Everblades’ John Sellars tackles milestones from behind bench

ESTERO, Fla.– In the locker room or behind the bench, John Sellars is always at his best. 

“I played backup goalie for a few games. I have a hockey page,” boasts Sellars. 

For the last 15 years, Sellars has worked as an equipment manager in professional hockey. 

While sharpening skates, doing laundry and making the occasional pot of coffee might not sound like much from the outside but Sellars has made himself an integral part of the Everblades locker room. 

 “Johnny goes above and beyond to make sure we’re ready for games,” said Everblades forward Cody Sol. 

Sellars first found his way in to pro hockey after his attempts to become a player didn’t go as planned. 

“You play hockey, dreaming of becoming a professional athlete and at a certain age you realize that’s not going to happen,” said Sellars. “In order to be around the game, this is what I wanted to do.”

Fifteen years later, Sellars has now worked more than 800 professional games which is more than most professional players can say. 

“I’m still driven, just driven,” Sellars said. “The camaraderie in the locker room with the players, it’s just a different world back there. There’s nothing else like it.”

Sometime within the next two years, Sellars will pass the 1,000 games worked mark.

“He’s the best that I’ve been around,” said Everblades captain John McCarron. “He makes our lives so much easier and takes care of everything we need from head to toe and just does it with a smile on his face everyday.”

As it turns out, what keeps Sellars going is the same goal the Blades’ players are chasing – He wants to be in the NHL one day.

“It would be a dream come true for sure,” said Sellars.

“That’s working with the best athletes in the world in the best game in the world and chasing a dream of winning a Stanley Cup for sure.”

For now, Sellars will settle for helping the Blades win a Kelly Cup. 

“I do what I do because I love what I do,” said Sellars. 

“Being in the playoffs and having a chance to win a championship is just a bonus.”

To do that this postseason means the Blades have to go through Sellars’ hometown team, the South Carolina Stingrays, an ironic situation that is not lost on the Charleston, South Carolina native. 

Game three of the first round series begins Friday night at 7:00 inside Hertz Arena. 

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