Florida Panthers, Savannah Ghost Pirates extend affiliation through 2028-29 season
SAVANNAH, Ga. —
The Florida Panthers and Savannah Ghost Pirates have extended their affiliation agreement through the 2028-29 season, the teams announced.
The 2026-27 season will mark the third year of the partnership between Savannah and Florida.
“We are extremely excited to continue our partnership with the Florida Panthers and the Charlotte Checkers,” said John Thompson, executive vice president of Zawyer Sports Savannah. “We want to thank the entire Panthers organization as we continue to build success over the next three seasons.”
The affiliation has helped develop several players in Savannah during its first two seasons, including goaltenders Cooper Black and Kirill Gerasimyuk. The partnership also included Evan Cormier, the Ghost Pirates’ goaltender over the past two seasons, who was part of Florida’s Stanley Cup-winning organization in 2025.
“The Savannah Ghost Pirates have been a tremendous partner in our player development pipeline, and we are pleased to extend our affiliation agreement,” said Paul Krepelka, senior vice president of hockey operations. “Along with our AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, we look forward to building on the strong relationships we have established within our system to ensure the continued success and growth of our players and staff.”
The Ghost Pirates will open their fifth season on Friday, Oct. 16, hosting the Norfolk Admirals at Enmarket Arena.