PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - In a move many Penguins fans saw coming, the team announced Friday that it would be cutting ties with the Wheeling Nailers as its ECHL affiliate, a connection that created nearly 30 years of memories for fans from Pennsylvania and West Virginia alike.
Going forward, Pittsburgh’s ECHL connection will now lie in South Florida through the Florida Everblades, who are also owned by the Penguins’ new ownership group, the Hoffmann Family of Companies.
Here’s everything to know about the Penguins organization’s newest team.
History
The Florida Everblades have arguably been the most successful team in ECHL history, especially in recent years. Since they were established back in 1998, they have won more Kelly Cup championships than any other team in league history with five (2012, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2026). Four of those winning campaigns have come under the Hoffmann Family, which purchased the franchise back in 2019.
Additionally, the Everblades have made the playoffs in all but one of their 26 seasons of existence and hold the ECHL record for most postseason games played and won. Ironically, the Everblades took down the Nailers in the Eastern Conference Finals this past season en route to capturing the Kelly Cup back in mid-June.
Location
The Florida Everblades play at Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida, a small village about 30 minutes south of Fort Myers by car. With a small population of just under 40,000, the area is mostly known for its plentiful shopping options, two main state parks, and golf courses (there are 11 total).
Safety has never been a concern for Everblades fans traveling to watch the team, as Estero has long been recognized as one of the safest places to visit in all of Florida.
Notable Players
Along with their success in the realm of winning championships, the Florida Everblades have also done a good job of developing players, a chunk of whom have gone on to make an impact at the NHL level. Some of the franchise’s most notable alumni include John McCarron, Cam Johnson, Steven Lorentz, Anton Khudobin and Tanner Jeannot.
There are even some players who started with the Everblades and later joined the Penguins. Former Pittsburgh goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic spent time honing his craft there along with current Pens forward Tommy Novak.
