Pistilli Loaned to AHL Bridgeport; Gudlevskis Gets NHL Call

Estero, FL – The Florida Everblades announced Saturday that forward Matthew Pistilli has been loaned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. It was also announced that goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis, who started the year with the Blades, was recalled to the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL.

Pistilli, 25, is the Blades’ top scorer with 36 points (16g, 20a) in 2013-14. The native of Montreal, Quebec, had been returned to the Blades Friday after signing a tryout offer with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers on December 27.

He did not appear in Friday’s home game against Gwinnett.

Gudlevskis, 22, is recalled to Tampa Bay for the second time in as many weeks following an injury to the Bolts’ Vezina-candidate starter, Ben Bishop. The 6’3” netminder was a fifth-round pick at last summer’s NHL Entry Draft by the Lightning.

He is the 28th Everblades alum to reach the NHL level.

Hailing from Aizkraukle, Latvia, Gudlevskis posted a record of 7-4-0-0 with a 1.83 GAA and a .925 SV% in 11 appearances with the Blades in 2013-14. Next week he will be in Sochi, Russia, to tend the cage for Team Latvia at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

On the ice, the Blades will close out a six-game home stand with a 7:00pm matchup with the Gwinnett Gladiators at Germain Arena.

The Everblades will be wearing special Olympic-themed jerseys to celebrate the opening of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. 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.

Saturday’s divisional tilt 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 February 8.

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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