Everblades Host Icemen in Season Opener Saturday Night
Published on October 23, 2021 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
WHO: Florida Everblades vs. Jacksonville Icemen
WHERE: Hertz Arena - Estero, Fla.
WHEN: Saturday, October 23 at 7:00 pm
BROADCAST: Watch every Florida Everblades game on FloHockey.TV. Listen to the exciting game action on ESPN Southwest Florida on 770 AM, 98.1 FM, 104.3 FM and online at https://espnswfl.com.
ESTERO, Fla. - The Florida Everblades will host the Jacksonville Icemen in the 2021-22 regular-season opener Saturday night at Hertz Arena. The puck is slated to drop on the new season at 7:00 pm.
THE SERIES: The Sunshine State rivals will meet 10 times this season. A year ago, the Blades and Icemen faced off 16 times, and the Everblades came away with a 7-6-2-1 advantage. In the all-time series, Florida holds a 35-10-7 edge, good for a .740 winning percentage.
LAST SEASON: The Everblades turned in a 42-19-5-3 record and finished first in the ECHL's Eastern Conference before advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Jacksonville turned in a 34-30-3-4 record to finish sixth in the east. The Icemen did not qualify for the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.
THE RALPH REPORT: The Everblades are guided by sixth-year head coach and director of hockey operations Brad Ralph. In five seasons leading the Blades, Ralph has compiled a 234-82-28 (.721) record. Over 11 seasons as a professional head coach, Ralph has piloted his teams to a 366-146-47 record (.697).
GREAT EXPECTATIONS: The 2021-22 Everblades team has high expectations to continue a long tradition of excellence dating back to the franchise's inception in the 1998-99 season. The Blades have qualified for the postseason every year in club history, except for the 2013-14 season, when the squad came up two points shy of a playoff berth. Florida is on a quest to capture the organization's second Kelly Cup and first since 2011-12.
COUNTING DOWN WITH THE CAPTAIN: Entering the new season, Everblades captain John McCarron continues his climb up the team's all-time regular-season leaderboards. With 122 career goals while donning a Blades sweater, McCarron currently ranks third in franchise history. McCarron is just 23 goals shy of Reggie Berg's all-time mark of 145. Not one to be selfish, McCarron also ranks fourth in Blades history with 162 assists, some 45 shy of Tom Buckley's team record of 207. With 284 career points, McCarron stands fourth, just 35 behind Berg's cherished record of 319.
CAM'S BACK: Goaltender Cam Johnson has rejoined the Everblades in advance of Saturday's season opener. This season represents his third in an Everblades jersey and his fourth at the professional level. The Troy, Michigan native posted a 1.77 GAA and a .941 save percentage across seven appearances in 2020-21. The campaign included ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors for Johnson on December 21, 2020. Before turning pro, Johnson saw 102 games of action between the pipes for the University of North Dakota from 2014-18, lifting UND to a national championship in 2016. Johnson has been on the NHL roster of both the New Jersey Devils (2018-19) and the Columbus Blue Jackets (2020-21).
ZACH IN JAX: Defenseman Zach Berzolla, who saw action in 19 games with the Everblades in 2020-21, is currently on the Jacksonville roster. Berzolla scored a goal and collected two assists in 15 regular-season games with the Blades a year ago, while also chipping in one assist over four playoff games.
SATURDAY NIGHT TAILGATE: Each of the 14 Saturday night Everblades games this season will feature a free pregame tailgate party, and the season opener is no exception. Join us from 5:00 to 7:00 pm and live music courtesy of A Few Rough Edges, kids' activities! Find the full schedule of Saturday tailgate party performers HERE!
ECHL Stories from October 23, 2021
- Fulcher Perfect on Saves in Walleye Loss to Wings - Toledo Walleye
- Solar Bears Open 10th Season with a Bang in 3-1 Win - Orlando Solar Bears
- K-Wings Win in Front of Record Home Opener Crowd - Kalamazoo Wings
- Railers Host Second Largest Crowd in Franchise History in 4-3 Win over Maine Mariners on Saturday Night for the Home Opener - Worcester Railers HC
- Royals Top Ads in Back and Forth Battle - Norfolk Admirals
- Royals Win 6-4 Thriller in 20th Anniversary Season Home Opener - Reading Royals
- Swamp Rabbits Drop Season Opener against Stingrays - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Last-Minute Goal Drops 'Landers, 5-3 - Iowa Heartlanders
- Mariners Fire 45 Shots But Fall in Worcester - Maine Mariners
- Cyclones Win Debut Game Under Coach Payne - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Nailers Battle Hard, But Komets Prevail on Banner Night - Wheeling Nailers
- Growlers Outlast the Thunder 3-2 - Newfoundland Growlers
- Thunder Welcome Sellout Crowd on Opening Night - Adirondack Thunder
- Glads Drop Opener in Orlando - Atlanta Gladiators
- Icemen Spoil Blades Season Opener - Florida Everblades
- South Carolina Stings Swamp Rabbits in Season Opener - South Carolina Stingrays
- Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Gladiators: October 23, 2021 - Orlando Solar Bears
- ECHL Transactions - October 23 - ECHL
- ECHL Announces Suspension - ECHL
- Tralmaks Recalled to Providence - Maine Mariners
- Game Notes: vs Tulsa - Rapid City Rush
- Americans Hockey Returns - Allen Americans
- New Season, New Jerseys, and the Addition of the Weagle - South Carolina Stingrays
- Gladiators Ready to Return to Action in 2021-22 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Everblades Host Icemen in Season Opener Saturday Night - Florida Everblades
- Royals Return Home for First Time in 594 Days for Opener against Norfolk - Reading Royals
- Game Preview: Swamp Rabbits at Stingrays - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Power Play, Hat-Trick Lead Steelheads to 7-3 Sellout Win - Idaho Steelheads
- Rush Drop Oilers, 4-2, on Opening Night - Rapid City Rush
- Mavericks Drop Season Opener 7-4 at Iowa - Kansas City Mavericks
- Grizz Falls to Steelheads in Season Opener - Utah Grizzlies
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.
