GAME DAY: Everblades vs. Norfolk Admirals - Oct. 19

ESTERO, Fla — The Florida Everblades (1-1-0-0, 2 PTS) host the Norfolk Admirals (1-0-0-0, 2 PTS) on Friday night at Hertz Arena for Opening Night presented by Hertz.  

VITALS:

Game 3: Everblades vs. Norfolk AdmiralsWhen: 7:30 PM ETWhere: Hertz ArenaTickets: TicketmasterWatch: ECHL.tvListen: WJBX News Talk & MoreSocial: Twitter | Instagram | #NORvsFLA

Last Time Out

Florida earned its first win of the 2018-19 campaign with a 3-2 victory over the Newfoundland Growlers last Saturday night in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Kyle Platzer, Steven Lorentz, and Mitch Vandergunst all tabbed goals in the win, and Jamie Phillips turned aside 25 shots to pick up the win in his debut with Florida. Coming 5:33 into the third period, Vandergunst’s first professional goal held up as the game-winning score.

Players to Watch

Kyle Plazter (FLA) – The Waterloo, Ontario, native has scored in each of the Everblades first two games, becoming the first Florida player since Kevin Lynch in the 2015-16 season to pot goals in each of the first two games of the season. Platzer, a 2013 pick of the Edmonton Oilers, averaged better than a point per game last season in 20 games with the Wichita Oilers in the ECHL.

Zane Schartz (NOR) - After not scoring in four games with the Admirals last season, Schartz posted a multi-goal game in his first game of the season this year for Norfolk, his first professional goals. Schartz played three seasons for Liberty University (ACHA) before turning professional at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.

Key notes

• Florida and Norfolk will meet five times during the 2018-19 season, including two games in Estero and three in Norfolk, Virginia. In six matchups last season, Florida earned a 5-0-1 record. Of the five Everblades' wins, only one came by less than three goals.   
• Florida head coach Brad Ralph earned his 100th career victory with the franchise last Saturday in just his 146th career game at the helm of the ‘Blades. While with the team, Ralph has compiled a winning percentage of .723. In nine seasons as a head coach, Ralph has a career winning percentage of .694, with 351 victories in 536 games.  
• Florida has averaged the fewest penalty minutes per game in the ECHL this season, with only six total penalty minutes through two games. The Everblades are tied for the league lead in penalty kill rate and are 3-for-3 when shorthanded.  
• Florida made several transactions this week, which included the additions of Nathan Perkovich, Justin Auger, and David Friedmann.   
• There are 10 players on Florida’s current roster who were NHL Draft picks, a list that includes Jordon Southorn, Josh Wesley, Steven Lorentz, Nathan Perkovich, Kyle Platzer, Justin Auger, John McCarron, Zach Nastasiuk, and goaltenders Jeremy Helvig and Jamie Phillips. Nastasiuk was the highest NHL Draft pick and was selected in the second round, 48th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2013 NHL Draft.   
• Florida is coming off the best season in its 20-year history after posting a team record 112 points and 53 wins on the way to the second Kelly Cup Finals appearance and the third Brabham Cup Championship in team history.   
• In addition to qualifying for the postseason in 19 of its 20 seasons, the Everblades have captured six division championships and four conference championships. Florida won the 2012 Kelly Cup.   
• Eight players who suited up for the Everblades last season return this season, headlined by leading goal scorer John McCarron, who posted 29 tallies a season ago, and leading rookie scorer Joe Cox, who tabbed 54 points in 70 games.   
• Other returners include forwards Sam Warning (18 GP), Steven Lorentz (62 GP), and Blake Winiecki (4 GP) and defensemen Josh Wesley (8 GP), Logan Roe (54 GP), and Derek Sheppard (10 GP).   
• Florida starts the season with 12 of its first 17 games on the road, including a season-long seven-game road trip from Nov. 14-24.    

Next Up

The ‘Blades conclude the two-game series with Norfolk and continue Opening Weekend on Saturday night at 7 p.m., and fans will receive an Everblades magnet schedule.

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Single-game tickets for all regular season games are on sale now!

Ticket packages for the 2018-19 season are on sale now! Become part of the Everblades Family with a Full Season, Partial Season or a Flexible Voucher Package that fits your schedule and budget! All Ticket & Voucher Packages provide savings and special benefits!  To view the Ticket & Voucher Package options CLICK HERE. Ask about the payment plan options too!

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