
Red-Hot Blades Pick up Three Wins
February 24, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
The Florida Everblades defeated the Mississippi Sea Wolves 6-5 this past Tuesday and then swept the Columbus Cottonmouths 7-4 and 4-3 on Friday and Saturday night. The Everblades remained in sole possession of second place in the ECHL's Southeast Division and trail first place Columbia by five points. Florida hosts the Jackson Bandits on Tuesday night at TECO Arena. Florida will be the away team even though the game is being played at TECO Arena. A building conflict in Jackson forced the Bandits to play a home game in Florida All 72 regular season games can be heard on Sportsradio 770 AM and on the Internet at www.floridaeverblades.com with the "Voice of the Everblades" Mark Miller calling the play-by-play. 'The Gerry Fleming Coaches Show' presented by Stevie Tomato's Sportspage on Sportsradio 770 AM airs on 770 AM from 6:30 - 7:30 PM on Monday nights. The show will be live on remote at the Naples location tonight. Join the entire Florida Everblades team for a meet and greet at Stevie Tomato's in Naples from 6-8 PM tonight.
UPCOMING EVENTS/PROMOTIONS AT TECO ARENA: 'The Gerry Fleming Coaches Show' will be live on remote at the Ft. Myers location tonight. The Everblades battle the Jackson Bandits on Tuesday, February 25th at 7:30 PM. The Royal Hanneford Circus comes to TECO Arena from Friday, February 28th - Sunday, March 2nd. For tickets to any of these upcoming events please call the TECO Arena box office at (239) 948-7825 or Ticketmaster at 334-3309.
THIS WEEK (All Times Eastern)
Tuesday, February 25th vs. Jackson Bandits 7:30 PM/EST
GAME NOTES: The Everblades and Bandits will meet for the second time this season. Florida is 1-0-0 against them this season and 1-0-0 at TECO Arena. The Blades defeated the Bandits 5-2 back on 2/8. Both teams combined for several Everblades penalty minute records including most combined minutes with 173 and most minutes for an opposing team with 103. Jackson (26-21-7) currently ranks in 5th place in the Southwest Division standings while Florida ranks in 2nd in the Southeast. The Bandits are 9-13-5 on the road this season and 3-3-4 in their last ten games. Florida holds an 2-2-0 record all-time against the Bandits and a 2-2-0 record at TECO Arena. Forward John McNabb leads the team in scoring with 27-27-54. The Bandits power play ranks 27th in the ECHL and their penalty kill ranks 6th.
Friday, February 28th @ Pensacola Ice Pilots 8:05 PM/EST
GAME NOTES: The Everblades and Ice Pilots will meet for the sixth and final time this season. The Everblades are 4-0-1 versus Pensacola this season. Pensacola (31-20-6) currently ranks in 3rd place in the Southwest Division. The Ice Pilots are 18-8-2 at home this season and 6-3-1 in their last ten games. Florida holds a 20-5-4 record all-time against the Ice Pilots and a 8-3-2 record in Pensacola. Forward Greg Pankewicz leads the team in scoring with 34-32-66. He also ranks tied for first in the ECHL in goal scoring with 34. The Ice Pilots power play ranks 16th in the ECHL and their penalty kill ranks 3rd.
Saturday, March 1st @ Baton Rouge Kingfish 8:05 PM/EST
GAME NOTES: The Everblades and Kingfish will meet for the first time this season. Baton Rouge (16-33-9) currently ranks in 6th place in the Southwest Division. The Kingfish are 7-19-2 at home this season and 3-7-0 in their last ten games. Florida holds a 4-2-0 record all-time against the Kingfish and a 2-1-0 record in Baton Rouge. Forward Chris Bell leads the team in scoring with 17-22-39. The Kingfish power play ranks 22nd in the ECHL and their penalty kill ranks 24th.
Sunday, March 2nd @ Baton Rouge Kingfish 5:05 PM/EST
GAME NOTES: The Everblades and Kingfish will meet for the second and final time this season.
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
Tuesday, February 18th vs. Mississippi Sea Wolves 6-5 W
The Florida Everblades (29-15-10) defeated the Mississippi Sea Wolves (32-19-4) 6-5 in front of 5,706 at TECO Arena on Tuesday night. Florida forward Joe Blaznek netted the game winning goal with just :47 seconds remaining in the game.
Friday, February 21st vs. Columbus Cottonmouths 7-4 W
The Florida Everblades (30-15-10) defeated the Columbus Cottonmouths (18-28-8) 7-4 in front of 6,571 at TECO Arena on Friday night. Florida forward Keith Anderson netted two goals and center Don Smith tied an Everblades record with four assists in the victory.
Saturday, February 22nd vs. Columbus Cottonmouths 4-3 W
The Florida Everblades (31-15-10) swept the Columbus Cottonmouths (18-28-8) after they stole a 4-3 win in front of a sold out crowd of 7,181 at TECO Arena on Saturday night. Florida defenseman Ryan Murphy netted two goals and defenseman Lee Ruff picked up the game winning goal with just :16 remaining.
2002-03 EVERBLADES REGULAR SEASON NUMBER
Quick Stats
Overall Record 31-15-10(2nd)
Home Record 17-4-6
Road Record 14-11-4
Overtime Record 2-3
Shootout Record 2-6
Power Play 20th
Penalty Kill 22nd
Leading Scorers
Joe Blaznek 27-29-56
Marty Johnston 21-33-54
Kevin Brown 18-33-51
George Awada 20-25-45
Tom Buckley 9-34-43
Leading Goaltenders
Rob Zepp 2.72 GAA, 20-11-7
Cam McCormick 3.65 GAA, 9-2-2
Randy Petruk 3.50 GAA, 2-0-0
Plus/Minus Leaders
Marty Johnston +10
Jon Insana +10
ECHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATION: The Everblades ECHL player of the week nomination is forward Keith Anderson. The Thief River Falls, MN native registered three goals and two assists this past week.
ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK NOMINATION: The Everblades ECHL goaltender of the week nomination is Randy Petruk. The Cranbrook, B.C. native was 2-0-0 this past week after being reassigned from Lowell (AHL).
TICKETS AND INFORMATION: TECO 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 TECO 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 "Voice of the Everblades" Mark Miller hosts "The Gerry Fleming Coaches Show" from a different Stevie Tomato's Location every Monday night on Sportsradio 770 AM from 6:30 - 7:30 PM. All Florida Everblades games, home and away, are broadcast on Sportsradio 770 AM and on the web at www.floridaeverblades.com. Join the "Voice of the Everblades" Mark Miller for all the play-by-play action. The Everblades pre-game show begins 15 minutes before face-off.
ECHL Stories from February 24, 2003
- Condors Head to Shafter, Judge Father - Son Cub Scout Cook-off - Bakersfield Condors
- Greensboro Generals Intelligence Report - Greensboro Generals
- Condors Back in Second Place after Weekend Sweep - Bakersfield Condors
- Florio Injects New Life - Alaska Aces
- K-Wings Week In Review - Kalamazoo Wings
- Steelheads Weekly - Idaho Steelheads
- Ice Pilots Acquire Veteran Center Marquis Mathieu - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- 'Gades Home Win Streak Now Four - Richmond Renegades
- Royals End Big Week on High Note - Reading Royals
- Kingfish acquire Hewson and Renzi - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Gulls and Condors Deadlocked Again - San Diego Gulls
- Chiefs Weekly - Johnstown Chiefs
- O'Connell Steps Down - South Carolina Stingrays
- Storm Tracks - Toledo Walleye
- Stanley Cup Tickets Selling Well - Wheeling Nailers
- Men O' War Finish Week 2-1-0 to Tie Cyclones for Third in Division - Burlington
- Komets Top UHL with 75 Points after 20 Weeks - Fort Wayne Komets
- Royals Trade in as Celebrity Waiters - Reading Royals
- Picking up the points - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Bombers Continue Commuter Road Trip, Aim to Pack the House - Dayton Bombers
- Chat with Bendera and Slukynsky at 'SCOR' Tonight - Dayton Bombers
- Three-Game Win Streak Highlights Past Week - Utah Grizzlies
- Stingrays Finish Week 2-0-1, Grab Third Place - South Carolina Stingrays
- Inferno Sweep the Week - Columbia Inferno
- Red-Hot Blades Pick up Three Wins - Florida Everblades
- RiverBlades Post Unbeaten Week - Arkansas RiverBlades
- Ice Pilots Can Clinch Playoff Spot This Week - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Bandits Look Ahead to Six-Point Week - Jackson Bandits
- Mississippi Moves Back into Tie for First Place - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Express weekly - Roanoke Express
- RiverBlades Host College Night - Arkansas RiverBlades
- Augusta Lynx Update - Augusta Lynx
- Titans Hit Stretch Run With Four Divisional Games - Trenton Devils
- Nailers Week in Review - Wheeling Nailers
- Pee Dee Pride Weekly - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Fish knock off Blades, 4-3 - Baton Rouge Kingfish
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.
