The ECHL announced on Wednesday that the League’s Board of Governors has approved the Transfer of Controlling Interest in the Florida Everblades’ Membership from a group led by Peter Karmanos to a group led by David Hoffmann.

“On behalf of the League, I’d like to thank Peter Karmanos for bringing ECHL hockey and Hertz Arena to Southwest Florida over 20 years ago,” said ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin. “The Everblades have been one of the most successful ECHL teams both on and off the ice during his ownership, and we look forward to the expansion of that success with the Hoffmann family and their commitment to the Southwest Florida region.”

The Hoffmann Family Of Companies owns the following companies in Southwest Florida and employs over 1,000 people locally: Sunmaster, Naples Transportation & Tours, Signs & Things, Naples Princess, Adelheidi’s Organics, Tacos & Tequila Cantina, EventLux, WeddingLux, GlobalWorks, The Bevy, Kaleidoscope Floral, Hoffmann Executive Suites, Coral Cay Adventure Golf, Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate, Everglades Excursions, Hoffmann Creative Agency, Port ‘O Call Marina, and Segway of Naples.

The Hoffmann family owns national corporations including DHR International/Jobplex/Elevate Partners in Chicago and Orange Line Oil in Pomona, California, and other businesses around the globe.

About the ECHL

Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 26 teams in 19 states and two Canadian provinces for its 32nd season in 2019-20. There have been 662 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 20 who made their NHL debuts in the 2018-19 season. The ECHL had affiliations with 25 of the 31 NHL teams in 2018-19, marking the 22nd consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available at ECHL.com as well as on Twitter and Facebook.