ESTERO, Fla. – Florida Everblades President and General Manager Craig Brush along with Head Coach Brad Ralph announced Thursday that the team has agreed to terms with center Justin Kea for the 2017-18 season.
The Everblades are the ECHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League and the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League.
Kea joins the Everblades after spending the past three seasons split between the Elmira Jackals and the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans. The 23-year-old posted 16 points (9g-7a) in 33 games with the Jackals last season. In addition, Kea logged four points (2g-2a) in 12 AHL appearances with Rochester. From 2014-17, Kea totaled 34 points (18g-16a) in 85 career ECHL games with Elmira, while registering seven points in 71 career AHL contests.
The Woodville, Ontario native collected 177 points in four seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit from 2010-14. Kea was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.