EVERBLADES SIGN FORWARD DAVID COTTON

ESTERO, Fla. – Everblades General Manager and Head Coach Brad Ralph announced the Florida Everblades have signed forward David Cotton for the 2023-24 season.

Cotton, 26, will play in the ECHL for the first time this year after spending the past three seasons in the American Hockey League. Last year, the left-shot forward skated in 36 games split between the Coachella Valley Firebirds and San Diego Gulls. He scored four goals and five assists last season, bringing his career total to 25 goals and 21 assists in 117 AHL games with the Chicago Wolves, Firebirds, and Gulls. Cotton won the Calder Cup in 2022 with the Wolves.

Before turning pro, the Carolina Hurricanes drafted Cotton in the sixth round (169th overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft when he was playing high school hockey at Cushing Academy in Boston. He had 69 points (27 goals and 42 assists) in 33 games in his draft year.

After a season with the USHL’s Waterloo Blackhawks, Cotton played four seasons at Boston College. The Parker, Texas native had a strong collegiate career with the Eagles, highlighted by being named a Hockey East First-Team All Star in his junior year and being selected as the squad’s captain in his senior campaign. Cotton finished with 57 goals and 70 assists for 127 points in 148 collegiate games.

Cotton’s older brother Jason played 17 games with the Fort Wayne Komets in 2021.

The Everblades will begin the defense of the organization’s back-to-back Kelly Cup Championships on Thursday, October 19 with a road matchup against the Orlando Solar Bears. The 2023-24 home opener is slated for Saturday, October 28 with a 7:00 p.m. puck drop against the Jacksonville Icemen at Hertz Arena. Visit floridaeverblades.com to learn more about becoming a Blades 365 member and enjoying incredible savings and benefits.

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JOIN THE FUN 

The 2023-24 season ticket plans are on sale now! Become a Blades 365 Member for the 2023-24 season and enjoy incredible savings and benefits! To view the Blades 365 Membership savings, benefits, and options click HERE. 

Group Packages are available for a group of 10 or more! Everblades put FUN in FUNdraising! There is no handling of money or tickets and no limit to the amount of money your group can make with the Everblades easy-to-run online Fundraiser! For more information, or to reserve a Fundraiser Night at an Everblades regular season home game, call or text (239) 948-7825. 

Grab the newest and hottest Everblades merchandise by checking out the entire collection that is available online by visiting shop.floridaeverblades.com or at the Hertz Arena Pro Shop! 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION 

Watch every Florida Everblades game on FloHockey.TV. Listen to the exciting game action on ESPN Southwest Florida on 770 AM, 98.1 FM, 104.3 FM, and online at https://espnswfl.com or everblades.mixlr.com.  

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The Florida Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Florida Panthers and the AHL's Charlotte Checkers.

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