Estero, FL – The Florida Everblades announced Thursday that defenseman Beau Schmitz and center Sean Dolan have been called up to the Charlotte Checkers, an American Hockey League affiliate of the club.

Schmitz, 22, chipped in four assists in six appearances since January 25 with the Everblades.

The native of Howell, Mich., has 100 career pro appearances, split between the Blades and Checkers.

Dolan, 25, posted four points (2g, 2a) in just three games with Florida. Hailing from Chesterfield, Mo., the center was on a conditioning assignment from the Checkers following a late-November injury.

In an unrelated move, the Blades announced Thursday that the team has traded forward Ryan Murphy to the Greenville Road Warriors for future considerations. The former Niagara University Purple Eagle signed on with Florida on Saturday but did not appear Tuesday against Orlando.

On the ice, Blades continue their six-game home stand Friday when they host the fifth-place Gwinnett Gladiators at 7:30pm.

It will be Paint the Ice Night as the Blades host the Glads: kids—and the young at heart—are invited to stick around after the game and head down to ice level, where they will be able to paint their own designs onto the ice, resulting in a special canvas that the Everblades will play the Gladiators on the following night.

The event is the first time fans will be able to personally design a portion of the playing surface for a game at Germain Arena.

Also during the weekend the Everblades will be wearing special Olympic-themed jerseys to celebrate the opening of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. The uniforms were designed by kids at the Golisano Children’s Hospital; they will be auctioned live after Saturday’s game with the proceeds going to the Lee Memorial Health System Foundation.

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

Friday’s divisional dustup 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 February 7 for Paint the Ice Night.

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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