Florida Everblades | Hockey Operations

Craig Brush

Florida Everblades President & Hertz Arena CEO

Craig Brush, Hertz Arena CEO and President of the Florida Everblades, along with partners Peter Karmanos and Thomas Thewes, founded the Everblades and Hertz Arena in 1998. A native of Milton, Ontario, Brush oversees all aspects of both the hockey club and the sports complex. The Everblades won the Kelly Cup and the ECHL Championship in 2012,2022, & 2023, captured the Brabham Cup four times, and have reigned as conference champions on four occasions. During the 2004 and 2005 Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Everblades became the first team in ECHL history to make back-to-back trips to the Kelly Cup Finals. From 2003-06, Brush served as the Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors. He was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame (Class of 2016) in the Builders category, on Feb. 5, 2016 in a ceremony in Kalamazoo. As a player, Brush played four seasons at Cornell University, where he was a member of the 1970 undefeated NCAA Championship team, which is the only team in collegiate history to accomplish this feat. In addition, he coached in the Compuware youth hockey program for many years. Craig and his wife, Kyle, split time between Estero, Florida and Birmingham, Michigan. The couple has three sons -- Matt, Tyler and Patrick -- as well as five grandchildren, Anna, Mary, Jane, Sloan, and Brett.

Brad Ralph

General Manager & Head Coach

Brad Ralph was named the fifth head coach in Everblades' history on July 12, 2016. Ralph, 42, enters his eighth year as the head coach of Florida and 14th season as a professional head coach, where he has qualified for the playoffs every year. Ralph has amassed a career coaching record of 565-243-81 spread over the Southern Professional Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and ECHL. Ralph's 79 career wins in the Kelly Cup Playoffs are in first place all-time. Brad Ralph led the Florida Everblades to back-to-back Kelly Cup Champions in 2022 and 2023. In 2018-19, Ralph guided the Everblades to their fourth South Division title in five seasons, served as a head coach in the ECHL All-Star Classic for the second time in his career and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year. In 2017-18, Florida set club records for wins (53) and points (112) while reaching the Kelly Cup Finals for the fourth time in club history. He also received the John Brophy Award as the ECHL Coach of the Year. In 2015-16, he helped lead the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League to a 48-20-4 record and a third-round appearance in the playoffs. Ralph coached the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL for three seasons (2012-15) totaling a 132-64-20 mark along with three postseason appearances. Ralph began his coaching career with the SPHL's Augusta RiverHawks (2010-12), and led his team to the league finals in his first year to garner honors as the SPHL's Coach of the Year. As a player, Ralph appeared in 383 pro games split mainly between the ECHL and American Hockey League, while making his lone NHL appearance with the Phoenix Coyotes during the 2000-01 season. Ralph resides in Estero with his wife, Wendy, and two children.

John Sellars

Head Equipment Manager

John Sellars is in entering his 10th season with the Everblades organization as the Head Equipment Manager. He brings 23 years of experience in hockey working in the equipment field. Prior to Florida, John spent three seasons as the Head Equipment Manager for the Elmira Jackals (ECHL). The Summerville, South Carolina native has also served as the Head Equipment Manager for the Augusta Lynx (ECHL), Roanoke Valley Vipers (UHL), and the Fayetteville Fireantz (SPHL). Sellars also served as a locker room attendant for the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) from 1999 to 2005. Sellars is a member of the Society of Professional Head Equipment Managers (SPHEM). He earned an Associates Degree in business from Trident Technical College. John has also filled in as an emergency backup goaltender for the Everblades on multiple occasions throughout his time with the team.

Nicholas Bufinsky

Head Athletic Trainer

Nicholas Bufinsky joins the Florida Everblades for his first season as the club’s head athletic trainer and first in professional hockey.

The Long Island local spent the last three years working as Long Island University’s first athletic trainer for the school’s D1 hockey, helping the school build the program from scratch. While with the LIU Sharks, he also worked for multiple other sports programs, including men and women’s tennis and soccer teams.

Bufinsky received a Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training from Stony Brook University in 2020.

Sarah Sanchez

Skating Coach

Sarah Sanchez enters her second season with the Florida Everblades as their skating coach. She grew up a figure skater in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. She is a US Figure Skating triple gold medalist in Moves in the Field, Ice Dancing, and Solo Free Dance. Sarah started coaching in 2011. She brought her skills to Hertz arena in 2023 and works with both the youth teams there along with the Everblades. Sarah holds a gold level judging certification with the Ice Sports Industry . In addition, Sarah is a RYT200 certified yoga instructor registered with the Christian Yoga Association. She holds a Bachelor's of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Regent University.