The Eels Premier team showed the fruits of their efforts garnered from their 4 week training camp allowing them to capture two solid wins against their Florida Division foes – the Atlanta Mad Hatters. For well over a decade and a half the Eels have brought their players into season in Mid-August to provide them with the opportunity to get ready for the season. Eels players descend to the Fort Myers area from all across the Globe. The Florida Eels Organization are strong believers, that it is more than just playing hockey. The key to success is to get the boys together, get acquainted, and develop comraderies, in addition to providing an intense physical training and fostering and facilitating good mental well being.
The Florida Eels begin their season with Pre-Season Training camp. Where players report and train for three weeks, 5+ hours per day, 7 days a week. When players report there are have been no final decisions, on team placement. The focus is on adjustment, and development. For it is more important to develop a foundation, a culture and work ethic. During this time the coaching staff and management team assess players on all facets both on-ice and off-ice, continually making assessments and re-assessments, as to where the best fit for each player is for the beginning of the season. The coaching team comprised of: 6 coaches and scouts, are all present to help with the so many ingredients needed for the season.
In addition to the intensive practices and workouts, it is important for the coaching team and scouts to evaluate the players on their game time decision making skills and play. How is this done? The Florida Eels have 5+ intersquad scrimmages, before the start of the actual season. These scrimmages are videoed; thus allowing coaches the opportunity to spend many hours assessing the players skill sets, developments, game time decision making and best fit. In addition to the intersquad scrimmages, many practices are videoed, so coaches have ample opportunity to evaluate the players.
General Manager Frank Scarpaci states, “one of my overall goals is to make sure our players are “November “ ready. This means players come out strong and hot ice on opening weekend.” It is with this November ready concept in mind, that players, and coaches push themselves to come out strong and dedicated from the start of the season. The Florida Eels Premier was indeed November ready, as they showed up with an impressive clear, and sharp game for this weekends’ Home Opening Series against the Atlanta Mad Hatters.
With two games verses the Mad Hatters, the Florida Eels Premier put on an impressive display of what they are capable of. What needs to be underscored is that out of the 25+ players on the Eels Premier squad, only 3 were returning veterans. That is truly amazing. The coaches did an incredible job thus far in getting these players acquainted to our Eels systems, culture, and expectations. Although they have come a long way in 4 weeks, Coach Scarpaci echoed, “we still have quite a ways to go.”
Game One Recap:
In game one, Saturday, September 14th, the Eels the Eels downed the Mad Hatters by a score of 5-3. The Eels unleashed 39 shots on the Mad Hatters goalie demonstrating a very explosive side of their game. Their forecheck was relentless. At times competing suffocating their opponents. With new goaltender, Japanese/Illinois native, Noah Van Herik between the pipes, the Eels lined up and were ready to face off against the Atlanta Mad Hatters. At 14:08 in the first, Eels five-year veteran and Fort Myers Florida Native, Anthony Zebley assisted by Xavier Charron and Brendan Dohan scored the first goal of the season, and grabbed and early 1-0 lead for the Eels. Second Eels year veteran and Texas native, Alex Cochran assisted by Sixten Gidlund and Seth Morris came in hot taking the Eels second goal, at 18:48. The Eels left the first with a 2-0 lead over the Atlanta Mad Hatters. Atlanta Mad Hatters, trying to close the gap of the 2-0 lead, scored their first goal at 3:48 in the second. With the gap closed by 1, the Florida Eels, Alex Cochran assisted by Seth Morris and Teddy Feng, claimed goal number three at 12:02 in the second. The Eels forged ahead 3-1. The Mad Hatters, quickly responded as Francis Perham grabbed the Hatters second goal of the game, again closing the gap by 1. Eels leading 3-2, the Eels were quick to respond, with newcomer and Connecticut native, Kenny Granacker assisted by Vitkor Gogh and Blake Becker grabbed goal number four for the Eels at 12:52. With the Eels now leading 4-2, Alex Cochran strikes for the THIRD time, assisted by Seth Morris (for his third assist to Cochran) and Owen Blyth, at 15:07 in the second. At the end of the second, Eels lead 5-2. In the third, the Atlanta Mad Hatters, Matthew Hunter, grabs a third goal, closing the Eels lead by one. The Eels WIN 5-3 against the Atlanta Mad Hatters in their first game of the season.
Game Two Recap:
After an impressive showing in game one against the Atlanta Mad Hatters, the Florida Eels showed up determined to claim the second win, and sweep the series. This time, with new goaltender and Nova Scotia/Canadian native, Russ Decoste between the pipes for the Eels. Both the Florida Eels and the Atlanta Mad Hatters were determined to claim the first goal of the game, and keep the other team from drawing first blood. At 19:52 in the first, Atlanta Mad Hatters Boaz Sochaczevski, claimed the first point and the Hatters lead 1-0 over the Eels at the end of the first. However, the Eels fully ignited after the intermission, quickly at 3:06 grabbed their first goal, scored by, Eels newcomer and California native Seth Morris assisted by Alex Cochran and Ian Dracoulis. The Eels and Mad Hatters were tied 1-1. At 3:20, Eels newcomer and Slovakian native, Viktor Gogh assisted by Kenny Granacker and Blake Becker grabbed the Eels second goal. The Eels lead 2-1 over the Mad Hatters. Shortly, after Eels Anthony Zebley assisted by Fernando Moreno, secured the third goal of the game for the Eels pushing their lead by two (3-1). The Eels continued to maintain the lead, with Eels newcomer and Swedish native Maximilian Ideström assisted by Jacob Ideström and Seth Morris, gaining goal four at 9:41 in the second, and newcomer and Swedish native, Jacob Ideström assisted by Seth Morris, and Kenny Granacker securing goal five for the Eels at 12:36 in the second. With a resounding 5-1 lead over the Atlanta Mad Hatters, Alex Cochran assisted by Fernando Moreno and Brendan Dohan claimed the Eels sixth and final goal at 14:22 in the second. The Atlanta Mad Hatters, Francis Perham, claimed their second goal of their second goal of the game at 18:02 in the second. The Eels lead 6-2 at the end of the second. The Eels and Mad Hatters continued to battle throughout the third period, regardless of no points being scored through the remainder of the game. The Eels claimed a 6-2 victory over the Mad Hatters.
With three returning Premier veterans among the Eels squad, we saw an impressive rise of new talent among the Eels group. Along with newcomers such as Morris, Gogh, M. Ideström, J. Ideström, Granacker, Moreno, Gildlund grabbing points and making their names known. We also saw, Alex Cochran capture a five point weekend. Cochran, who moved up this season from the Eels Elite last season, opened the weekend getting a hattrick in his first Premier game! The Eels coaches were very happy with the overall teams performance. Coach Scarpaci stated, “we knew we had a solid group of guys. We spent months scouting and recruiting these players, buut there is always a question on how they would integrate and play as a team.” The Eels Premier is claiming their spot, and making it known just like the teams that preceded them, the 2024-2025 Eels Premier Squad will be amongst the best! The Eels Premier prepare for their next big games, which will be played at the Southeast Showcase in Virginia the weekend of September 27-September 30th.
