The Florida Panthers have recently announced a significant partnership with the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL, solidifying the Ghost Pirates as the official ECHL affiliate for the Panthers and their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, for the next several years.
Paul Krepelka, the Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations, has expressed his enthusiasm for the new partnership, emphasizing the extended development pipeline through the AHL affiliate in Charlotte. He also took the opportunity to express gratitude to the Florida Everblades for their past contributions and success.
On the other end, Savannah Ghost Pirates owner and CEO, Andy Kaufmann, has shared his excitement about the collaboration with the Florida Panthers. He sees this as an opportunity to uphold an exciting standard of hockey that will bring pride to the city of Savannah and continue the recent successes of the Panthers by promoting their prospects to the next level.
The Ghost Pirates, based in Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, received their official approval as an expansion franchise in January 2021. Over two seasons, they have achieved a respectable 58-68-16-2 record. As members of the ECHL’s Eastern Conference and South Division, the Ghost Pirates regularly compete against several regional teams, including the Florida Everblades, Orlando Solar Bears, and Jacksonville Icemen.
Looking ahead, the 2024-25 ECHL regular season will commence on Friday, October 18, 2024, with the Ghost Pirates set to host the Indy Fuel at Enmarket Arena.
The ECHL serves as the leading professional developmental league for the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League. It began with just five teams in three states in 1988-89 and has grown to encompass 29 teams in 22 states and provinces. Notably, over 750 former ECHL players have gone on to compete in the NHL, including current Panthers players Ryan Lomberg, Carter Verhaeghe, and Steven Lorentz.
For fans eager to support the Florida Panthers in the upcoming 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, single game tickets are currently on sale at SeatGeek.com and Amerant Bank Arena Box Office, with 2024-25 Territory Memberships also available for purchase.
The newly formed partnership between the Florida Panthers and the Savannah Ghost Pirates is a promising development for both teams. It is expected to provide valuable opportunities for player development and contribute to the thriving hockey community in both Florida and Georgia.