Blades Host Wild Card Playoff Game on Tuesday
March 31, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
The Florida Everblades picked up three points this past week after going 1-1-1. The Everblades finished up the regular season with a 35-23-14 record and in 4th place in the Southeast Division standings. The Blades started the week with a 5-2 loss on Tuesday night to the Charlotte Checkers. The Blades then rebounded with a spirited 3-1 win on Friday night over the SE Champion Columbia Inferno and a fight filled 6-5 shootout loss on Saturday. The Blades take on the Greenville Grrrowl in a one game playoff on Tuesday night at TECO Arena. 'The Gerry Fleming Coaches Show' presented by Stevie Tomato's Sportspage on Sportsradio 770 AM airs on 770 AM from 6:00 - 7:00 PM tonight instead of the usual 6:30 - 7:30 PM time slot . Tonight's show will be broadcast live from the Stevie Tomato's in Fort Myers.
UPCOMING EVENTS/PROMOTIONS AT TECO ARENA: The Everblades take on the Greenville Grrrowl at TECO Arena on Tuesday, April 1st at 7:30 PM in the SE Divisional Wild Card game. Disney on Ice visits TECO Arena from April 23rd - 27th. Def Leppard plays TECO Arena on Tuesday, April 29th. For tickets to any of these upcoming events call the TECO Arena box office at (239) 948-7825 or Ticketmaster at (239) 334-3309.
THIS WEEK (All Times Eastern)
Tuesday, April 1st vs. Greenville Grrrowl 7:30 PM/EST
GAME NOTES: The Everblades and Grrrowl will meet for the tenth time this season. Florida is 6-0-3 against them this season and 2-0-2 at TECO Arena. The Blades upended the Grrrowl 3-2 at TECO Arena back on March 15th. Greenville (28-36-8, 64 pts.) finished in 5th place in the Southeast Division standings while Florida (35-23-14, 85 pts. finished in fourth place in the Southeast. The Grrrowl are 13-19-4 on the road this season and 4-4-2 in their last ten games. The Everblades are 20-7-9 at home this season and 3-4-3 in their last ten games. Florida holds an 23-11-3 record all-time against the Grrrowl and a 10-5-2 record at TECO Arena. Forward Matt Demarski leads the team in scoring with 25-38-63. The Greenville power play ranks 22nd in the ECHL and their penalty kill ranks 21st. Florida forward Joe Blaznek has 7 goals and 3 assists for 10 points in 9 games versus the Grrrowl this season while Greenville forward Judd Medak has 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points in 9 games versus the Everblades this season.
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
Tuesday, March 25th vs. Charlotte Checkers 2-5 L
The Florida Everblades (34-23-13) were defeated by the Charlotte Checkers (41-26-3) 5-2 in front of 5,696 at TECO Arena on Tuesday night. Charlotte forward Dusty Jamieson notched two goals in the Checkers victory.
Friday, March 28th vs. Columbia Inferno 3-1 W
The Florida Everblades (35-23-13) defeated the Columbia Inferno (46-23-2) 3-1 in front of a raucous crowd of 6,002 at TECO Arena on Friday night. Florida forward Ryan Murphy notched the game winning goal in the Everblades victory.
Saturday, March 29th vs. Columbia Inferno 5-9 SOL
The Florida Everblades (35-23-14) were upended by the Columbia Inferno (47-23-2) 6-5 in overtime in front of a sold out crowd of 7,181 at TECO Arena on Saturday night. Columbia forward Robin Carruthers notched two goals in the Inferno victory.
2002-03 EVERBLADES FINAL REGULAR SEASON NUMBER
Quick Stats
Overall Record 35-23-14(4th)
Home Record 20-7-9
Road Record 15-16-5
Overtime Record 2-3
Shootout Record 2-9
Power Play 19th
Penalty Kill 23rd
Leading Scorers
Joe Blaznek 34-32-66
Kevin Brown 24-41-65
Marty Johnston 22-41-63
Tom Buckley 10-41-51
Laurent Meunier 20-31-51
Leading Goaltenders
Rob Zepp 2.83GAA, 20-13-7
Brian Leitza 2.98 GAA, 3-4-3
Randy Petruk 3.78 GAA, 3-2-1
Plus/Minus Leaders
Marty Johnston +10
Keith Anderson +8
Jon Insana +7
ECHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATION: The Everblades ECHL player of the week nomination is forward Ryan Murphy. The Van Nuys, California native registered three goals this past week.
ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK NOMINATION: The Everblades ECHL goaltender of the week nomination is Brian Leitza. Leitza went 1-1-0 this past week including a 25 savce performance in Friday's 3-1 win.
EVERBLADES IN THE COMMUNITY: The Everblades raised over $32,000 during their annual St Patrick's jersey auction this past Monday night. The auction benefited MDA, Lee and Collier County Heart Associations, Children's Hospital of SW Florida and the Jr. Everblades. Please call (239) 948-7825 for information on any of these community events.
TICKETS AND INFORMATION: TECO Arena Box Office is open from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Monday through Friday and 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM on Saturday. Individual Tickets can be purchased at the TECO Arena Box Office or at any TicketMaster location. To order tickets by phone, call (239) 334-3309. For Season Tickets, Flex Packs or Group Tickets call the Everblades Ticket Office at (239) 948-7825.
EVERBLADES ON THE AIR: All 72 regular season games can be heard on Sportsradio 770 AM and on the Internet at www.floridaeverblades.com with the "Voice of the Everblades" Mark Miller calling the play-by-play. "The Gerry Fleming Coaches Show" is broadcast live on remote from a different Stevie Tomato's Location every Monday night on Sportsradio 770 AM from 6:30 - 7:30 PM. The Everblades pre-game show begins 15 minutes before face-off.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from March 31, 2003
- Greensboro Generals Announce First Round Playoff Schedule - Greensboro Generals
- Falcons Split a Pair on the Road - Fresno Falcons
- Kids Club Party on Monday, Rug Rats this Friday - Bakersfield Condors
- Storm Tracks - Toledo Walleye
- Condors To Reward Straight 'A' Students - Bakersfield Condors
- Grizzlies Meet Challenge with Huge Performance in Houston - Utah Grizzlies
- Kelly Cup Playoffs Begin Tuesday - ECHL
- Green and Gold Back at Selland - Fresno Falcons
- Condors Land A Pair On All-Rookie Team - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors Hit 40 Wins - Bakersfield Condors
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Generals Weekly Intelligence Report - Greensboro Generals
- Hey Kids, the Texas Wildcatters Need Help Naming their Mascot - Texas Wildcatters
- Medak Reassigned to Grrrowl for Play-in Game - Greenville Grrrowl
- Express Playoff Schedule Set - Roanoke Express
- Roanoke's Carlson Named InGlasCo East Coast Hockey League Player of the Week - ECHL
- Greensboro's Sebastien Centomo Named East Coast Hockey League Goalie of the Week - ECHL
- Stingrays Finish Regular Season - South Carolina Stingrays
- Gulls and Condors Deadlocked Going Into Final Week - San Diego Gulls
- Kalamazoo Wings Week In Review - Kalamazoo Wings
- Bombers Top Cincinnati, Peoria in 2-2 Week - Dayton Bombers
- SCOR to Have Bud Light Draft Special at Tonight's Behind the Bench - Dayton Bombers
- Titans Prepare For 'The Battle of New Jersey Part 2' - Trenton Devils
- Anchorage Battles History on Final Weekend - Alaska Aces
- 'Gades Wrap up Season with Shootout Loss - Richmond Renegades
- Zasowski Backstops Bombers to Win in Season Finale - Dayton Bombers
- Mississippi Announces Playoff Roster and Playoff Scenarios - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Louisiana finishes tied for first, will open playoffs Wednesday - Louisiana IceGators
- Mississippi Heads into Postseason as Top Seed in Southwest - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Bandits to Host Pensacola in Mini Game - Jackson Bandits
- Bus Trip To Jackson Planned - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Blades Host Wild Card Playoff Game on Tuesday - Florida Everblades
- Inferno Weekly - Columbia Inferno
- Kingfish Weekly - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Ice Pilots Play At Jackson Tuesday Night In Wild Card Game - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Men Set to Begin Playoffs in Toledo - Burlington
- RiverBlades Finish Third In Southwest - Arkansas RiverBlades
- Pee Dee Pride Weekly - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Ice Pilots to Play At Jackson In Wild Card Game - Pensacola Ice Pilots
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
