Playoff tickets available for Florida Everblades, back-to-back Kelly Cup hopefuls

On Monday, playoff tickets for the Florida Everblades went on sale, as the team prepares to make a push for the 2023 Kelly Cup.

In June 2022, the Everblades became Kelly Cup champions inside Hertz Arena. Almost three months later, Hurricane Ian struck and made the arena a place where people went to seek shelter.
More than six months later, the Everblades are back in a position to win another cup.

Brad Ralph, the team’s head coach, says the players will be back in the rink to practice early Tuesday morning. They’re pumped about making it to the playoffs, and Southwest Florida needs the extra energy right now.

The Florida Everblades are a part of Southwest Florida’s identity. Every year, people look forward to cheering on the team at Hertz Arena.

Fans are confident a third Kelly Cup win is in reach.

“I think they definitely got it in them,” said Donna Ott. “I know we’ve always been, like, the fastest CCHL team on skates. So, I think we definitely can… we can definitely clinch it if we put our minds to it,” Ott said.

Ott has followed the Florida Everblades since they started.

“I was never a sports fan,” Ott said. “And when I got married—my husband and I have been married nearly 20 years now; we’ve been together a lot longer than that—but this is the only sport I’ve ever decided I love. So it’s exciting; it’s awesome to have a local team go this far and this many times.”

And this is all coming at a time many fans need it the most.

“Arena was a hurricane shelter, and we weren’t, certainly for season, weren’t going to start at all if we weren’t going to be able to play,” Ralph said. “So, at this point, you know, I think some healing’s happened in our community, and we’re fortunately playing hockey.”

“If you’re here last year, and there wasn’t an empty seat… we sold out the final game in, I think, two hours or something,” said Craig Brush, president and general manager of the Florida Everblades. “So it’s a very exciting time. And, hopefully, we can get back to that again.”

“We made the playoffs 24 to 25 years. So that’s an accomplishment that we’re all proud of. And the only year that we missed, it was by two points…. still kind of sticks in my craw,” Ralph said.

And he’s not the only one who has been with the Everblades for 25 years; Ott’s been there for a long time, too.

“I’ve been to countless games, and I fall in love with them every time there,” Ott said. “And I’ve even got my 75-year-old mom going to the games now with me, and she’s really enjoying it. You know, the first time I took her out, obviously you have to explain to them what’s going on. But that’s the love of it. I have friends who take their young kids.”

“Just the intensity, it’s going to be through the roof. You know, we’re certainly excited to give our best effort,” Ralph said.