Gameday Magazine: Solar Bears at Everblades, January 17, 2014

Who: Orlando Solar Bears (19-12-2-3, 41 pts, 3rd South Division) vs. Florida Everblades (21-11-1-1, 44 pts, 2nd South Division)Where: Germain ArenaWhen: 7:30pmSeason Series: Blades lead 5-3-0-1All-Time Series: Blades lead 14-7-4Radio: 98.1 FM The Island and FloridaEverblades.com, 7:15pm pre-gameInternet Radio: http://www.swfllocalnews.comSmart Phone: TuneIn Radio (iOS & Android)Internet Television: http://www.americaonesports.com

Estero, FL – For the first time all season, the Florida Everblades are at home for the second consecutive weekend as they face the Orlando Solar Bears at Germain Arena for a 7:30pm in-state tilt.

It is the first matchup of the new year between the arch-rivals and their first clash since the two sides split a two-game set at the Amway Center to close out 2013.

Orlando has pulled to within three points of the Blades for second place in the South Division thanks to a six-game streak of games with standings points—matching their season high unbeaten streak.

A major reason for the Bears’ hot play of late is the addition of ECHL-leading goal scorer Mickey Lang, acquired in a December 28 trade with Fort Wayne; Lang has put up four goals and four assists over the course of Orlando’s streak, giving him a hand in 8 of the 25 goals the Bears have tallied in that span.

On the other side, the Blades will look to a fully stocked back end to propel them Friday; earlier in the day the team announced that defenseman Austin Levi had been reassigned to them from Charlotte of the AHL, while goalies Riku Helenius (Syracuse) and Scott Stajcer (Hartford) were also assigned to the Blades from the AHL earlier in the week.

Florida’s offense, which has managed just one goal in its last three outings, was shaken up Tuesday when the team pulled the trigger on a trade that sent winger John Henrion to the Elmira Jackals in exchange for center Philip-Michael Devos. Devos, who played for the Everblades in 2011-12, has a goal and eight assists in 18 appearances this season.

Tickets are on sale right now at the Capital Bank Box Office, open Monday-Friday, 10:00am until 6:00pm.

Friday’s installment of the Battle of Florida 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 7:15pm.

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 17.

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.

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