ECHL Florida Everblades

Everblades Weekly

October 25, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades earned a split with the Texas Wildcatters this past weekend to open the 2004-05 season. Florida took the opening night contest 6-2 before a sellout crowd at Germain Arena, and fell to the Wildcatters 3-2 on Saturday night in the back half of the weekend series. The Everblades enter this week's action with a record of 1-1-0 (2pts., T2nd, South Division).

Everblades regular season games can be heard on Sportsradio 770 AM and on the Internet at www.floridaeverblades.com, www.ABC-7.com and www.NBC-2.com with the "Voice of the Everblades" Kevin Reiter calling the play-by-play. The games can be also be heard inside Germain arena on 96.5 FM. For tickets to any of these upcoming events please call the Germain Arena box office at (239) 948-7825 or Ticketmaster at 334-3309.

THIS WEEK (All Times Eastern)

Tuesday, October 26 vs. Gwinnett 7:30 PM/EST

GAME NOTES: Florida was 0-4-2 against the Gladiators last season and was 0-1-2 at home against Gwinnett. This is the first of six meetings between the two teams, and the first of three at Germain Arena.

Friday, October 29 vs. Mississippi 7:30 PM/EST

GAME NOTES: The 'Blades are 12-3-0 all-time vs. Mississippi. Last season Florida was 3-2-0 vs. the Sea Wolves, including 2-1-0 at Germain Arena. This is the first of five meetings between the South Division rivals, and first of three in Florida.

Saturday, October 30 @ Pensacola 8:05 PM/EST

GAME NOTES: The Everblades take on the Ice Pilots for their first road game of the 2004-05 season. All-time, Florida is 22-9-6 vs. Pensacola. Last year saw the Everblades skate to a 2-3-2 mark against the Ice Pilots, including a record of 1-1-2 at Germain Arena.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Friday, October 22 vs. Texas 6-2 W

The Florida Everblades kicked off the 2004-05 season in strong fashion with a 6-2 victory over new division foe, Texas. Prior to the game the 2003-04 Eastern Conference Championship banner was raised to the rafters of Germain Arena. Once the game started, the Everblades scored twice in each period to thump the Wildcatters. Six different players scored for Florida, and Rob Zepp stopped 17 of the 19 shots he faced to pick up the win. Scoring for Florida: Reggie Berg, Chris Hodgson, Brad Church, Brian Sullivan, Keith Anderson and Damian Surma.

Saturday, October 23 vs. Texas 2-3 L

The Texas Wildcatters rebounded after a tough loss in the opening game of the season to bounce back to defeat the Florida Everblades 3-2 in the second game of the weekend series between the South Division rivals. Florida opened the scoring on the first of two goals by Damian Surma, but Texas scored two power play goals just 25 seconds apart late in the first period to take a 2-1 lead after two periods. Texas increased its lead to 3-1 midway through the second period before Surma tallied a short-handed goal for Florida with 1:16 left in the second period. It was as close as the 'Blades would get despite out shooting Texas 40-19. Craig Kowalski made his professional debut in goal for the Everblades, and stopped 16 of 19 shots.

EVERBLADES ITINERARY:
Oct. 25: Practice 10 a.m.
Oct. 26: Pre-Game Skate 10 a.m.
GAME vs. Gwinnett, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27: Practice 10 a.m.
Oct. 28: Practice 10 a.m.
Oct. 29: Pre-Game Skate 10 a.m.
GAME vs. Mississippi 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30: GAME @ Pensacola 8:05 p.m.
Oct. 31: OFF DAY


2004-05 EVERBLADES REGULAR SEASON NUMBERSQuick Stats
Overall Record 1-1-0(T-2nd)
Home Record 1-1-0
Road Record 0-0-0
Overtime Record 0-0
Shootout Record 0-0
Power Play 2-16 (15th)
Penalty Kill 6-9 (25th)

Leading Scorers
Damian Surma 3-1-4
Reggie Berg 1-3-4
Keith Anderson 1-1-2
Matt Hendricks 0-2-2
Tom Reimann 0-2-2
Brian Sullivan 1-0-1

Leading Goaltenders
Rob Zepp 2.01 GAA, 1-0-0
Craig Kowalski 3.04 GAA, 0-1-0

Plus/Minus Leaders

Several tied with +2

ECHL Player of The Week Nominee: The Everblades ECHL player of the week nomination is forward Damian Surma. The 23-year-old Michigan native scored three goals and added an assist in Florida's two games this past week. One of his two goals Saturday night came short-handed.

Home on the Range: The Everblades begin the defense of their conference championship with four games at Germain Arena. The team doesn't play its first road game until October 30 when they travel to Pensacola. However, overall the 'Blades will spend a total of 72 days on the road this season!

A Little Help From A Lot of People: In Florida's 6-2 win over Texas on Oct. 22, 12 different players chipped in with at least one point, and the 'Blades collected their goals from six different players. In addition, five of those players collected multiple points.

First Time For Everything: This season the 'Blades will play against two teams for the first time in the team's seven-year history. Even though Florida and Idaho met in the Kelly Cup Finals, the two teams will meet for the first time ever in the regular season when the Everblades travel to Idaho for three games on Nov. 10, 12, & 13. In addition, this past weekend was the first ever match up between Florida and the Texas Wildcatters.

Ticket Information: The Germain 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 Germain 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: The Florida Everblades are broadcast on Sportsradio 770 AM and on the web at www.floridaeverblades.com. Join the "Voice of the Everblades" Kevin Reiter for all the play-by-play action. The Everblades pre-game show begins 15 minutes before face-off.

Check out the Florida Everblades Statistics



ECHL Stories from October 25, 2004


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