Blades Add Forwards Bogosian & Merrifield

Florida Everblades President and General Manager Craig Brush along with Head Coach Greg Poss announced Tuesday that the team has agreed to terms with forwards Aaron Bogosian and Mike Merrifield for the 2012-13 season.

Bogosian, 25, joins the Everblades after totaling four points (2g, 2a) and 88 penalty minutes in 51 games played last season with the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League. The 6-0, 190-pound forward also appeared in 10 games with the Falcons in the spring of 2011 scoring two goals and an assist.

“Aaron is a well conditioned and good skating forward who has experience at the American Hockey League level,” said Poss. “He has also brings a combination of skill and grit.”The Massena, NY native totaled 79 points (33g, 46a) during his four-year collegiate career at St. Lawrence University (ECAC).

Merrifield, 22, enters his rookie season in pro hockey after playing the past three seasons at Michigan State University (CCHA). The 5-9, 175-pound forward registered 29 points (16g, 13a) in 91 career games with the Spartans.

“Mike is a high energy player,” said Poss. “We foresee him being a big contributor on our penalty kill and in our forecheck.”

The Beverly Hills, Michigan native amassed 34 points (18g,16a) in 38 appearances with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2008-09 season. In the 2007-08 season, Merrifield posted 57 points (18g, 39a) in 57 games played with the St. Louis Bandits (NAHL).

The Everblades open up their 15th anniversary season at home on Friday, October 12 against the Orlando Solar Bears. The two teams will also meet the week prior, for a pair of preseason exhibition games played at Germain Arena on October 5 and October 6. Individual game tickets are currently on sale at the Capital Bank Box Office located at Germain Arena.

Season ticket packages are currently available, starting at $380 per seat for all 36 home games. Partial-season packages start as low as $150, and offer a flexible option for fans. For more information on all available packages, call the Everblades office at 239-948-7825, or learn more here.