2021 Florida Eels Tryouts
The Florida Eels do not host traditional tryouts. We are very unique in our approach of recruiting and signing players for its teams.
The Florida Eels use essentially a Showcase invite to prospective players so we can evaluate talent and character of each player. Specifically the Eels invite players to join an Eels team at one of the showcases listed below. The teams are essentially All Star Showcase teams made up of prospects and existing Florida Eels players. They compete in a tournament style of play against teams from across the USA Canada and Europe. The teams are coached by Eels coaches, and in some cases college coaches Prep School coaches and Eels alumni currently playing college hockey. These are excellent vehicles for prospects to evaluate if they want to play for the Eels.
The Eels coaches and General Manager will meet individually with the players and their parents to discuss the Eels program, day in a life with the Eels ,player development , college placements and billeting.
The Eels coaches strongly feel that it is much better to evaluate a player’s skill set and hockey sense by seeing him compete in showcase settings against top players from the USA, Canada and Europe than having players perform perfunctory drills. So we encourage prospects to join us at one or more of these showcases.
There are 3 Post Season Tryout Showcases:
The first showcase will be held May 7-9th, 2021. The USPHL Spring Showcase. The team will compete at the Foxboro Sports Center in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Players born 2001-2005 are eligible to play. This is an excellent “gate out of the gate” event to showcase your skills in front of NCDC and NCAA college coaches as well. It is a smaller event compared to the Pro Am Series but for players who are looking for an immediate commitment this is clearly the showcase to attend.
The second showcase is the New England Pro Am NHL PreDraft. This showcase will be held on June 11th-13th in Canton, Foxboro, and North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Players born 2001-2004 are eligible to play. We will have two teams at this showcase: Junior A which is players born 2001-2004 and College which is players 2002-2004.
The third showcase is the New England Pro Am Senior Chowder Cup. This showcase takes place July 22nd-25th, 2021 in Foxboro and Canton, Massachusetts.
The Pro-Am PreDraft and the Pro Am Senior Chowder Cup series are the most prestigious post-season showcases in North America. They are the granddaddy of them all. It brings teams from all across the USA, Canada, and Europe. The teams consist of some of the top players in the world. It provides invaluable experience to players who will play with and against some of the highest level of players in the world. Many NHL, NCAA Division I and III players have competed in this venue. Players also garner phenomenal exposure as it is scouted by NHL General Managers, Coaches and Scouts. NCAA Division I and III coaches, and a plethora of scouts from the USHL, BCHL, NCDC, NHL, USPHL and a host of other junior leagues.
All of these showcases offer phenomenal exposure to college and junior coaches. All players who compete at these events with the Eels will be assured a spot on a USPHL team.
The Eels are one of the top junior programs in the USA. They have consistently been one of the top programs in the USA for over a decade. This past season the Eels’ Premier team were Finalist at the USPHL Nationals and were the USPHL Florida Divisional Champions.
Both the Elite and Premier teams are amongst the top in the league. The Eels have made it to the finals 3 times in its history, 7 times as semi-finalist. Each year over 12 players from its teams advance to college. Indeed, the Eels have advanced over 266 players to college hockey, including NCAA Division I and III and ACHA Division ! and II college hockey programs
This year the Eels strongly encourages interested players to contact us to participate in one of these tryout showcase teams. Note that these forums are in Massachusetts.
The cost for each showcase is $375.00. Players are responsible for their own transportation, food and lodging.
To make application for a spot on one of the showcase teams you must contact Clare Scarpaci at 941-400-0712. eelshockeycoach@aol.com or Frank Scarpaci Florida Eels GM at GM@floridaeels.com. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Frank Scarpaci Florida Eels Junior Program. 941-400-9023
