'Blades Bolster Blue Line with Matt Mangene

ESTERO, FL – The Florida Everblades announced Thursday that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Matt Mangene for the 2014-15 season.

Mangene, 25, joins the Everblades after spending most of last season in the American Hockey League with the Adirondack Phantoms and Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  The 5-11, 190-pound blue liner recorded six points (3g, 3a) in 51 games with the Phantoms and was scoreless in ten appearances with Bridgeport.  In addition, Mangene registered six points (1g, 5a) in four games played with the Stockton Thunder (ECHL).

Mangene recorded 11 points in 41 total games played with Adirondack from 2011-2013, and logged six assists in 14 appearances with the Trenton Titans during the 2012-13 season

”Matt is a fast skating, puck moving defenseman who is good defensively, said Everblades Head Coach Greg Poss. “He brings a good amount of AHL experience to our team, and we look forward to having him as a top defenseman on our team.”

The Manorville, New York native totaled 55 points (20g, 40a) during his three-year collegiate career at the University of Maine from 2009-2012.

Mangene becomes the seventeenth player to agree to terms with the Everblades for the 2014-15 season. He joins forwards Mitch Wahl, Chris Kushneriuk, Kyle Stroh, Alex Lavoie, Mike Cichy, Mike Silengo, Evan Bloodoff, Jason Wilson, Kevin Lynch, Adam Brace, Gabriel Desjardins and defensemen Mike Little, Jordan Henry, Tyson Gimblett, Cameron Burt, and Kevin Hart.

The Everblades open the 2014-15 season on Friday, October 17 against the South Carolina Stingrays. The first 5,000 fans will receive a magnet Schedule courtesy of Jack's Cleaning!  The two teams will meet again on Saturday, October 18.  Opening Weekend is presented by the Passion Foundation and Riverchase Dermatology. Individual game tickets are currently on sale for the first four home games and preseason games.  To purchase tickets stop by the Capital Bank Box Office located at Germain Arena, or online at www.ticketmaster.com ---2014-15 Everblades Ticket Packages are currently on sale! Full season, as well as flexible 12 and 24-game options are also available! All packages save you money from the box office price, and come with many great benefits.  For more information call 239-948-7825, or stop by the Everblades Main Office located at Germain Arena, Monday—Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.