A Chance to Watch The Florida Everblades

If you’re like us and start planning hockey road trips early, you may be interested in marking your calendar for Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008 when the Florida Everblades will be nearby to play the Elmira Jackals.

It’s the only game scheduled between the two teams.

Elmira is a roughly two-hour drive south from Rochester, NY.

The Florida Everblades are affiliated with the Florida Panthers, who are affiliated with Rochester.

Typically if the Panthers are required to call a player up from the AHL they will replace that player with a prospect they have with the Everblades.  Early in the 07/08 seasons the Panthers called Tyler Plante up from the Everblades and sent David Schantz down.

Also towards the end of the season players Kenndal McArdle, Peter Aston, Franklin MacDonald, and Adam Taylor had been reassigned to the Blades to assist with their playoff run.

We’ll be keeping an eye on players with the Everblades in the ECHL more during the coming season.

The Everblades are also affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL), Albany River Rats (AHL), and the Plymouth Whalers (OHL).

The Everblades are thought of to be model franchise for the ECHL, as they have not missed the playoffs in each of their nine seasons, and making two appearances in the Kelly Cup Finals.

The Everblades’ fan base is also considered to be one of the best in the league, as many games at Germain Arena sell out, especially Saturday night games.

Many fans of different NHL and minor-league teams, as well as international fans come out to watch the Everblades.