Icemen renew playoff rivalry with Everblades in Kelly Cup opener on Friday night

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s go time for the Icemen in the Kelly Cup playoffs.

The Icemen open the postseason on Friday night, going on the road to face the rival Florida Everblades. For the Icemen, the playoffs are the best time of the year, especially if it comes with a win over the Everblades.

Icemen vs. Everblades playoff schedule

Game 1: Friday, at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Game 2: Saturday, at Florida, 7 p.m.

Game 3: April 23, at Jacksonville, 7 p.m.

Game 4: April 24, at Jacksonville, 7 p.m.

Game 5: April 27, at Jacksonville, 3 p.m.

Game 6 (if necessary): April 29, at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Game 7 (if necessary): April 30, at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

“It’s no doubt, it is the absolute best time of the year,” said Icemen owner and CEO Andy Kauffman. “I say it’s Christmas every day, but let’s just say it’s Christmas squared every day this time of year.”

The Icemen are in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, winning 42 games, the second-best mark in franchise history. Jacksonville has won 40 games or more each of the last three years. The struggles against Florida have continued, though. Jacksonville went 2-5 in the regular season against Florida.

Icemen vs. Everblades this year

Oct. 19: Everblades 3, Icemen 2

Dec. 5: Everblades 3, Icemen 2

Dec. 6: Icemen 4, Everblades 2

Dec. 7: Everblades 4, Icemen 1

Dec. 14: Icemen 3, Everblades 2

Jan. 3: Everblades 6, Icemen 2

March 26: Everblades 3, Icemen 2

There’s a catch, too. Each of the four seasons that Jacksonville has made the Kelly Cup playoffs, they’ve lost to the Everblades. Last year’s loss in the opening round was particularly cruel. Jacksonville led the series 3-1, only to see Florida rally to win in seven games. Head coach Nick Luukko left after the season for an assistant coach position in the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Jacksonville hired Brandon Mashinter, only to see him and the team agree to mutually part ways in mid-February.

The Icemen promoted assistant coach Sean Teakle to the interim head coach spot, and he has kept the team rolling.

“I think we’re chomping at the bit. We’re ready to go,” said defenseman Garrett Van Wyhe. “I think we’re just getting healthy as well. So, we’re getting some more guys in the lineup, and I think we’re trending in the right direction.”

Florida (49-15-7) finished behind the South Carolina Stingrays (52-15-3) in the South Conference. The Icemen’s record this year (42-22-7) trailed their best mark in franchise history (44-23-3), set in 2024.

“I think we just play our game right. Like part of it is also staying healthy. We were lucky to clinch early this year,” Kauffman said. “We had an opportunity to keep the keep the roster healthy, which was very important going into the series. But playing their game, knowing who they are and being who they are, I can’t picture another team beating the Iceman four times out of seven.”