Everblades receive six from Charlotte

CHARLOTTE ASSIGNS FIVE TO EVERBLADES; SALTERS RETURNS

Playoff MVP Muse, and leading goal scorer Shugg among those assigned to Florida.

The Florida Everblades announced Monday that the team has received five players from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League. Forwards Justin Shugg and Brody Sutter, defensemen Tommi Kivisto and Beau Schmitz, and goaltender John Muse were all assigned to Florida on Monday. In addition, forward Leigh Salters was released from his tryout contract with Charlotte, and has also returned to the Everblades.

With today’s announcement, the Everblades roster is now comprised of 12 players, who were a part of last season’s championship team.

Muse was named the MVP of the Kelly Cup playoffs, and earned a record of 16-6-1 with the ‘Blades, and a 10-3-2 record with Charlotte last season. Muse helped lead Boston College to two National Championships in 2009 and 2010

Shugg finished as the Everblades leading goal scorer in the Kelly Cup Playoffs last spring, scoring seven goals, and adding five assists in 11 games played. Shugg is a 2010 fourth-round draft selection of the Carolina Hurricanes. He made 33 appearances with Charlotte last season scoring 13 points (5g, 8a).

Salters returns after posting 25 points (14g, 11a) and 110 penalty minutes in 44 games with the ‘Blades last season. Salters also registered four goals in 13 playoff games last spring. The 6-4, 225-pound forward has appeared in 53 AHL games with Syracuse (52 games) and Worcester (1 game) during the 2011-12 season.

Sutter joins the ‘Blades after playing four seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League. Last season he posted 60 points (30g, 30a) in 65 games with Lethbridge. Following his junior career last spring, he played in four games for Charlotte (AHL) registering one goal.  Sutter is a 2011 seventh-round draft selection of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Kivisto is a 2009, seventh-round selection of the Carolina Hurricanes. The 6-1, 195-pound defenseman played the last three seasons playing in European Elite League with Jokerit Helsinki. In 2008-08, he totaled 22 points (1g, 21a) in 65 games played with the Red Deer Rebels (WHL).

Schmitz enters his first professional season, after spending the last four seasons playing for the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. The 5-10, 193-pound defenseman, amassed 152 points during his junior career. Last season he posted a career best 54 points (14g, 40a) while with Plymouth.

The Everblades open up their 15th Anniversary season against Orlando this Friday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m. The Everblades will raise their championship banner prior to the game. The first 2,500 fans will receive a championship mini-banner.

The two teams meet again the following day on Saturday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m. The first 5,000 fans to enter the arena for the Saturday game, will receive an Everblades Magnet schedule courtesy of Jack’s Cleaning Services.

Individual games tickets for preseason and opening weekend are currently on sale! Stop by any Ticketmaster outlet, or the Capital Bank Box Office at Germain Arena. The Capital Bank Box Office is open Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Fans may also call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or order online at www.ticketmaster.com

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.