The Florida Everblades had a roller-coaster week. They started the week within one point of a playoff spot, moved into a three-way tie for second, and then fell back into fifth. The Everblades entered their game on Wednesday against the Atlanta Gladiators on a four-game winning streak. That streak came at the expense of the Savannah Ghost Pirates who they dominated in four of five games in their extended home and home series. The Everblades slowed the Ghost Pirates’ attack and generated extended periods of offensive pressure with their fast and aggressive play. The win on Wednesday night extended their streak to five games and moved them into a three-way tie for second place. The visiting Greenville Swamp Rabbits would be a massive test for the surging Everblades, and the outcome of the two-game series would help set the tone for the second half of the season and the playoff chase. However, the Swamp Rabbits came out on top as they won both games, the first in a shootout and the second in a 1-0 nail-biter. The two losses would drop the Everblades back into fifth place.
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The Everblades lineup had several key changes for the week. Forwards, Cam Hausinger was placed on injured reserve, and Weiland Parrish was released. Hausinger had five goals, six assists, eleven points, and 38 penalty minutes for the season. Parrish played five games for the Everblades, recording one goal and two penalty minutes. The Checkers reassigned forward Cam Morrison; he had played five games for the Everblades this season, scoring three goals. He played in all three games last week, recording two goals and an assist, pushing his season totals to eight games played with five goals and an assist. Morrison, however, was recalled to the Checkers at the end of the week. Forward Tyler Kobryn was loaned to the Everblades by the Fayetteville Marksmen of the SPHL. Kobryn had played 124 games in four seasons in the ECHL before joining the Marksmen at the beginning of 2023. 21-year-old Evan Boucher signed a SPC after finishing his season with the University of Ottawa. He made his professional debut Wednesday night, recording an assist. The Charlotte Checkers reassigned defenseman Evan Nause on the 25th. He has had limited playing time with the Checkers and Everblades this season. He played eight games for the Checkers and four for the Everblades, recording three assists in the twelve games. Forwards Cam Darcy and Zach Tsekos were both activated from injured reserve. Darcy played last season with the Everblades, scoring 12 goals, 27 assists, and 39 points in 82 games, including the playoffs. He was injured and went unsigned at the start of the season. Short on players, the Everblades signed him on January 9th and placed him on injured reserve. Zach Tsekos’ last game was December 31st, a loss to the Swamp Rabbits. He has five goals and five assists in 22 games for the Everblades this season. In addition to the change in the lineup, the Everblades skated with a captain on the ice for the first time this season. Forward Joe Pendenza was designated captain before the game on Wednesday. He had served as assistant captain since the start of the 2021 season. Assistant coach Anthony Peters identified Pendenza’s leadership qualities on and off the ice as the main qualifiers for the promotion.
The Everblades hit their halfway point of the season Wednesday night against the visiting Gladiators. The Gladiators were mired in last place in the South Division but had won a hard-fought game against the Orlando Solar Bears the night before. The Everblades jumped out first with a goal by Cam Morrison (4); he was reassigned by the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL that week. Newly signed Tyler Kobryn (1) added to the Everblades lead with a goal late in the first period. Everblades forward Sean Josling (12) would score at 7:54 of the second period, but Cody Sylvester (12) would respond with a goal 16 seconds later. Sylvester’s goal came on the only shot the Gladiators managed in the second period. Cam Morrison (5) scored an empty net goal late in the third period, sealing the 4-1 victory for the Everblades.
The Everblades wouldn’t fare as well against the Swamp Rabbits. Game one between the two teams was at Hertz Arena Friday night. Jake Smith (11) would score the game’s first goal at 16:16 of the first period. Logan Lambdin (8) and Joe Pendenza (13) would score goals in the second period, giving the Everblades a 2-1 lead going into the locker room. The scoring would pick up in the third period, with Anthony Beauchamp (7) scoring on a shootout goal at 8:58. The Everblades would answer 36 seconds later with Pendenza’s (14) second goal. That lead would last until 19:57 when Brannon McManus (7) scored a goal with the sixth attacker. The seven-minute overtime period saw several chances by each team, but neither would score. Brannon McManus would strike again in the third round of the shootout, beating Cam Johnson with a wrist shot. The Swamp Rabbits would take the win and the two points, 4-3.
Game four Saturday night showcased each team’s defenses. Jordan Timmons would score his second goal of the season 49 seconds into the start of the game. His goal would be the only scoring for either team for the duration of the match, and the Swamp Rabbits completed the series sweep. Cam Johnson stopped 17 of 18 shots for the Everblades, and Luke Richardson stopped all 37 shots he faced. Richardson also was named First Star of the night with his shutout performance.
The week ended with the Everblades losing two in a row and with their momentum effectively squashed. The speed and aggressive play displayed by the Everblades in their recent games against the Gladiators and Ghost Pirates was absent against the Swamp Rabbits. However, it wasn’t all bad for the Everblades, as they held the Swamp Rabbits to 18 shots and one goal on Saturday. Greenville is tenth in the league in scoring, and Florida is second in the league in goals against. The upcoming week sees the Everblades on the road, first in Jacksonville Wednesday night and then in Savannah for a two-game series against the Ghost Pirates. The Everblades have struggled against the Icemen this season, managing a 0-3-1-0 record. Against the Ghost Pirates, however, the Everblades are 4-2-1-0. The Everblades should come away with at least four points this week. The Orlando Solar Bears, currently in fourth, lost Monday night to the Atlanta Gladiators and have two games this weekend against the Wheeling Nailers. The Nailers are on a five-game winning streak and are 6-4-0-0 over their last ten games. The Solar Bears have the edge on the season match-up, winning two of three games. With the loss to the Gladiators and at least one loss against the Nailers, the Everblades could jump over the Solar Bears into fourth place if they can manage at least four points this week.
The Everblades play the Iceman at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
