 vs. Gwinnett 2006–07AmericanSouth1st72442242940.653272212Gerry Fleming16106Won division semifinal 3–0 vs. CharlotteWon division final 4–2 vs. TexasLost conference final 3–4 vs. Dayton 2007–08AmericanSouth4th72392544860.597230198Gerry Fleming303Lost division quarterfinal 0–3 vs. Columbia 2008–091AmericanSouth1st714917231030.725269187Malcolm Cameron1165Won division semifinal 4–1 vs. GwinnettLost division final 2–4 vs. South Carolina 2009–10AmericanSouth3rd72382545850.590234221Malcolm Cameron936Won conference quarterfinal 3–2 vs. ElmiraLost conference semifinal 0–4 vs. Reading 2010–11EasternSouth3rd72373014790.549236222Greg Poss413Lost conference quarterfinal 1–3 vs. Kalamazoo 2011–12EasternSouth3rd72392625850.590260218Greg Poss18153Won conference quarterfinal 3–0 vs. GreenvilleWon conference semifinal 4–1 vs. ElmiraWon conference final 4–1 vs. KalamazooWon Kelly Cup final 4–1 vs. Las Vegas 2012–13EasternSouth2nd72392247890.618260241Greg Poss1376Won conference quarterfinal 4–2 vs. ElmiraLost conference semifinal 3–4 vs. Reading 2013–14EasternSouth4th72372735820.569240222Greg PossDid not qualify for 2014 Kelly Cup playoffs 2014–15EasternEast1st724916251050.729267208Greg Poss1266Won division semifinal 4–2 vs. OrlandoLost division final 2–4 vs. South Carolina 2015–16EasternSouth2nd7246231295.660226175Greg Poss624Lost conference quarterfinals 2–4 vs. Wheeling 2016–17EasternSouth1st7246212397.674275219Brad Ralph1257Won division semifinal 4–3 vs. OrlandoLost division final 1–4 vs. South Carolina 2017–18EasternSouth1st72531324112.778261171Brad Ralph21156Won division semifinal 4–0 vs. AtlantaWon division final 4–1 vs. OrlandoWon conference final 4–1 vs. AdirondackLost Kelly Cup final 3–4 vs. Colorado 2018–19EasternSouth1st72501651106.736276181Brad Ralph1697Won division semifinal 4–2 vs. JacksonvilleWon division final 4–1 vs. OrlandoLost conference final 1–4 vs. Newfoundland 2019–202EasternSouth—6243134292.742227156Brad RalphSeason cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2020–21Eastern—1st6942195392.667233193Brad Ralph523Lost conference semifinal 2–3 vs. South Carolina 2021–22EasternSouth1st7242206494.653243187Brad Ralph20164Won division semifinal 4–2 vs. GreenvilleWon division final 4–0 vs. JacksonvilleWon conference final 4–1 vs. NewfoundlandWon Kelly Cup Final 4–1 vs. Toledo 2022–23EasternSouth4th7238254585.590225213Brad Ralph22166Won division semifinal 4–2 vs. South CarolinaWon division final 4–2 vs. JacksonvilleWon conference final 4–2 vs. NewfoundlandWon Kelly Cup final 4–0 vs. Idaho2023–24EasternSouth3rd7240237289.618224186Brad Ralph18167Won division semifinal 4–3 vs. JacksonvilleWon division final 4–1 vs. OrlandoWon conference final 4–2 vs. AdirondackWon Kelly Cup final 4–1 vs. Kansas City2024–25EasternSouth2nd72491571106.736241165Brad Ralph15105Won division semifinal 4–0 vs. JacksonvilleWon division final 4–1 vs. OrlandoLost conference final 2–4 vs. Trois-Rivières2025–26EasternSouth1st72491373108.750245142Brad Ralph20164Won division semifinal 4–0 vs. SavannahWon division final 4–1 vs. South CarolinaWon Conference final 4–1 vs. WheelingWon Kelly Cup final 4–2 vs Kansas City Totals 1,998 1,204 587 83 124 2,615.654 6,899 5605 —30919112326 Playoff Appearances 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 Florida Everblades retired numbers No.PlayerPositionCareerNo. retirement 9 Ernie Hartlieb LW 2004–2011 October 19, 2012 10 Reggie Berg C 1999–2007 October 19, 2007 14 Tom Buckley C 1999–2004 October 19, 200725John McCarronC2016-2023April 18, 2026 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:
Mike Angelidis Keith Aucoin Clark Bishop Patrick Bordeleau Eric Boulton David Brine Brett Carson Devin Cooley Scott Darling Kristers Gudlevskis Matt Hendricks Hayden Hodgson Tanner Jeannot Ty Jones Anton Khudobin Connor Knapp Greg Koehler Greg Kuznik Drew Larman Chad LaRose Martin Lojek Steven Lorentz Brett Lysak Jeff Malott Eric Manlow Kenndal McArdle Jason Morgan Alex Nedeljkovic Tommy Novak Doug O'Brien Ryan O'Byrne Justin Peters Justin Shugg Wilmer Skoog Cole Smith Dalton Smith Jared Staal Mark Stuart Damian Surma Brody Sutter Rob Zepp
Florida Everblades that played in the NHL before playing with the team:
Akim Aliu Ken Appleby Justin Auger Chris Beckford-Tseu Brad Brown Kevin Brown Barry Brust Brett Bulmer Mike Card Brad Church Matt Corrente Kevin Czuczman Trevor Daley Stefan Della Rovere Nicolas Deschamps Jon DiSalvatore David Dziurzynski Brad Fast Paul Healey Riku Helenius Shane Hnidy Josh Ho-Sang Brayden Irwin Bryce Lampman Nick Lappin Pat MacLeod Tom McCollum Grant McNeill Mike Morrison Kevin Quick Brian Rafalski Remi Royer Richard Shulmistra Matthew Spiller Nick Tarnasky Kris Vernarsky Allen York
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