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

Barnaby, 25, joins the Everblades after playing for their rivals, the Orlando Solar Bears, last season. The Buffalo, New York local appeared in 42 games for Orlando last year, scoring five goals and seven assists during the campaign.

The right-shot forward is entering his third ECHL season after debuting with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in 2021 and spending 2021-22 with the Fort Wayne Komets. He currently has 10 goals and 12 assists in 76 ECHL games.

Barnaby began his pro career in the SPHL, starting in 2019 with the Evansville Thunderbolts and ending in 2021 with the Huntsville Havoc. His 27 goals and 32 assists in 67 games helped lead him to the ECHL. He turned pro after finishing his junior career in the USHL, splitting the season between the Chicago Steel and Youngstown Phantoms. The 6’ 2” forward tallied 10 goals and 19 assists through 53 games that season.

Barnaby’s father, also Matthew Barnaby, played 834 NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, and Dallas Stars.

The Everblades’ home opener is on Saturday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. against the Jacksonville Icemen. Before the game, the back-to-back Kelly Cup Champions will send a Kelly Cup banner to the rafters for a second straight season, commemorating the club’s third title.

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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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