Former Everblade LaRose Hoists Lord Stanley

ESTERO — Carolina Hurricanes forward Chad LaRose became the first former Everblade to win a Stanley Cup Championship after Carolina’s 3-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night. The Hurricanes’ 4-games-to-3 win in the Stanley Cup Finals was the first championship for the franchise that has called North Carolina home since 1997, after playing the previous 18 years in Hartford, Connecticut.

LaRose skated with the Everblades during the 2003-04 season, racking up 35 points (16g, 19a) in 41 regular season games, and tallied three goals and four assists in 14 Kelly Cup Playoff games during Florida’s first run to the Kelly Cup Finals. After spending the entire 2004-05 campaign at the Everblades American Hockey League affiliate in Lowell, Massachusetts, the 24-year-old made his NHL debut with the Hurricanes in early December, and remained on the Carolina roster for the remainder of the 2005-06 season.

In 49 regular season games with the Hurricanes this year, the native of Fraser, Michigan notched one goal and added 12 assists. His first NHL goal came in his sixth NHL game on December 17, 2005 and was the game-winner vs. the New Jersey Devils. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs LaRose appeared in 20 games, tallying one assist..

LaRose became the 10th former Everblade to skate in the NHL after playing with the Everblades, and joined Keith Aucoin as first time NHLers this season. Overall there have been 303 players who have played in the NHL after playing in the ECHL, including 158 in the last five seasons. A record 47 former ECHL players made their NHL debut in 2005-06 and there were two head coaches, 12 assistant coaches, 13 referees and five linesmen with ECHL experience in the NHL this year.

The ECHL has affiliations with 25 of the 30 teams in the NHL and there were 133 players who were under contract to teams in the NHL that played in the ECHL in 2005-06. The ECHL had 54 former players on NHL opening-day rosters, surpassing the previous high of 53 players in 2003-04, and marking the third consecutive season that there were over 50 former ECHL players on NHL season-opening rosters.

Deposits are being accepted now for 2006-07 Florida Everblades season tickets! For just $50 per/seat you can reserve your piece of the action for next season! Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com for more information on ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.