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Just a week after Florida Everblades coach Gerry Fleming announced his resignation after seven years at the Blades' helm, Blades general manager Craig Brush has already received more than 15 applications for Fleming's old job.

"Some that are very interesting," Brush added, saying that the applicants weren't necessarily surprising, but included a few people he hadn't thought about who had good credentials.

Brush plans to keep the job open for applications for at least a couple more weeks, though he said he won't necessarily wait for the conclusion of the NHL, AHL and ECHL playoffs.

"It just depends on what I get," he said.

Brush declined to name any applicants other than Blades associate head coach Jason Nobili, who has made it clear he's interested in becoming a head coach. Nobili, 35, spent the past four seasons as Fleming's assistant. He signed a one-year contract with the Blades last season after becoming a finalist but failing to land a head coaching job.

Brush said he's not waiting for any applications in particular.

"Honestly it really has been a blank slate," he said, noting that age or experience will not be a big factor either way. "I'm just trying to choose the best overall candidate."

Last time Brush chose a head coach, it was Fleming in 2001. At that time, he received more than 50 applications. Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford helped play a role in the decision-making at that time, but Brush said that might not happen in this case.

The Hurricanes, along with the Florida Panthers, are an NHL affiliate to the Blades. But after being in the ECHL for 10 years, Brush said he has a pretty good handle on who to hire without outside help.

He did add that he'd be in contact with Fleming about potential candidates, though he said he doesn't plan to consult former players who still live in Southwest Florida.

CALLED UP: Former Blades goalie Craig Kowalski, who helped lead the team to the 2007 American Conference Finals, was called up to the AHL's Chicago Wolves this week after his Gwinnett Gladiators fell to South Carolina in the South Division semifinals.

The Wolves will start their West Division Finals series against the Rockford (Ill.) IceHogs tonight at 7 in Chicago.

ALL DONE: The AHL's Albany River Rats joined the Blades out of the playoffs in the first round with a Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia Phantoms on Tuesday night.

2007-08 Blades goalie Justin Peters, defensemen Steve Ward and David Cornacchia and forward Kirk MacDonald were in Albany for the playoffs.

MacDonald scored the game-winning goal in overtime on Saturday night to force Game 7.

Game 5 between the two teams was the longest in AHL history, making international headlines after going to five overtimes.

Rats goalie Michael Leighton had 98 saves in a 3-2 loss.

Everblades coaching candidates

Florida Everblades general manager Craig Brush declined to share any names from the more than 15 applications he had received by Wednesday for the Blades head coaching job vacated last week by seven-year veteran Gerry Fleming.

But the Daily News was able to catch up with a few potential candidates. Here's an update, including two new names, in no particular order:

TONY CURTALE

Quote: "I'm trying to be a candidate. I guess only (Craig Brush) can answer that for sure."

Curtale, 45, coached the North American Hockey League's Texas Tornado from its inaugural season in 1999-2007, leading the Tornado to three USA Hockey National Championships, four NAHL Robertson Cup Championships and seven consecutive NAHL Division Championships from 1999-'06.

The NAHL is the second-tier Junior A American hockey league to the USHL.

Curtale left the Tornado prior to the 2007-08 season -- both he and team representatives said the parting was mutual.

"The organization was making a lot of changes, and (like Fleming) it was time for me to move on and try and move up," Curtale said.

He didn't leave until August, meaning there were few AHL or ECHL jobs available, so Curtale spent this past season traveling around the country, watching hockey and making contacts.

He said he has already interviewed and applied for a couple ECHL and AHL jobs this offseason but said the Blades job is very high among jobs he'd like to land.

"I think it's one of the best coaching jobs in the minors overall with the quality of the organization," Curtale said. "My goal is to win a championship. I'd love to be the one to take them in that next level."

Curtale said he hasn't officially applied yet, but as a Detroit native he said he has known Brush and Brush's sons for several years. He said he's also close with Mike Vellucci, president of the OHL's Plymouth Whalers, who has worked with Brush in the past.

On Wednesday, Brush said he had not talked to Curtale about the Blades coaching job.

JOHN MARKS

Currently under contract to the Pensacola Ice Pilots

Quote: "I don't want to sound like I'm not happy in Pensacola, and I certainly want to get the Ice Pilots headed in the right direction. But I'm very disappointed with our record this past season ... the Blades job has got to be considered the premier job in the (ECHL)."

Marks, 60, has an unmatched record of longevity and success in the ECHL. He has won two Kelly Cup championships, one with Charlotte in 1996 and one with Greenville in 2002. He also won a Southern Professional Hockey League championship in 2007 for the Fayetteville (N.C.) FireAntz, after Greenville disbanded in 2006.

Marks' Pensacola squad missed the playoffs this season with a 19-44 record in the South Division. He is under contract to Pensacola through the 2008-09 season.

"I can't talk to anyone about the job who is under contract to another team. I'd have to get permission," Brush said.

BRAD CHURCH

Current Coach of the Phoenix Roadrunners -- contract expires in June.

Church, 31, played for the Blades during their run to the Kelly Cup Finals in the 2004-05 season. 2007-08 was his first year as a head coach, and his Roadrunners missed the playoffs.

He's currently in contract negotiations with Phoenix and said he had no comment on the Blades' coaching vacancy.

P.K. O'HANDLEY

Former Blades assistant from 1998-2002. Current coach of the USHL's Waterloo (Ia.) BlackHawks, who are playing for the Clark Cup Championship.

O'Handley was former Blades star Tom Buckley's pick to return and coach the Blades, but Brush said on Wednesday he doesn't think O'Handley is interested in leaving Waterloo, where he has won two USHL Coach-of-the-Year awards and amassed a 159-116 record.

"I think he's pretty secure where he is," Brush said of O'Handley.

Last week, Buckley seemed to think O'Handley would be interested in coming back to Florida.

MALCOLM CAMERON

Quote: "If Malcolm Cameron ends up being the guy (to become head coach) in Florida, it would be a tremendous honor for me and my family both ... now that you brought it up to me, I'm probably going to think about it all day now."

Head coach of the Texas Wildcatters the past two seasons. Wildcatters won the South Division in the regular season but were plagued by injuries during playoffs and lost to Columbia in five games in the South Division semifinals.

Wildcatters will relocate to Ontario, Calif., next season, but Cameron said he has not committed to move with the team.

"I've had great success (with this ownership group)," he said. "Sometimes a change is always good, too."

Cameron, 38, said he was frustrated throughout the season by Texas' small crowds. The Wildcatters, who often led the league in points, were dead last in attendance.

"I came to Florida and they had 6-7,000 fans in there, and it's such a hostile environment," he said. "I've never had that as a coach. I can't even imagine what it would be like. It makes such a difference on the bench even as an opposing coach. To have that kind of home backing would be incredible."

Cameron is spending this week doing player physicals and end-of-the-season meetings. His last player leaves on Sunday, after which he said he'll start thinking more about his coaching future.

"I won't move on to something until everything is completed here. I'm under contract until the end of May, so I couldn't sign anything (in the ECHL) before then, but I can still apply and interview for jobs," he said. "I'll tell you this, though. When I took over in Texas (in '06-07), I wanted to model the on-ice product and program after the Everblades. Ever since I was an assistant in Columbia, I admired how they did things. I've never had a hands-on owner/GM (like Craig Brush). That would be unbelievable to have that level of support."

"I always used to tell Gerry: 'I'm so jealous.'"

"I think the Everblades job has to be considered about the premier job in the (ECHL)."

BOB FERGUSON

The Blades' first coach is under contract to Augusta through the 2008-09 season and seems set to stay with the Lynx. He did not return calls on Wednesday.

JASON NOBILI

The only named applicant for Fleming's job, the four-year assistant to Fleming did not return calls on Wednesday.

GLEN GULUTZAN (LAS VEGAS), CHUCK WEBER (CINCINNATI), TROY MANN (COLUMBIA)

All three current ECHL coaches have teams still playing the Kelly Cup playoffs and were not able to be contacted about the Blades' coaching opening.