The Florida Everblades claimed the E.A. “Bud” Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference champions on Saturday with a 6-1 win over the Wheeling Nailers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
 
Florida wins the series 4 games to 1, and advances to the 2026 Kelly Cup Finals, where it will meet the winner of the Western Conference Finals. Kansas City leads Fort Wayne in that series 3 games to 1, with Game 5 set for Sunday at Fort Wayne.
 
Anthony Romano (3g-1a) and Hudson Elynuik (1g-3a) led Florida in the series with four points each while Cam Johnson allowed seven goals over the five games, registering a .945 save percentage.
 
The Everblades - who are 12-2 in the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs - advance to the Kelly Cup Finals for the fourth time in five seasons, and for the eighth time in team history, extending their ECHL record. Florida has won an ECHL-record four championships, including three consecutive titles in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
 
The trophy is named in recognition of E.A. “Bud” Gingher, who was Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors from 1992-95. Gingher, who passed away in 2002, co-founded the Dayton Bombers in 1991 and owned the team for seven seasons, serving as President and Governor until selling the team in 1998. Gingher was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2010.

E.A. “Bud” Gingher Trophy Champions
2026    Florida Everblades
2025    Trois-Rivières Lions
2024    Florida Everblades
2023    Florida Everblades
2022    Florida Everblades
2021    South Carolina Stingrays
2020    Trophy not awarded due to COVID-19
2019    Newfoundland Growlers
2018    Florida Everblades
2017    South Carolina Stingrays       
2016    Wheeling Nailers       
2015    South Carolina Stingrays       
2014    Cincinnati Cyclones   
2013    Reading Royals          
2012    Florida Everblades     
2011    Kalamazoo Wings      
2010    Cincinnati Cyclones   
2009    South Carolina Stingrays       
2008    Cincinnati Cyclones   
2007    Dayton Bombers        
2006    Gwinnett Gladiators  
2005    Florida Everblades     
2004    Florida Everblades     
2003    Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies        
2002    Dayton Bombers        
2001    Trenton Titans
2000    Peoria Rivermen        
1999    Richmond Renegades
1998    Hampton Roads Admirals
 
About the ECHL
 
Formed in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 30 teams in 23 states and one Canadian province for its 38th season in 2025-26. There have been 782 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 14 who have made their NHL debuts in the 2025-26 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 30 of the 32 NHL teams in 2025-26, marking the 28th consecutive season that the league has affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com.