Florida Captures E.A.
ECHL ECHL

Florida Captures E.A. "Bud" Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference Champions

Published on May 30, 2026 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release


SHREWSBURY, N.J. - The Florida Everblades claimed the E.A. "Bud" Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference champions on Saturday with a 6-1 win over the Wheeling Nailers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Florida wins the series 4 games to 1, and advances to the 2026 Kelly Cup Finals, where it will meet the winner of the Western Conference Finals. Kansas City leads Fort Wayne in that series 3 games to 1, with Game 5 set for Sunday at Fort Wayne.

Anthony Romano (3g-1a) and Hudson Elynuik (1g-3a) led Florida in the series with four points each while Cam Johnson allowed seven goals over the five games, registering a .945 save percentage.

The Everblades - who are 12-2 in the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs - advance to the Kelly Cup Finals for the fourth time in five seasons, and for the eighth time in team history, extending their ECHL record. Florida has won an ECHL-record four championships, including three consecutive titles in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The trophy is named in recognition of E.A. "Bud" Gingher, who was Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors from 1992-95. Gingher, who passed away in 2002, co-founded the Dayton Bombers in 1991 and owned the team for seven seasons, serving as President and Governor until selling the team in 1998. Gingher was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2010.

E.A. "Bud" Gingher Trophy Champions

2026 Florida Everblades

2025 Trois-Rivières Lions

2024 Florida Everblades

2023 Florida Everblades

2022 Florida Everblades

2021 South Carolina Stingrays

2020 Trophy not awarded due to COVID-19

2019 Newfoundland Growlers

2018 Florida Everblades

2017 South Carolina Stingrays

2016 Wheeling Nailers

2015 South Carolina Stingrays

2014 Cincinnati Cyclones

2013 Reading Royals

2012 Florida Everblades 2011 Kalamazoo Wings

2010 Cincinnati Cyclones

2009 South Carolina Stingrays

2008 Cincinnati Cyclones

2007 Dayton Bombers

2006 Gwinnett Gladiators

2005 Florida Everblades 2004 Florida Everblades 2003 Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies

2002 Dayton Bombers

2001 Trenton Titans

2000 Peoria Rivermen

1999 Richmond Renegades

1998 Hampton Roads Admirals




ECHL Stories from May 30, 2026


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