For the last two years, expectations were very high for the Florida Everblades – expectations included winning at least one Kelly Cup championship.

Those expectations never materialized on the ice, ending in disappointing losses in the playoffs.

This week the Everblades embark on the new ECHL season with perhaps the most personnel changes in team history.

Only seven of the 22 players to make it out of training camp this week ever wore a Blades jersey last season.

Though the turnover in players is higher than usual, the excitement among the fans and the organization remains as high as ever.

“For me, this is like a new beginning,” said team president Craig Brush. “There have been so many changes in the last 12 months that I’m excited about the season, and I’m excited about the team, the coach, and the new staff.”

The excitement extends to all seven of the players who return from last year’s squad, and for good reason. This year’s team is bigger, faster and more athletic than perhaps any before in the 13-year history of the organization.

On defense there’s almost a complete overhaul with five new faces.

Returning are 6-foot-4 enforcer Mitch McColm, signed for the playoff run at the end of last season, and sharpshooter Elgin Reid and speedster Phil Paquet. Joining the trio are five players, four of whom have pro experience and three stand at least 6-3 in height.

The standout of the group, Mike Egener, rivals McColm in both height and weight. Should first-year coach Greg Poss decide to put the pair on the same defensive line, they have the size, speed and talent to dominate the pace of play.

Fans will recognize offensive players Mathieu Roy and Ross Carlson from last year’s team, along with the speedy Shea Guthrie and Matthew Pistilli, the latter a call-up or injury listed for most of last season.

Of the newcomers, two get the most lip service from teammates and coaches – Russian prospect Evgeny Timkin and Washington native Kevin Deeth.

Deeth brings speed and a keen sense of finding the net with the puck.

The 6-3 Timkin played in the AHL last year, possesses the speed of a football wide receiver on skates, and a nasty wrist shot.

The situation in goal has yet to be permanently settled as the Blades wait to see which, if any, goalie is sent down by their affiliates.

They start the season Friday night at Germain Arena against the Gwinnett Gladiators with a combination of youth and experience in Bobby Goepfert and Brian Markowicz. Goepfert joined the team Monday. Markowicz, 28, was signed to a tryout contract and turned in a impressive performance in turning away 33 of 35 shots he faced in the final preseason game Saturday night at Germain Arena.

In addition to the player changes, there was a total overhaul of the coaching staff.

Poss is joined by first-year assistant Brad Tapper, a former player under Poss in Germany. Tapper is the Blades’ first assistant head coach since Jason Nobili at the end of the 2007-08 campaign.

Also changed are the Everblades’ NHL and AHL team affiliations.

The Carolina Hurricanes remain with the team, but gone are the Florida Panthers. They were replaced by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The new AHL affiliates are the Charlotte Checkers and Norfolk Admirals.

The ECHL itself has undergone a number of changes. Now with 19 teams, the overall play this season is expected to greatly improve.

Most recent to leave the league were the Checkers, a former divisional rival of the Everblades. The Albany River Rats of the AHL relocated to Charlotte, N.C., and took the name of the Charlotte Checkers and remain in the AHL.

Among the new rules that may impact teams the most is a change in the tiebreaker rules in the standings. Shootout wins no longer are considered.

The puck drops for Friday’s season opener at Germain Arena at 7:30 p.m. The Blades and Gladiators play a rematch at 7 p.m. Saturday.