Eels are proud to announce, Eels Alumni Karlis Mezangs has been drafted 108th overall by Tri City Storm, in the USHL and ranked 5th in European goalies by NHL Central scouting for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft!
Karlis Mezangs played on the Eels Elite team in the 2019-20 season. In 17 games he had earned an impressive 2.52 GAA Avg. and a .
924 say% He since went on to play in the MHL the Latvian National team and competed in the World Juniors
We are very proud!
It is very exciting times all around in the announcement of Cade Rosansky’s decision to commit to McKendree University. GM Scarpaci notes, Cade took his decision very seriously. He weighed so many factors. The academics, the area and field of study, the campus facility, the ice hockey program, the coaching staff, and compared it to at least a half dozen solid offers he had. He took painstaking efforts to peel back the seems to make this important decision. Cade is a very intelligent individual and wanted to make sure everything was right and fit well for him. And he is extremely excited and pleased to report that McKendree University was his choice.
Cade also is excited insofar he joins two of his teammates from this year’s Eels team: Trevor Voyda and Joe McCormick.
Premier Coach, Frank Scarpaci stated, Cade is a big guy at 6’3″ 190 lbs. and used his weight to his advantage all season long., whether punishing opponents along the boards, maneuvering around defensemen or wearing them down in front of the net. He was a huge factor in the Eels Premier team’s dominance this season, as he significantly helped his team win the tough Florida Division, sweep the playoffs in 2 games and advance to Nationals and driving to the semi-finals. He had over 25 points this season including 16 huge goals This is a young man will be a huge impactful player fin college, he can score having had 35 and 40 point seasons in junior hockey. He has the natural ability to drive to tenet and finish.
GM Scarpaci echoes that McKendree University got a solid individual. He is a high character person. An incredible work ethic. High hockey IQ and very good skill set. He will make them proud to be a part of their university community. Good luck buddy
The Eels are very excited and honored that 3rd year veteran forward Tyler Gay will be retuning to the Eels lineup this Fall. Tyler is a local Florida player from the Tampa area and has been one of the best teammates in the Eels program. He is going into his 3rd season with the Eels and his 4th in Junior hockey. He is a high energy player who is a spark plug on and off the ice. He is a true veteran: he brings experience, energy, passion and calmness to the Team. He does not get raddled when things get tough. That is not common amongst younger players.
He was the Elite team’s assistant Captain and spread his leadership influence and skill to the younger guys. He was a key part of the Eels 23 game win streak, capturing First place in the tough Florida Division, Sweeping the playoffs in 2 games and advancing to the USPHL Nationals.
He not only brings solid tangible skill to the program he infuses so many of the intangibles that makes this program so solid. Tyler echoes like many of th returnees “we have some very important unfinished business to take care of. He tasted the meal and now wants to do far more than sample the food. This is our time and we have the personnel”
We look forward to Tyler having a breakout year this season. Welcome back buddy
The Florida Eels are so excited to announce that Joe McCormick has committed to McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois. it is the oldest college or university in Illinois Joe took enormous time to find the right academic and hockey program that would fit his interest and met with the standards he was demanding. He had a good number of choices from the Midwest, the Penn/Ny Area and New England. We are thrilled for Joe
This is a hard working young man.Very good skill .and a catalyst and spark plug for the Eels this season. He played a key role in the Eels Premier team’s success in winning the tough Florida Division, sweeping the playoffs and advancing to Nationals and making it to the Semi Finals.
There is no doubt the coaches at McKendree saw what McCormick can deliver day in and day out. He is a relentless fore-checker who wears down opponents and forces turnovers. His ability to capture turn overs is equally impressive. He knows his defensive role and shuts teams down in the defensive zone. In the second half of the season Joe found the net and showed scouts he can burn opposing goalies
McCormick joins teammate Trevor Voyda from this season’s Eels squad. Trevor was one of the Eels top defensemen this season.
Joe is the Eels 15th player from the Eels who has committed to college this season. That is amazing. He is also the Eels 317th player over all to advance. This is the most important element for the Eels accomplishments.
Joe is a first class individual. Impeccable character. Plays with enormous passion. He will do extremely well at McKendree We are proud of Joe and wish him the very best.
Folks the first draft of the schedule is out. The weekends are supposed to be set so it will be pretty reliable.
The schedule is also out for the Tampa Showcase again look at the Calendar button above.
In the next few weeks we will be publishing information about the Florida Eels Junior Program open house and orientation to be held on August 21st 2022. This will be a time where new and returning players will report and meet the office staff, coaches, billet families, get training schedules and other information. This is a great meet and greet session. Times will be posted shortly.
We look forward to meeting you all so players and families are all welcome. I know you will have many questions over the next few months and we are here to assist you in this process. Billet families have NOT been assigned yet. We make those selections the 1st week of August.
Thanks
We love his fortitude and his intensity even at showcases. He is a workhorse out there. Marc takes no shift off. says GM Scarpaci
He has a great attitude and will fit right in with the Eels style of play. Welcome buddy to the Eels family.
More Than 3,100 #USPHLAlumni Skated In College Hockey In 2021-22
By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com, 06/17/22, 3:15PM EDT
With college hockey back in full swing in 2021-22, the revitalized (and expanded) college landscape reopened to some of the best USPHL alumni in the nearly 10-year history of the league. The 2022-23 season will, in fact, mark the 10th anniversary of the USPHL’s inaugural season of 2013-14.
More than 3,100 USPHL alumni – from all levels of USPHL Midget and Junior Hockey – hit the ice for teams at all divisions of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), College Hockey Federation (CHF) and U Sports, of Canada.
Several hours of research were undertaken by USPHL Media staff that involved reviewing college hockey rosters and utilizing the fantastic “Where Are They Now” tool on EliteProspects.com. From there, USPHL staff removed duplicate players, those who played in more than one USPHL league, in order to count each individual college hockey player only once.
The Tuition-Free Tier II NCDC featured more than 390 individuals who had played exclusively in the NCDC prior to moving on to college hockey for 2021-22. Including players who had also played in other USPHL levels, that number climbs to 754.
Just over 1,000 individuals who had only played in the USPHL Premier skated in college hockey in 2021-22, and another 500 came out of the USPHL Elite only. Including players who had played in additional USPHL levels, the combined number for Premier and Elite was closer to 2,400.
There were more than 1,360 advancements by players who have skated in any or all of the USPHL Midget Divisions (18U, 16U and 15U – as well as the 15U predecessor, 16U Futures) to skate in college hockey in 2021-22. Removing duplicates of players who moved between leagues, the number of individuals playing college hockey who played in just the USPHL Midget Divisions tops 1,000.
For the 2021-22 season, there were over 300 college commitments from all levels of the USPHL, including more than 90 from the NCDC, including 32 advancing to the NCAA Division I level.
To learn more about how you can become part of the USPHL, go to USPHL.com/Tryouts for contact information for every Member Organization as well as information on upcoming camps.
Congrats goes out to the Lady Eels as they went 3-1 at the Women’s Chowder Cup last week The girls advanced to the Semi-Finals What an outstanding job. Great job Coach Dan and all the girls who competed in this event. We are very proud of them.
High energy forward/defensemen JJ Diaz inks his return to the the Florida Eels. JJ was a catalyst last season as he often sparked his team into its high tempo game. JJ was a key component to the Eels Elite team’s 23 game winning streak and take over the Florida Division for its 1st place title, playoff sweep and advancement to Nationals.
JJ is a veteran who will be bringing 2 full seasons of junior experience to the line up this season. He bleeds Eels and has completely bought into the Eels culture. He brings enormous energies, determination and fortitude every time he comes to the rink, at practice, in games and during work outs. He is committed to win and has some unfinished business and is driven to get there.
Keep up with the freshest news & the exciting games of your favorite PREMIER & Elite USPHL teams!
