The ECHL and Florida Everblades released their 2009-10 regular season schedule Monday.

The Blades are to play 51 games against South Division opponents next season with the remaining 21 against American Conference foes from the North Division. In all, the Blades play a 72-game schedule with 36 games at home and 36 on the road.

For the first time in six seasons, the Blades open the season away from their Germain Arena home ice. The opener is Oct. 16-18 in the new state-of-the-art Lucas County Arena in Toledo, Ohio, against the Toledo Walleye (formerly Toledo Storm). The Everblades then return home for a five-game homestand against the Charlotte Checkers Oct. 23 and 24 followed by the Kelly Cup Champion South Carolina Stingrays on Oct. 28, 30 and 31.

The 2009-10 season is highlighted by many firsts to Germain Arena. Next season marks the first-ever visits from three North Division opponents – the Kalamazoo Wings, the Toledo Walleye and the Wheeling Nailers.

The newest member of the ECHL, Kalamazoo, visits Southwest Florida for three games on Feb. 17, 19 and 20. Toledo, after a one-year hiatus, returns to the ice as the Walleye. They visit Germain Arena Nov. 11, 13 and 14.

The Wheeling Nailers are the final opponent for the Blades before the Christmas holiday. The Nailers and Blades collide for three games on Dec. 16, 18 and 19.

The Reading Royals and Trenton Titans, formerly of the North Division, visit Germain Arena for the first-time in history in the regular season. The Royals and Blades tangled at Germain Arena in 2004 in the American Conference Finals. The Blades prevailed in that series 3-2. The Royals’ visit is Nov 18, 20 and 21.

Trenton and Florida last played in Florida in the Kelly Cup Finals in 2005. It was the second straight appearance for the Everblades in the Kelly Cup Finals. Trenton won that championship series 4-2.

The Titans’ first visit comes in January.

Florida’s longest homestand is late in the season. From Feb. 17 through March 6, the Blades play eight games. The 2008-09 Brabham Cup Champs enjoy two five-game homestands in October (23-31) and January (22-30) as well as a six-game homestand in December (9-19).