Gameday Magazine: Everblades at Solar Bears, December 28, 2013

Who: Florida Everblades (18-8-1-1, 38 pts, 2nd South Division) vs. Orlando Solar Bears (15-11-0-1, 31 pts, 3rd South Division)Where: Amway CenterWhen: 7:00pmSeason Series: Blades lead 4-2-0-1All-Time Series: Blades lead 13-6-4Radio: 98.1 FM The Island and FloridaEverblades.com, 6:45pm pre-gameInternet Radio: http://www.swfllocalnews.comSmart Phone: TuneIn Radio (iOS & Android)Internet Television: http://www.americaonesports.com

Orlando, FL – The Florida Everblades return from the Christmas Break with a rivalry matchup as they head north to face the Orlando Solar Bears for a 7:00pm showdown at the Amway Center.

It is the first meeting between the in-state rivals since the Blades clobbered the Bears 6-0 on November 23 at Germain Arena to bounce back from home-and-home losses to Orlando the previous two nights.

Once again Florida will be looking to recover from consecutive defeats—this time at the hands of the Greenville Road Warriors—against their arch rivals. The Blades will look to a restocked blue line for success Saturday, with Jordan Henry and Joe Stejskal once again available on the back end along with the newly acquired Bryce Lampman, a former New York Ranger.

Tonight’s contest marks the second of six straight home contests for the Solar Bears, who are looking to make up ground in the South Division standings; Orlando sits seven points behind the second-place Blades and 12 points back of division-leading South Carolina.

Like the Blades, Orlando has seen significant roster turnover recently, with CJ Severyn (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), Garret Sparks (Toronto),  John Curry (Iowa), Josh Caron (Iowa), and Kory Nagy (Toronto) all on AHL call-ups; goalie Christopher Gibson and forward Taylor Matson were assigned to Orlando earlier this week.

Saturday’s intrastate throwdown will be broadcast live online at FloridaEverblades.com and on the Everblades’ app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, with a video webcast available through America ONE, the official broadband and mobile broadcaster of the ECHL, at www.americaonesports.com. Pregame coverage will get under way at 6:45pm.

Beat the Box Office!

Don’t want to pay the box office rate for Everblades tickets? You don’t have to! Save up to $7.00 per ticket with great 10 and 20-game flex plans and group rates for the remainder of the 2013-14 campaign. Lock in your flex plan or group seats now for the Blades' next home game on January 10.

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.###