South Carolina Stingrays vs. Florida Eagles: ECHL’s Historic Rivalry Returns in 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs

The South Carolina Stingrays and the Florida Everblades are scheduled to meet in the South Division Finals of the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs. This matchup marks the first time since 2023 that the two franchises have faced one another in the postseason, renewing a rivalry described as the greatest rivalry in the ECHL.

The best-of-seven series will begin with the Florida Everblades hosting Game 1 and Game 2 at Hertz Arena. The South Carolina Stingrays will host Games 3 and 4 and will also host Game 5 if the series requires a fifth game to determine the winner.

Since the inception of the South Carolina Stingrays in 1993 and the Florida Everblades in 1998, the two organizations have established themselves as the premier clubs in the league. This 2026 meeting represents the ninth time the two teams have encountered each other in the Kelly Cup Playoffs over a rivalry that spans nearly three decades.

The two franchises hold the highest number of Kelly Cup championships among all currently active teams in the ECHL. The Florida Everblades have secured four championships, winning the title in 2012, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The South Carolina Stingrays have won three Kelly Cups, with titles earned in 1997, 2001, and 2009.

In addition to their championships, both teams have a long history of reaching the league’s final stage. Florida has made seven appearances in the Kelly Cup Finals, with its most recent appearance occurring in 2024. South Carolina has reached the Finals six times, last appearing in the championship round in 2021.

The consistency of the two organizations is further reflected in their overall playoff qualification records. South Carolina has qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs 30 times, which is the most in the history of the league. The Everblades have qualified 26 times, the second-highest total of all time.

Historical Postseason Encounters

The postseason history between the Stingrays and the Everblades began in 2002 during a one-game Division Wildcard matchup. At the time of that meeting, South Carolina had already won two Kelly Cup championships, while Florida was making its third playoff appearance in as many seasons. The Everblades won that contest with a score of 3-2.

Following the 2002 victory, the Everblades advanced to the Division Semifinals, where they were eventually eliminated by the Greenville Grrrowl, who went on to win the Kelly Cup that year.

The rivalry continued to intensify in the following years. Florida again defeated the Stingrays in the Southern Division Finals during the 2004 and 2005 playoffs, further cementing their early dominance in the head-to-head postseason series.

The 2026 South Division Finals serves as the latest chapter in this long-standing competition between two of the ECHL’s most successful franchises, as they compete for a position in the subsequent rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.