Florida Everblades Complete Stunning Comeback to Capture 2026 Kelly Cup

The Florida Everblades did it again. They earned their fourth Kelly Cup in five years.

They went back home to Florida down a 2-0 deficit in the series against the Kansas City Mavericks. The Everblades refused to have their season end against a team they had faced at this point before. They figured out Kansas City's game and worked it against them to go back to Kansas City and take home the championship, after a double overtime, in Game Six.

The Everblades are laden with post-season success, and this championship win is probably more impressive than years past. Florida came into the Kelly Cup Finals as one of the ECHL's premier teams. The series against Kansas City could not have started worse for them. The Mavericks dominated the opening games on their ice, and outscored the Everblades 11-2. This had put Florida on thin ice with a series collapse.

Florida did not panic; rather, they re-invented, shall we say, the way they play their game against the Mavericks. Headed back to Estero for Game Three, Florida responded with overtime wins, which turned the momentum of the series for them. With the series tied, the Everblades took control of the series heading into Game Five.

Winning game five sent the Everblades and Kansas City back to the Mavericks' home ice. Game Six was a thriller, and everything a fan could ask for during a finals game. The teams went back and forth throughout the regulation periods, and neither team was willing to let the season end on their terms. The game moved beyond the 60 minutes. One overtime period wasn't enough for Florida. The second overtime period is when Florida found the breakthrough goal and won their fourth championship in five seasons.

This is another chapter in the culture built for the Everblades. Every year, Florida finds a way to reload their roster, become a contender, and compete. Rosters change, and opponents rise out of the dust, but the expectation for the Everblades remains the same: Go deep in the playoffs and compete.

Facing adversity throughout the playoffs, the team was evident during the finals. The Everblades were doubted after the first two games, but came back with four unanswered games against one of the league's best teams.

The 2026 Everblades should be remembered for this: Refusal to give up when the season got hard. Heading into the 2026-2027 season with their fifth Kelly Cup in the trophy case, the Everblades have put their footing in place as one of the elite franchises of the ECHL. They reminded the league and the world of hockey why championships matter.

With a fifth Kelly Cup now added to the trophy case, the Everblades have further cemented their place among the ECHL's elite franchises. More importantly, they reminded the hockey world why championship experience matters.