St. Louis Blues announce agreement with Florida Everblades to serve as club's ECHL affiliate

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - For the first time since 2020, the St. Louis Blues will have an ECHL affiliate.

On Wednesday, the Blues announced that it has reached a multi-year agreement with the Florida Everblades that will see the Everblades to serve as an affiliate for the Blues alongside the Blues' AHL affiliate the Springfield Thunderbirds.

The agreement with the Everblades will mark the first time since 2020 that the Blues have had an ECHL affiliate. The last time the Blues had an ECHL affiliate was from 2017-2020 with the Tulsa Oilers.

"Our new affiliation with the Everblades marks a great addition to our organizational system," said Kevin Maxwell, General Manager of the St. Louis Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. "The franchise has captured three consecutive Kelly Cup Championships and will provide an excellent environment for our prospects to continue in their professional development."

The Everblades, originally founded in 1998, have won the Patrick J. Kelly Cup four times during their history, including winning the Kelly Cup for the past three consecutive seasons. This past season, the Everblades played in front of sellout crowds on 18 separate occasions. The Everblades play at the Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida, just about 30-minutes away from Fort Myers, Florida.