Florida's Gulf Coast Ignites Hockey Fever

Florida's NHL powerhouses keep stacking Stanley Cups, but now the hockey bug spreads to the Gulf Coast with climate-controlled outdoor spectacles that draw massive crowds. Youth programs explode as kids chase the pros, fueled by ECHL dominance from the Everblades and their Kelly Cup runs. Local rinks buzz with the same facilities the big-league stars use, signaling this sun-soaked region cements itself as a true hockey hotbed for generations.