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
- Final Nail Driven; Blades Head Back to Kelly Cup Finals - Florida Everblades
- Florida Wins Eastern Conference Championship - Wheeling Nailers
- Florida Captures E.A. "Bud" Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference Champions - ECHL
- ECHL Transactions - May 30 - ECHL
- Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals Tonight - Wheeling Nailers
- Blades Looking to Hammer Down Nailers in Game 5 - Florida Everblades
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