The Jacksonville Icemen have announced their full slate of home games for the upcoming 2026‑27 ECHL season, a schedule that kicks off on Halloween night with a showdown against the Atlanta Gladiators.
Home‑Ice Calendar Takes Shape
All 36 home contests will be staged at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, where the lights will typically blaze at 7 p.m. Local fans will also see three Sunday matchups begin at 3 p.m., while two School Day games are set for a 10:30 a.m. start, giving families a chance to catch the action earlier in the day.
The Icemen will face a familiar slate of division rivals throughout the campaign, including a five‑game stretch against the defending South Division champion Florida Everblades from Dec. 11‑19. Orlando Solar Bears and the South Carolina Stingrays round out the most frequent opponents, each meeting the team twelve times, while the Atlanta Gladiators open the season on the road before returning for a home visit later in the year.
The first four games of the season will be played away, beginning Oct. 17 in Savannah against the Ghost Pirates, before the team returns to Jacksonville for its first home appearance. A mid‑season road trip to Toledo will be the only excursion outside the ECHL South Division, running March 5‑7 against the Walleye.
Beyond the divisional battles, non‑division opponents such as the Kansas City Mavericks and the Greensboro Gargoyles will make appearances in Jacksonville, adding variety to the schedule. Overall, the Icemen will host 26 Saturday night games, 20 Friday night contests, 12 Sunday afternoon games, plus a handful of mid‑week fixtures, shaping a rhythm that blends tradition with new challenges.
The 2025‑26 season ended with the Icemen finishing fifth in the South Division, missing the playoffs for the first time in five years. The new schedule offers a fresh opportunity to climb the standings and reclaim a postseason berth, with the front office hopeful that the familiar roar of the arena will translate into more wins.