Everblades punch ticket back to Kelly Cup Finals

ESTERO, Fla. (WINK) — The Florida Everblades are headed back to the Kelly Cup Finals.

The Everblades beat the Wheeling Nailers 6-1 on Saturday night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, closing out the series 4-1 and winning the Eastern Conference for the eighth time in franchise history.

Florida is back in the Kelly Cup Finals for the fourth time in five seasons. The Everblades won three straight Kelly Cups from 2022 to 2024, becoming the first team in ECHL history to win three consecutive league championships. Their four total Kelly Cup titles are the most in ECHL history.

Now, the Everblades are four wins away from adding another one.

Florida will face either the Kansas City Mavericks or Fort Wayne Komets in the Kelly Cup Finals. The ECHL schedule for the Western Conference Finals lists Game 5 between Kansas City and Fort Wayne for Sunday, with Games 6 and 7 scheduled if necessary.

Home ice for the finals depends on the opponent. Kansas City would host the series if it advances because the Mavericks won the Brabham Cup as the ECHL’s regular-season champion. If Fort Wayne advances, Florida would have home ice.

The Kelly Cup Finals schedule has not been announced.