ESTERO, Fla. The Florida Everblades are back for the 2020-21 season and will begin with two preseason games against the Orlando Solar Bears. The Everblades will face off against the Solar Bears in the regular season on Dec. 12.
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Florida and Orlando will see quite a bit of each other over the coming months. After the two preseason games against each other, the two squads will square off in five of the ten games that make up the 2020-21 Regular Season Split Schedule. Last year, the Blades and the Bears tangled on ten separate occasions throughout the season. Florida controlled the series, going 8-1-1-0 against Orlando.
The ECHL had it's 2019-20 season cut short on Mar. 12 due to concerns over the COVID-19 virus. At the stoppage, the Florida Everblades were tied with the South Carolina Stingrays for the league lead in points (92). Through 62 games, the Blades earned a record of 43-13-4-2, second in win total to only South Carolina. When the season came to a halt, Florida was in the middle of a seven-game point streak, going 6-0-1-0 in that stretch.
Last year the Everblades were led offensively by the 50 points of Blake Winiecki (24g-26a), who finished the season with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers. Zach Magwood contributed 47 points (19g-28a) before getting the call up to the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL). Justin Auger (46), Michael Huntebrinker (44), Hunter Garlent (44), and John McCarron (40) all recorded 40-point seasons as well. On the blue line, Logan Roe led all Florida defensemen with 38 points (12g-26a).
Last year the Solar Bears were led by the trio of Trevor Olson (20g-22a), Tristan Langan (13g-24a), and Chris Leblanc (14g-21a). Langan and Leblanc return in 20- 21 for Orlando and lead goaltender Clint Windsor (15-12-2, 2.45 GAA, .927 SV%). The Solar Bears also signed netminder Garret Sparks who saw significant AHL action last season with the Chicago Wolves (8-14-4, 2.75 GAA, 908 SV%).
The Everblades enlist six rookies for the preseason games in 2020. Alex Smith (Michigan Tech), Connor Sills (U. of Ottawa), Stephen Anderson (U. of New Brunswick), Spenser Young (Providence College), and Adrian Clark (Dartmouth) all will enter their first season of professional hockey this year with Florida. Cole MacDonald (St. Francis Xavier) played in two games with the Blades last season but is still considered a rookie by the ECHL.
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