ESTERO - Florida Everblades President and General Manager Craig Brush along with Head Coach Greg Poss announced Tuesday that the team has agreed to terms with forward Mathieu Roy for the 2012-13 season.
Roy returns for his fifth season with the Everblades, after tying a career high 46 points (18g, 28a) , along with 108 penalty minutes last season. The 6-0, 196-pound forward also tallied 10 points (5g, 5a) in 18 playoff games last spring to help lead Florida to its first Kelly Cup championship.
"We are thrilled to bring back a versatile player such as Mathieu Roy," said Poss. "Mathieu can play in any game situation, and has been tremendous on our penalty kill with his shot blocking ability. I am pleased that we have been able to bring back a good core of last year's team thus far this summer."
The Amos, Quebec, native is closing in on several all-time team records. Roy is fifth all-time in games played at 252, and sixth in points with 147. His 417 penalty minutes is just six minutes short of passing Tom Buckley for the club's all-time penalty minutes lead.
Roy also played one season for the Pensacola Ice Pilots (ECHL) during the 2007-08 season, and has logged an assist in two AHL appearances split between the Rochester Americans and the Albany River Rats. He amassed 316 career points in four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League while with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and the Val d'Or Foreurs. Highlighting his junior career is a 104-point season with the Titan in 2005-06. .
Roy has served the last to seasons as the Everblades captain. Roy becomes the third player this summer to agree to terms with the club, as forward Brandon MacLean and David Rutherford have agreed to return next season.
The Everblades will open up their 15th anniversary season at home on Oct. 13 against the Orlando Solar Bears.
Season ticket packages are currently available, starting at $380 per seat for all 36 home games. Partial-season packages start as low as $150, and offer a flexible option for fans. For more information on all available packages, call the Everblades office at 239-948-7825, or visit the team online at www.floridaeverblades.com
