It was only a couple of weeks ago that the Everblades hoisted their third straight Kelly Cup trophy. Since then, the players have been enjoying some well-deserved rest and celebration. However, every Tuesday night on the practice rinks at Hertz Arena, you can still find a couple of current and former Everblades.
Even in the offseason, the Blades are dominating at Hertz. Some of the franchise's best players are now lacing them up for men's league.
“It’s great, man," former Everblades captain and two-time champ Ben Masella said. "I love it.”
One of the teams is made up of a legendary Everblades trio — Ben Masella, John McCarron and Blake Winiecki. All three of them retired after the 2023 championship, but they still have the skills and relationships to beat their competition.
“We’ve got the same thing going," Masella said. "We know what to do when the games getting down to the end.”
The competition is no joke, either. Other former Everblades and talented skaters fill the opposing rosters.
“It’s not pro but there’s a lot of former pros, a lot of college guys, a lot of former college guys," Masella said. "It’s all guys who know how to play the game.”
Masella even recruits some of the current Blades when they need some fill-ins. The most recent addition to the squad was reigning Kelly Cup Finals MVP Oliver Chau.
“Any chance I get to get out on the ice with them, I’ll take it," Chau said.
It is that type of camaraderie that has made the Everblades the back-to-back-to-back ECHL champions.
“Everyone who retires, they want to spend the rest of their lives here," Chau said. "It’s just a testament to the community, to the fans, to the organization. It’s unbelievable that guys stick around after they’re done playing.”
With so many champions on the ice at the same time, it should come as no surprise that Masella's men's league team won it all in the winter and is back atop the standings this season.
“I expect to win another championship," Masella said.
If they can do it in the ECHL, they can do it in men's league. Masella and the other Blades are planning on winning plenty of more championships in the years to come.
“Yeah until my knees break, man, I’ll be doing this for a long time," Masella said.