Blades Announce Additions to Hockey Ops Staff

Florida Everblades President & General Manager Craig Brush along with Head Coach Greg Poss are pleased to announce that John Sellars has been named Head Equipment Manager, while Steve Ruhmel has been appointed as the team’s new Head Athletic Trainer.

Sellars joins the Everblades after spending the past three seasons as the Head equipment manager for the Elmira Jackals (ECHL). Prior to his time in Elmira, The Summerville, South Carolina native has 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 lockeroom attendant for the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) from 1999 to 2005.

Sellars is also a member of the Society of Professional Head Equipment Managers (SPHEM). Sellars replaces Jason Berger who accepted the Head Equipment Manager position with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League earlier this summer.

Ruhmel enters his first season with the Everblades after spending the past two years as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Women’s hockey program at Elmira College. In addition, the Lutz, Florida native also served in a similar role with the College’s Men’s hockey program. Prior to his time at the collegiate level, Ruhmel was an Athletic Training intern with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League in 2010. Ruhmel was also a Student Athletic Trainer University of South Florida, servicing the university’s football, hockey, baseball, tennis, volleyball, and soccer programs.

Ruhmel earned a Master of Science in Education with a Certificate in Health Services Management from Elmira College in 2012. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from the University of South Florida in 2010.

Ruhmel replaces Dustin Flynn who accepted a position as the Head Athletic Trainer with the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League this past summer.