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Florida Eels Elite team had an impressive opening weekend, as they claim the weekend with two wins against the Atlanta Mad Hatters. Florida Eels Elite put their three weeks of intensive pre- season training to the test this past weekend, as they opened with a double header against the Atlanta Mad Hatters. Eels veterans and newcomers alike were dialed in and focused as they prepared for this weekends’ events, and were ready to make it known the Florida Eels Elite intends to be a contender this season.

Game One Recap:

Opening weekend for the Florida Eels Elite began on Saturday September 14, 2024 with the puck drop at 7:00 pm. The Florida Eels gained an extraordinary 6-2 WIN over the Mad Hatters. With New Jeresey native, Ethan Rotante, between the pipes for the first time this season for the Florida Eels, the players lined up to take the ice. The game opened with the first goal of the season scored at 16:08 in the first by rookie, former Florida Warrior, Dominick Dantona, assisted by Ty Elzinga and Colin McMahon. The Atlanta Mad Hatters responded with their first goal at 19:22 scored by Andrew Hale. The game was tied 1-1 at the end of the first. At 2:46 in the second period, four-year Eels veteran, and Canadian native Jackson Carnes scored the second point for the Florida Eels, goal assisted by Paxton Campbell and Asher Hamlin. Goal three was grabbed by the Florida Eels at 9:35 of the second period, scored by Swedish native and Eels rookie, Filip Nyberg, goal assisted by Yiorgos Bikakis and Dominic Doyle. Eels fourth goal was secured at 15:43 of the second period, scored by Eels Rookie and Central Florida native, Asher Hamlin assisted by Tyson Gagnon. The Eels lead the game 4-1 at the end of the second period. At 7:05 in the third, Eels second year veteran and South Florida native, Zayn Haddon-Harris , assisted by Sam Kleimen-Lee and Jackson Carnes, slid the puck into the net to secure the Eels fifth goal of the game. At 13:23 in the third period, Eels rookie and Candian native, Konnor Betrand, assisted by Yiorgos Bikakis, and Dominc Doyle secured the Eels sixth and final goal of the night. The Mad Hatters, grabbed their second goal of the evening, scored by Joseph Rebone at 16:31. The Eels secured a predominant 6-2 over the Mad Hatters, and the ignition was lit.

Game Two Recap:

After an impressive lead on Saturday morning. the Florida Eels Elite returned on Sunday, September 15^th, 2024 to take on the Atlanta Mad Hatters. The Eels had a fire in their blood, and an ache in their bones to grab, the second win-sweeping the Atlanta Mad Hatters in the opening weekend. This time, Eels Goaltender and Bulgarian native, Filip Vitanov, was set between the pipes and players lined up to face off. At 1:06 in the first the Atlanta Mad Hatters Ethan Barber, scored the first goal of the game and grabbed the lead over the Eels. At 4:06 in the first the Eels responded as Florida native, Robert Gull assisted by Stepan Kuznets, and Tyson Gagnon tied the game 1-1. At 6:06 in the first period, Eels second year veteran and Fort Myers native, Dominic Doyle assisted by Filip Nyberg and Yiorgos Bikakis, scored the Eels second goal. Eels now in the lead 2-1. At 12:03 in the first Canadian native, Tyson Gagnon assisted by Stepan Kuzents and Sam Kleimen-Lee grabbed the Eels third goal, taking the Eels lead 3-1. The Atlanta Mad Hatters, responded at 14:03 in the first period, when Onrii Dalgity, scored the second goal for the Atlanta Mad Haters. The game was at a close 3-2 at the end of the first period. As the second period began, the Atlanta Mad Hatters Andrew Hale scored, tying up the game at 2:47. At 13:07, Atlanta Mad Hatters, Onrii Dalgity grabbed his second goal of the game, and the Atlanta Mad Hatters gained the lead, for the first time over the Florida Eels. However, second year veteran and Central Florida native, Yiorgos Bikakis, assisted by Zachary Bahret and Filip Nyberg, responed quickly at 13:41 tying up the game once again. At the end of the second the Florida Eels and the Atlanta Mad Hatters were locked into a stalemate 4-4. Both teams came out ready, and determined to take the game victory in the third period. At 6:39, four-year veteran and Canadian native, Jackson Carnes assisted by Paxton Campbell and Robert Gull claimed the Eels fifth goal. The Eels maintained the lead for the remainder of the game, winning 5-4 against the Atlanta Mad Hatters.

The Florida Eels veterans and newcomers alike made their presence known as they scored a total of 11 goals, over the course of two games. New talent flourished as returning talents continued to prove their worth on the ice. It should be noted that the Mad Hatters squad was solid. This was one of the best Elite teams the Florida Eels have played against from Atlanta over the last several years. Their players had solid skill set and were very disciplined. These were not easy games. We were very proud of the Eels determination fortitude and unwavering focus to stay the course.  It was an impressive showing of the Eels ability to dominate and overcome obstacles to come back and win strong. The Eels Elite definitely left their mark, stating they will be a team to contend with this season. The Eels Elite, will play their next games in a little over a week, when they head to the Southeast Showcase in Virginia.

Get ready for an adrenaline-pumping showdown as the Florida Eels take on the Atlanta Mad Hatters in their Season and Home Openers! This weekend, on September 14th and 15th, witness the clash between two powerhouse teams in the USPHL Florida Division. The Eels are back for their 21st season, ready to dominate the competition once again. With a history of finishing at the top of their division and making impressive playoff runs, the Eels are gearing up for an epic showdown. This season brings a wave of new talent from around the globe, adding to the excitement and anticipation. Join us at the rink this weekend to welcome the new players, reconnect with returning veterans, and kick off what promises to be another unforgettable season. The Eels have been training hard and are eager to carve out their own path and continue the legacy of success. Don’t miss out on the action! Game times for the Premier and Elite teams will be announced soon. Get ready to witness the passion, determination, and pure hockey magic as the Eels set the ice on fire this season.

September 14, 2024

Premier 4:00 pm

Elite 7:00 pm

September 15, 2024

Elite 9:00 am

Premier 12:00 pm

We are so excited about the start of the season, but we know that you are anxiously awaiting when your player can return home for a break. Please note the following times are alloted for your players return home:

11/23/ 2024-12/1/2024. Players must return back on the 1st, as all practices and workouts will continue on 12/2/2024 as normal.

12/23/2024-12/31/2024. Players need to return back on 1/1/2025 at the latest!

Players are expected to be at practice on 1/2/2025, no exceptions. As we prepare for the Tampa Showcase. 

We know you are excited to make tickets for your player to join your family for the hoildays, please note that players are expected to adhere to the following break schedule and exceptions will not be allowed. Thank you so much.

Press Release from the USPHL

Season Opener: Sept. 14 vs. Atlanta MadHatters

The Eels certainly welcomed the new competition presented by the Bold City Battalion and were locked for much of the season in a fight for first in the regular season with their new rivals in Jacksonville and the Tampa Bay Juniors as well.

The Eels, with a long history of development and advancement to their name, are ready to come back for another go-round with the above teams and all other opponents in their multi-pronged mission of on-ice and advancement success.

“Our expectations for our group remain the same as they’ve been for years: get our way of working established when it comes to our practice and day to day and focus on getting better,” said Head Coach Frank Scarpaci III. “We want to win a lot of games and push for a Florida Division and National title, but that all starts with our Monday through Friday. There are a lot of new players, a lot of room for growth, and we just want steady progression to make a push at the end of the season.”

The Eels may have a number of new players, but they will be led on the ice by forward Anthony Zebley, entering his fourth Premier season and fifth overall Eels campaign.Fellow veterans include ‘04 defensemen Brendan Dohan and Jack Daher, as well as ‘05 forward Teddy Feng. All the returning veterans “have taken a significant step in their game,” said Coach Scarpaci.

From around the USPHL, the Eels have also welcomed in veterans Seth Morris, Owen Peters, Robin Kuusik and Ian Dracoulis.

“They all have quality junior experience within our league and we expect them to grab a hold of big roles this upcoming season,” added Scarpaci. “We’re also lucky enough to have some experienced goaltenders Russ Decoste (from the NOJHL) and Noah van Herik (NA3HL), both coming from other leagues, as well.”

The Premier team is also excited to be bringing up forward Alex Cochran and Reid Wilson from the Eels’ USPHL Elite squad.

“They know the organization and structure so far and have adjusted to the pace through practice so far,” added Scarpaci.

The Eels always spend a ton of hours, days and really months doing the work of recruiting and scouting, so don’t be surprised to see newcomers playing a big part in the Eels’ fortunes this year.

“We definitely have more youth this year, and that’s exciting for us,” said Scarpaci. “Some new, young energy is exciting for us so far. The ’06 trio of Xavier Charron, Kaler Ashton and EHL veteran Fernando Moreno have had an excellent camp and have added some depth to our group.”

The Florida Eels are to finish their appearance in the Chowder Cup series at the Pro Am Junior Chowder Cup this weekend. The Eels have made appearances at both the Mini Chowder Cup and the Senior Chowder cup over the past few weeks, and are excited about another completive weekend of hockey.

The Eels will begin their showcase run, with a practice and scrimmage to better prepare players for the upcoming games. The Eels staff have been working long and hard, at evaluating players from around the globe and helping them advance their careers both at the junior level and collegiate level. With a highly qualified staff, the Eels are able to help players find the best place for their future hockey dreams.

As participatants of the Junior Chowder Cup gear up for the weekend, we urge that you continue to check the official Pro Am Chowder Cup website, for game updates and changes. As game times, locations and opponents are subject to change per the Pro Am Chowder Cup administration discretion. You can continue to check for updates at:

https://proamhockey.com

The Eels look forward to finishing strong in the Chowder Cup series this weekend. Let’s Go

Florida Eels take part in the 40^th Anniversary of the Pro Am Senior Chowder Cup Series in Massachusetts. The Florida Eels have three teams participating in the Pro Am Senior Chowder Cup Summer event, one in the Junior A Division and two teams in the College Open. Players from around North America and Europe come together to showcase their talents for the Florida Eels, Junior Coaches, and College Scouts.

Players for the Eels teams began yesterday with a series of practices and scrimmages to help better prepare them for the weekend events. Games for the Pro Am Senior Chowder Cup began today, Thursday, July 18th, 2024, with the Championships on Sunday, July 21^st, 2024. The Florida Eels expect to be competitive in the showcase.

The Florida Eels have been a staple in the Pro Am Chowder Cup series, dating back to the General Manager, Frank Scarpaci’s, participation with the Rhode Island Sharks and the Jr New England Whalers in the early 90s, before entering the Florida Eels teams over the past decade. General Manager Scarpaci states, “it’s an honor to be part of such an exceptional event. The Pro Am Chowder Cup Series provides a great opportunity for the Eels coaching staff to see and evaluate players from all over the world, while providing participants with continued exposure to colleges.” The Eels are known for their high-level competitive play and their advancement of 100s (365 with the Florida Eels Junior Hockey program alone) of players to college. General Manager Scarpaci states, “my players continue to have great success through their ability to showcase their talents in the Chowder Cup, allowing them incredible exposure to a plethora of college coaches, giving them a further advantage. In fact, 29 of our players advanced to college hockey this season.”

General Manager Frank Scarpaci and six of the Florida Eels coaching staff are present for the event, and look forward to seeing the participates of the Florida Eels Junior A and College Open teams compete over the next few days. Although, the Eels always aim for success, they measure their success not just by the scores on the scoreboard but by the number of players they have placed in college over the years. They are excited to see who will be added to this “score card”.

The Florida Eels have put a record number of players in college and university hockey over the last decade, 365 to be exact. This year alone the Florida Eels have placed 29 players in NCAA, ACHA, and AAU collegiate hockey. The Eels are an esteemed organization that is known for their player development, and ability to find the right fit for their players post junior hockey.

Although, highly competitive, having made over 7 USPHL National appearances finishing either as Semi-Finalists, or Finalists in the last four years, the Eels pride themselves on something even greater: preparing players for their future hockey careers. The Eels have no doubt been very successful and are ranked highly in North American Hockey, drawing players in from all around the world: Sweden, Czech Republic, France, China to name just a few, they are also amongst the top at college placement.

The Florida Eels competitive in nature sit in the top tier in the country and in the Southern Region of Hockey. The United States Premier Hockey League, like the Florida Eels, prides itself in its ability to help players fulfill their college dreams. This 2023-2024 season, the USPHL has placed 319 players in NCAA, ACHA, and AAU hockey (252 from the Premier Division and 67 from the Elite Division).

The Eels are thrilled for another great season and getting our players ready for their futures.

The Florida Eels are excited to announce the college commitment of forward/defenseman and former Premier Captain Maverick Crupi to the University of Pittsburgh for the 2024-2025 season. Crupi played three seasons in the USPHL, the Charlotte Rush (21-22) before transferring to the Florida Eels mid-season, where he remained for the duration of his junior career (22-24). During his USPHL tenure Crupi stared in 124 games, had 41 goals, with 78 assists and a total of 119 points.

Crupi was the essential team player and truly played with tremendous passion, and heart each game. As Captain, Crupi lead the Eels Premier to a USPHL National appearance, where they finished as Semi-Finalists in 2023-2024. Crupi made additional appearances at the USPHL Nationals during his other two seasons with the Florida Eels. Crupi instilled the ethics, and morals of the Eels into the new players and returning players alike reminding them that it takes work, dedication, passion, and drive.

However, it wasn’t just Maverick’s on-ice presence that was felt by the Eels community, it was his charismatic nature with the young fans that was felt throughout the Eels Nation. Maverick often volunteered his time with the youth programs at the Fort Myers Skatium in Fort Myers, helping the hockey players of the future develop their skills, and passions. Crupi made an impact on all that came in his path and he will be missed by Eels Nation this season.

The Eels wish Maverick much success in his collegiate career at the University of Pittsburgh!

Florida Eels are excited to announce the college commitment of Dario Zikto to the University of Victoria in Canada for the 2024-2025 season. Zitko played two seasons in the USPHL Premier, Richmond Generals (22-23) and The Florida Eels (23-24). During his USPHL career Dario played in 60 games, scored 18 goals, had 22 assists, with a total of 40 points.

Zitko was a skilled forward for the Eels who trained hard and put in the work to continue his growth as a player. Dario the Canadian native will return to home to Canada to continue his hockey career at the University of Victoria. The Florida Eels wish him the best in his collegiate career.