Estero, FL - The Florida Everblades have announced that this upcoming weekend will be the Military Appreciation Weekend benefiting the National Coalition for Patriots. The Blades take on the Elmira Jackals Friday at 7:30pm and the Toledo Walleye Saturday at 7:00pm at Germain Arena.

In honor of the event, the Blades will be wearing special edition Military Appreciation jerseys for both games. The game-worn jerseys will be sold during a live auction immediately following Saturday’s contest against Toledo.

Chris Palin, VP of Sales & Marketing, is looking forward to having this event at Germain Arena for the upcoming weekend and for years to come.

"We are very proud to be working with the National Coalition for Patriots," Palin said. "This will help raise awareness for the cause and generate funding for the organization."

Palin hopes to show the organization what a strong partnership between the Blades and the community can do to help support our veterans.

Tad O’Had, Florida Everblades Assistant Coach, is ready to get the weekend underway to have the Blades show support for the National Coalition for Patriots.

“It comes with a great deal of excitement that we will be auctioning off the Everblades specialty jerseys Saturday night against Toledo,” O’Had said. “All of us with the Everblades honor and respect the men and women that serve our country, they are the true heroes to all of us and it will be a very exciting evening to try and show some of our gratitude.”

This will be O’Had’s first Military Appreciation Weekend with the Blades as the Assistant Coach, and he is ready to show his support for the deserving cause.

The puck drops at 7:30 p.m on Friday, November 8 against Elmira. Tickets are now on sale at the Capital Bank Box Office at Germain Arena, Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturdays 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Both games will be broadcast locally on FOX Sports Radio 1350 AM and worldwide online on America ONE, the official internet television provider for the ECHL, at www.americaonesports.com. Pregame coverage will get under way a half hour before puck drop.

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.###