Florida Sports Wires

ESTERO – The Florida Everblades capitalized when it mattered most, securing a 1–0 victory over the Wheeling Nailers at Hertz Arena in front of 6,764 fans to take another step in the Eastern Conference Finals. Zach Berzolla provided the difference-maker, scoring early in the second period for what stood as the game’s lone goal. The opening frame was physical from the start, with both teams finishing checks and establishing a competitive tone. Both sides traded power-play opportunities, as the Nailers received the first man advantage but were unable to convert, followed by a Florida power play that also came up empty. The Everblades controlled much of the pace early and held a 12–9 edge in shots on goal after the first period. Florida broke through quickly in the second as Berzolla found the back of the net off assists from Riese Zmolek and Jesse Lansdell. The Everblades continued to apply pressure throughout the middle frame and earned four additional power-play opportunities but were u...

ESTERO ( www.thefloridasportswire.com ) – The South Carolina Stingrays fell in Game 2 of the South Division Finals, 6-2, on Saturday night at Hertz Arena. The Stingrays head home to North Charleston for Game 3 on Wednesday trailing the best-of-seven series, 2-0.  Florida wasted no time in Game 2 finding the opener. Jesse Lansdell snapped a shot from the far circle that deflected off a stick and looped over South Carolina netminder Garin Bjorklund into the net, giving the Everblades a 1-0 lead 90 seconds in.  Anthony Romano, who had two goals in Game 1 for Florida, got his third of the series while on the power play with just over seven minutes gone. He found his second of the night while on a 5-on-3 power play with 4:55 left in the frame giving the Everblades a 3-0 lead.  After being held scoreless over the first four periods in the series, South Carolina was finally able to break through in the second eight minutes in. Mikey Adamson wristed a shot from the point through...

  Photo by Nancy DeLander Beecher/Florida Sports Wire JACKSONVILLE (Special to Florida Sports Wire) – Cole Moberg’s second of the season fueled the comeback victory Thursday night over Jacksonville 3-2 in overtime. Anthony Romano opened the scoring late in the first period on the power play to give the Florida Everblades a 1–0 lead in an otherwise evenly played opening frame. Jacksonville generated early pressure but could not solve Cam Johnson, who kept the Icemen off the board. Florida nearly struck first on an early zone entry as Logan Lambdin set up Isaac Nurse with a cross-ice feed, but Topias Leinonen sprawled out to deny the chance. Both sides traded opportunities late in the period, including a shot from Jett Jones that rang the iron, while Logan Cockerill forced a turnover for Jacksonville but was turned aside by an outstretched Johnson. A late power play proved to be the difference, as Romano buried a long-range shot 20 seconds into the man advantage for his 22nd goal of...

FILE PHOTO by Nancy DeLander Beecher  Special to Florida Sports Wire JACKSONVILLE - After trailing by a goal for much of the contest, a late surge by the Florida Everblades produced three third-period goals, including multi-point performances from three players, leading to a 4–2 victory over the Jacksonville Icemen and officially clinching a playoff spot. The Jacksonville Icemen opened the scoring midway through the first period as Trevor Griebel fired a wrist shot from the right circle, notching the Icemen’s first goal of the night and the first professional goal of his career.  Lordanthony Grissom and Adam McMaster picked up the assists on the play. No further scoring followed in the opening frame, leaving the Blades trailing 1–0. Florida recorded six shots on Michael Bullion, while the Icemen put 11 shots on Kyle McClellan, who was making his first start in an Everblades sweater. With the second period nearing a scoreless finish, Oliver Chau got the Blades on the board at 1...

  ORLANDO – Cole Moberg’s power-play goal with 1:48 left in the third period snapped a 1-1 tie as the Florida Everblades defeated the Orlando Solar Bears 3-1 in Game Five of the South Division Finals Saturday night at Kia Center.  Saturday’s victory wrapped up the best-of-seven series for Florida by a four-games-to-one margin and sealed a 14th consecutive postseason series win as the South Division Champion Blades have cleared another hurdle en route to a possible fourth consecutive Kelly Cup title. Orlando scored the only goal of the first period as Anthony Bardaro put the Solar Bears ahead 1-0 at 7:51 of the opening frame. That early tally proved to be the only goal of the contest for the home team, as the Everblades limited the Solar Bears to just 11 shots on goal over the rest of the match. Colton Hargrove knotted the game 3:25 into the second frame, tipping home his fifth goal of the playoffs with Moberg and Logan Lambdin picking up the assists. While the Everblades were...

Andrew Fyten followed Alex Kile’s example with an overtime winner of his own to give the Florida Everblades a 2-1 overtime win over the Jacksonville Icemen in Game Two of the South Division Semifinals in front of 6,084 fans.  The South Carolina Stingrays earned a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory against the Orlando Solar Bears in front of 5,744 fans to take a 2-0 series lead Florida now leads the best-of-seven series 2-0 with the series shifting to Jacksonville next week. The first period saw Florida generate more chances, but both teams came up scoreless in the opening frame. Craig Needham and Justin McRae fought each other for both to pick up their first playoff fighting major in their careers. In the second, Carson Gicewicz scored a five-hole goal eight seconds in to a power play to open the scoring. Oliver Chau and Cole Moberg gabbed helpers on the opening goal. In the third, Derek Lodermeier tied the game with a shorthanded goal after the Blades turned it over in their own zone....

ESTERO – When two of the hottest teams in the ECHL collide, something has to give. And Friday night at Hertz Arena, it gave in a big, big way for the red-hot Florida Everblades, a 6-2 winner over the Jacksonville Icemen. Four was the number of a magical night, as the Everblades not only scored four unanswered goals to seal the team’s fourth straight win but snapped South Division rival Jacksonville’s four-game winning streak in the process. And a fourth straight sellout crowd of 7,224 fans cheered the Blades to victory. Despite entering play ranked last in the ECHL on the power play, Jacksonville bucked the trend and struck first as Christopher Brown scored just 17 seconds into the first power-play opportunity enjoyed by either team. Brown’s ninth goal of the season gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at 12:59 of the first period. Jacksonville’s lead would be short-lived as Gary Haden connected for the Everblades with his second goal of the season at the 18:59 mark. Haden deflected in a shot ...

 Photo Gallery by Jim Brady/Florida Sports Wire

 Photo Gallery by Jim Brady/Florida Sports Wire

Photo by Nancy Delander Beecher/Florida Sports Wire  JACKSONVILLE (Florida Sports Wire) - The second game of the ECHL Southern Division semi-finals between the Jacksonville Icemen and Florida Everblades went into overtime.  Matt Wedman scored at the 11:06 mark of overtime to give Florida a 2-1 win and tie the series. Josh Ho-Sang and Will Reilly assisted on gthe game winner.  After a scoreless first period, Derek Lodermeier's power play goal gave the Icemen an early lead in the second. Christopher Brown and Brandon Fortunato picked up assists on Lodermeiers's second goal of the playoffs.  The Everblades' Sean Josling tied the game. Ho-Sang recorded his second assist of the contest. Cam Johnson made 26 saves for the Everblades. Matt Vernon stopped 26 shots. With no goals in the final period, the teams headed into overtime before 7,643 at Veterans Memorial Arena.

SportsDay photo by Nancy DeLander Beecher By Mike Bonts JACKSONVILLE ( www.sportsdayjax.com ) -- Tyler Irvine (7) scored three times to lead the Florida Everblades to a 5-2 win, eliminating the Jacksonville Icemen in the ECHL South Division Kelly Cup final. Irvine scored his second goal of the game with 8:41 to play. Irvine took a pass from Levko Loper after he emerged from the penaty box for high sticking and slipped the puck past Parker Gahagen. The Everblades showed no signs of reeling from losing the last two games after leading 3-0 in the series. They outshot the Icemen 20-11 heading into the final 20 minutes of game six. Jacksonville cut into the Florida lead when Ara Nazarian (4) beat goaltender Cam Johnson on the glove side with 1:04 to play in the second period.  Nararian entered the game with six goals and six assists, tied with Craig Martin for most points. Cole Moberg notched his first goal of the playoffs to increase Everblades lead in the first two minutes of the sec...

  (SportsDay photos by Jim Brady, Florida Sports Wire)