Craig Needham and Ben Brar back with the Everblades

ESTERO, Fla. – Florida Everblades President Craig Brush, along with Head Coach and General Manager Brad Ralph, announced that the team have signed forward Craig Needham and agreed to terms with forward Ben Brar.

Needham, 25, enters his first full season with the Everblades after joining the club late in the 2023-24 season following his final collegiate season with Providence College of Hockey East. A member of the 2024 Kelly Cup winning team, Needham saw action in 11 regular-season contests following his Blades debut on March 22.

Prior to joining the Everblades, Needham enjoyed a five-year collegiate career at Providence, appearing in 160 games and registering 35 total points on 14 goals and 21 assists for the Friars.

A native of Medford, Mass., Needham played two years of junior hockey with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League, notching 37 total points in 133 regular-season and postseason games.

Brar, 25, enters his first full season with the Everblades after joining the club late in the 2023-24 season. A member of the Kelly Cup winning team of 2024, Brar played in five regular-season games, registering two assists. The Abbotsford, British Columbia native also appeared in seven postseason games for the Everblades during the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs, picking up one helper.

Prior to joining the Everblades, Brar played five years of collegiate hockey at Merrimack University. In 155 career games with the Warriors, Brar registered 83 total points on 39 goals and 44 assists. He served as the team captain his final two seasons. 

Previously, Brar enjoyed a five-year junior career in the British Columbia Hockey League, playing three seasons with the Prince George Spruce Kings, which won the 2019 league championship in his final season before college. Brar also saw BCHL action with the Penticton Vees and Cowichan Valley Capitals.

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