
Everblades to Host Atlanta in Saturday Night Rubber Match
December 18, 2021 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, Fla. - The first-place Florida Everblades host the Atlanta Gladiators for the rubber match of their three-game series on a busy Saturday night at Hertz Arena. Action will get underway at 7:00 pm.
THE OPPONENT: The Atlanta Gladiators bring an 11-10-2-0 record into play Saturday night. Our rivals from the Peach State find themselves in fourth place in the ECHL South with 24 points. Cody Sylvester leads all Atlanta skaters with 18 points (11 G, 7 A). Hugo Roy has scored a team-high 12 goals, while Luke Nogard has dished out a team-best 14 assists.
THE SERIES: While Atlanta holds a 2-1 edge in 2021-22, the Everblades have a robust 105-56-15 (.639) edge over the course of the all-time series,
LAST TIME OUT: Atlanta earned a 2-1 victory over the Everblades Friday night at Hertz Arena, snapping the Blades' four-game winning streak as well as their own two-game losing streak. The Gladiators' Michael Turner scored just two minutes into the contest to put the visitors on top 1-0. After a scoreless second period, Atlanta extended their lead to 2-0 on a Cody Sylvester tally at 6:42 of the third frame. Florida's Kody McDonald would snap the shutout with his third goal of the season off assists from John McCarron and Jake Jaremko at the 18:48 mark, but the Blades ultimately fell short 2-1 despite holding a commanding 36-20 advantage in shots on goal.
SONG OF THE SOUTH: Despite Friday's setback, the Everblades remain in first place in the ECHL South Division at 12-7-2-3 overall. With 29 points, the Blades remain one point ahead of Jacksonville (13-8-1-1, 28 pts), which was idle on Friday. Orlando (12-10-1-0, 25 pts) sits in third-place, one point ahead of Atlanta (11-10-2-0, 24 pts). Norfolk (10-13-0-1, 21 pts) is in fifth, followed by Greenville (9-10-1-1) and South Carolina (9-10-2-0), both with 20 points.
JAREMKO'S POINT STREAK HITS FIVE: Jake Jaremko picked up an assist on Kody McDonald's late third-period goal on Friday to extend his point streak to five straight games, the longest streak by an Everblade heading into Saturday's game. Over the past five games, Jaremko has collected six points on three goals and three assists.
THE CAPTAIN IS HOT: With an assist on Friday, Everblades Captain John McCarron has continued his strong December, tallying at least one point in each of the six games he has played this month. Over those six games, McCarron has collected seven points on two goals and five assists. Captain Everblade has dished out a helper in each of his last three games. With 352 career points in an Everblades sweater, including playoffs. Captain John McCarron is now just 13 points shy of Reggie Berg's franchise record of 365. In regular-season games, McCarron's 306 career points ranks third, four out of second place (310, Tom Buckley) and 13 short of the franchise mark (319, Reggie Berg). In the goals and assists category, with 131 regular-season goals and 175 regular-season assists, McCarron is two goals away from second-place all-time in regular-season goals. Additionally, with 149 career goals in all games including playoffs, McCarron is one goal away from second place all-time in that category.
APPROACHING FOUR FIGURES: Thanks to Wednesday's victory, the Blades are just two wins away from the franchise's 1000th victory. Dating back to the beginning in 1998, over 24 seasons, the Everblades have compiled a 998-495-54-113 all-time record (.652).
SPEAKING OF FOUR...: Everblades veteran head coach Brad Ralph is four wins away from his 500th win as a head coach. In his 12th season as a head coach, Ralph sports a 496-213-69 (.682) career record. Breaking it down, Ralph sports a 448-193-65 (.681) mark in the pro ranks, a 377-159-58 (.684) ledger in the ECHL, and a 245-94-38 (.698) mark with the Blades, just five wins shy of 250 in Southwest Florida.
WHO: Everblades vs. Atlanta Gladiators
WHERE: Hertz Arena (Estero, Fla.)
WHEN: Saturday, December 18 at 7:00 pm
TICKETS: Purchase tickets for Saturday's game and all future Everblades games HERE.
PROMOTION: Join us for a night of fun holiday festivities based on the Christmas classic Elf! In addition, every Saturday home matchup this season will kick off with a free pregame tailgate party! Come out to Hertz Arena early and tailgate from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This Saturday's tailgate party will feature live music by Rob Ziruolo, kids' activities, meet and greet with Santa and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdale Horses! Also, skate on the ice post game, fans are encouraged to bring their own skates. Read more about the Blades' busy promotional schedule and great deals HERE.
BROADCAST: Watch every Florida Everblades game on FloHockey.TV.
ECHL Stories from December 18, 2021
- Kozlowski Marvels, Bennett Scores Game-Winning Goal to Defeat KC, 3-2 - Iowa Heartlanders
- Hirano Strikes in OT, 'Clones Take 4-3 Win over Komets - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Indy Breaks Franchise Record on Teddy Bear Toss Night - Indy Fuel
- K-Wings Lose High-Scoring Affair in Indy - Kalamazoo Wings
- Walleye Defeat Swamp Rabbits on TJ Hensick's Overtime Goal - Toledo Walleye
- Nailers Light up Norfolk, 9-2 - Wheeling Nailers
- Glads Drop Series Finale in Estero - Atlanta Gladiators
- Four Unanswered Goals Propel Blades to 5-1 Win - Florida Everblades
- Stingrays Iced by Jacksonville - South Carolina Stingrays
- Lions Dominate the Mariners - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Lions Burst out After Mariners Strike First - Maine Mariners
- Ben Simon Set to Make NHL Coaching Debut - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Grizzlies Gameday: Trey Bradley Returns for Saturday Holiday Showdown - Utah Grizzlies
- ECHL Transactions - December 18 - ECHL
- Los Angeles Kings Recall Ingham to NHL from Greenville - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Logan Nelson, Lukas Parik Each Head to AHL - Rapid City Rush
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- ECHL Postpones Tonight's Solar Bears at Americans Game - Orlando Solar Bears
- Americans Game Tonight against Orlando Is Postponed - Allen Americans
- Lions Last Game Before the Christmas Break - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Glads Ready to Continue Momentum into Rubber Match - Atlanta Gladiators
- Stingrays Sign Forward Mitch Atkins - South Carolina Stingrays
- Everblades to Host Atlanta in Saturday Night Rubber Match - Florida Everblades
- Grizz Win 4-2 for 4th Straight Win - Utah Grizzlies
- Thunder Rally Falls Short in Utah - Wichita Thunder
- Steelheads Offense Shines in 5-2 Win for Sellout Crowd over Rush - Idaho Steelheads
- Americans Drop Opener to Orlando - Allen Americans
- Rush Come up Short at Idaho, 5-2 - Rapid City Rush
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.
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