The Florida Everblades captured the 2026 Kelly Cup after a grueling 5‑4 victory over the Kansas City Mavericks in Game 6 of the finals, a contest that stretched into double overtime and left the arena buzzing with disbelief and celebration.
The win marked the Everblades’ fifth championship in franchise history and ended a streak of four consecutive titles that had all been secured on home ice, making this the first road triumph in the team’s championship pedigree.
A Road‑Trip Triumph
Cam Johnson, the Everblades’ net‑minder, was honored as the Most Valuable Player of the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs, earning the award for the third time in his career after previous recognitions in 2022 and 2023.
Johnson’s playoff run featured a 16‑3 record, a 1.93 goals‑against average and a .921 save percentage, statistics that underscored his consistency and ability to deliver under pressure.
The series against Kansas City highlighted the Mavericks’ resilience, but the Everblades’ depth and Johnson’s late‑game heroics proved decisive, sealing a narrative that will be remembered as much for its statistical precision as for its emotional resonance.
The victory not only rewrote the Everblades’ championship narrative but also signaled a shift in the franchise’s identity, as the team embraced the challenge of winning on unfamiliar ice and in front of hostile crowds.