Blades Ink Defenseman Birch

Estero, FL -- Florida Everblades President and General Manager Craig Brush, along with Head Coach Greg Poss, announced Tuesday that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Braden Birch.

Birch, a 6’4”, 205-pound blueliner from Hamilton, Ontario, was drafted in the sixth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, 179th overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks.

He joins the Everblades after starting the season with HIFK of the Finnish elite league, Liiga. The 24-year-old defender had one assist in 18 games, along with 14 penalty minutes, for HIFK.

Prior to his start in the pros, Birch starred for four years on the blue line for Cornell University with five goals and 16 assists at the NCAA Division I level.

On the ice, the Blades head to the Amway Center for one game against the Orlando Solar Bears at 7:00pm Thursday before returning home to host the Bears for two games on Friday and Saturday.

Thursday’s intrastate rumble will be broadcast locally on 98.1 FM The Island and worldwide online on America ONE, the official broadband and mobile broadcaster of the ECHL, at www.americaonesports.com. Pregame coverage will get under way at 6:45pm.

2013-14 Season Ticket Package Information

Ticket packages for the 2013-14 season are currently on sale—and going fast!  Full season packages begin at $380, while 10 and 20 game packages start as low as $160. Sign-up for a new season ticket package today, and receive a $20 gift card per seat to Outback Steakhouse!

For more information call 239-948-7825, or stop by the Everblades main office located at Germain Arena.

Office hours are Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning.

###