Florida Everblades Win 5th Kelly Cup in Double Overtime

When Isaac Nurse scored in double overtime at 1:47 a.m., he didn't just win a championship. He gave an entire community a moment they'll replay forever.

The Florida Everblades returned to Hertz Arena this past weekend as five-time Kelly Cup champions, bringing home hockey's ultimate prize after defeating the Kansas City Mavericks on June 16. Hundreds of fans packed the arena to celebrate alongside the team in a homecoming that was worth the wait.

This championship marked a franchise first. The Everblades had never won the Kelly Cup on the road, which meant Southwest Florida fans had to wait several days to share the celebration with their team.

The final game will go down in franchise history. Florida erased a 4-1 third-period deficit before Nurse buried the series-winning goal in the longest playoff game of the Kelly Cup era.

"I just saw Bettsy's hand go up the back door, like, on the side of the net, and the guys flew off the bench, and I was like, thank God the game's over," Nurse said at the celebration. "We did that, so it was unbelievable."

The comeback captivated fans of all ages. Young fan Jaden admitted he was "very scared" when the team fell behind two games to none in the series, but watching them fight back to win Game 3 gave him hope they could complete the comeback.

Some younger fans couldn't stay awake for the early morning finish in Kansas City. They made up for it by watching replays the next day, reliving every moment of Nurse's championship-clinching goal.

Why This Inspires

Forward Kyle Betts has watched the winning goal "probably 100 times now" because he wants to see how each teammate reacted. "When that puck went in, it was just pure relief," he said.

But Betts credits the real heroes: the fans. After dropping the first two games of the Finals, the Everblades returned to Hertz Arena and won all three home games. "The crowd was the biggest difference," Betts explained.

The championship created bonds that extend beyond the season. "Those experiences you've had this year, it's only gonna help us to continue to grow and continue to win more championships," one player shared. "We're family forever. When you win a championship, those are the people you remember forever."

Southwest Florida now has five Kelly Cup banners hanging in Hertz Arena, each representing a community that rallied behind its team when it mattered most.