ESTERO, Fla. – A sellout crowd of 7,305 fans ushered in the home portion of the 2025-26 season Saturday night at Hertz Arena, but the Orlando Solar Bears scored three second-period goals to spoil the party, as the Florida Everblades dropped a tough 3-1 decision in the team’s 28th home opener.
A scoreless opening period was headlined by Everblades goaltender Cam Johnson registering a dozen saves over the game’s first 20 minutes. Orlando outshot the Blades 12-6 in the opening frame, which also featured a spirited heavyweight tussle between Florida’s Oliver Cooper and Chris Harpur of the Solar Bears eight minutes after the opening draw.
The Everblades took over the shot battle in the second period, posting a 13-8 advantage over the middle 20 minutes, but visiting Orlando broke through with three goals to take a 3-0 lead into the final period. Milo Roelens and Spencer Kersten scored at the 4:45 and 5:34 marks, respectively, and Connor Kurth tacked on another goal with just over four minutes left in the frame. Florida’s Sean Allen decisively outpointed Jake Hamilton just past the seven-minute mark in the Everblades’ biggest moment of the period.
A pair of video reviews in the first eight minutes of the third period erased two potential Everblades goals, but Logan Will got the Blades on the board with a blast from the left circle at 10:39 of the final frame. Zach Berzolla and Craig Needham picked up the assists as the Orlando lead was trimmed to 3-1.
Florida outshot Orlando 14-3 in the final period and 33-23 over the full 60 minutes.
Johnson logged a season-high 20 saves in the setback, while Orlando netminder Jon Gillies registered 32 saves and earned the victory, as both goaltenders evened their records at 1-1-0-0.
The Everblades and Solar Bears will faceoff Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. in Orlando’s Kia Center to close out the season-opening three-game series, before the Blades return home to face the Atlanta Gladiators on Friday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. Visit floridaeverblades.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
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BLADES BITS
The first two periods were the Everblades’ first scoreless frames of the new season. Florida netted a pair of goals in Friday night’s season opener and tacked on single goals in both the second and third periods en route to the eventual 4-1 victory in Orlando.
Logan Will notched his first professional goal, getting the good guys on the board midway through the third period.
Craig Needham, who had 10 assists in 63 games last season, and Zach Berzolla, back from spending 2024-25 with the Kalamazoo Wings, picked up the helpers on Will’s third-period goal. Berzolla’s assist was his second in the first two games of the young campaign.
Saturday Night’s Scoresheet
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JOIN THE FUN
Season ticket plans for the 2025-26 campaign are on sale now! Become a Blades 365 Member for the 2025-26 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, or online at espnswfl.com. Stay up to date by following the Blades on social media with all the latest news, scores, and promotions on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter.
---
JOIN THE FUN
Season ticket plans for the 2025-26 campaign are on sale now! Become a Blades 365 Member for the 2025-26 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, or online at espnswfl.com. Stay up to date by following the Blades on social media with all the latest news, scores, and promotions on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter.
Saturday, October 18th
Bears Spoil Blades Home Opener With 3-1 Win

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