Everblades pick up Clifford from Tulsa to add to defensive depth

ESTERO, Fla. — The Florida Everblades have acquired defenseman Jake Clifford from the Tulsa Oilers as part of the futures considerations component of the January trade between the two teams.

In an additional roster move, the Everblades have traded forward Nick Ford to the Norfolk Admirals. 

Clifford, 25, is in his first year as a pro and has tallied 13 points (4g, 9a) in 49 games with the Oilers. The native of Brecksville, Ohio, has registered multiple points in two games this season and ranked fifth among Oilers rookies with 69 shots on goal.

Prior to turning pro, Clifford played four seasons at Arizona State University from 2015-19 and suited up in 97 career games with the Sun Devils. Clifford, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound rear guard, netted five career goals and 12 assists with Arizona State and totaled 104 career penalty minutes.

Ford, 24, played in three games with Florida last week and recorded his first pro point on Saturday against the Jacksonville Icemen. He recently finished a four-year career at Elmira College, an NCAA Division III program, and averaged more than a point per game in 106 career contests. The Chicago, Illinois, native led the Soaring Eagles in scoring in his final three seasons from 2017-20 and averaged 43 points per season in that stretch. He ranks third in program history with 149 career points (63g, 86a). Ford was named UCHC First Team All-Conference as a sophomore in 2017-18 and earned UCHC Second Team All-Conference honors as a junior in 2018-19.

The Everblades start a three-game week with a Wednesday night matchup against the Jacksonville Icemen. Faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Hertz Arena.

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The Florida Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Nashville Predators and AHL's Milwaukee Admirals