Category: Uncategorized

USPHL Elite Players Of The Week: South Region

By USPHL Staff, 12/23/21, 3:15PM EST

 

Week of Dec. 23, 2021

Forward: Owen Norman, Potomac Patriots

Florida Division

Forward: Jayden Price, Atlanta MadHatters

Price (‘04/Woodstock, Ga.) is a rising talent in the Elite Division, posting two goals and one assist at the USPHL Florida College Showcase. He scored a shorthanded goal against Potomac and had a 1-1-2 line against a strong Charlotte Rush side as well. Overall, Price has 26 points in 27 games.

 

Defense: Braeden Bzovey, Florida Eels

The Eels put together a strong 3-1 run at the Florida Showcase, with Bzovey standing tall on the blue line. He put up a goal and four assists over the four days, offensively, and he was a +2 with four hits as well in the showcase. Bzovey is tied for sixth in defenseman scoring with Chase Waiman with 22 points in 26 games.

 

Goaltender: Matthew Schoer, Florida Eels

Schoer (‘01/Long Valley, N.J.) stopped 54 of 58 shots against him in two games at the USPHL Florida College Showcase, earning wins against the Islanders Hockey Club and Carolina Jr. Hurricanes. She is 8-2-0-0 with a 1.60 goals against average and a .950 save percentage.

The league also thanks the many college coaches who made the trip to view and recruit its outstanding student-athletes. From the NCAA Division III ranks, this included representatives from Albertus Magnus College, Arcadia University, Aurora University, Bethel University, Johnson and Wales University, King’s College, Lebanon Valley College, Neumann University, SUNY-Oswego, Rivier University, Salem State University, Southern New Hampshire University, Stevenson University, and Utica College and UMass-Dartmouth. Representing their ACHA teams were coaches from Dakota College-Bottineau, Indiana Tech, Lake Superior State University, Lawrence Tech, Marian University, Midland University, the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University. American International College sent a coach representing their NCAA Division I and ACHA teams, as well.

 

 

It was an incredible few weeks for the Florida Eels Elite players. They did phenomenal at the Florida College Showcase going 3-0 against some of the best teams in the entire USPHL Elite Divisions. This showcase has traditionally not been a friend of the Eels Elite program. For 3 years in row the Eels have not won a game at this event. But the curse was not only snaped it was obliterated! Indeed, the Eels Elite came out on fire and their efforts at the showcase and performances all season thus far have been noticed by the decision makers. There were 30  plus college scouts in attendance at the showcase and many of the Eels players garnered the attention of these college recruiters.

 

The games were very competitive. The Eels had a tough draw facing Hampton-former National Champs, the Islanders Hockey Club out of Boston, 1st place in their Division, the Charlotte Rush, last year reigning National Champs, and the Carolina Hurricanes tied for 1st place in the prestigious Southern Division and always National contender. The Eels did what they have been doing all season: Out work their opponents, take nothing for granted, shatter any concept of complacency, and lastly obliterate the notion of entitlement.  Moreover, they had to do this without their top two defensemen, Nick Corbett – out with a major concussion and Neil Campbell out with a serious upper raspatory infection. And they had to do it without their top forward Spencer Carpenter, out with a series of facial injuries.

 

The Eels defeated Hampton in game one 3-1. Then took down the  1st place Northern Division leaders IHC 5-3. These two were clear cogent and convincing wins. No doubt anyone watching these games were very impressed with the Eels speed, skill set and cohesiveness of the squad. They showed unwavering commitment to win and drive. College scouts took notice and hovered over our guys as future and present prospects. Then they met their first hiccup. The Charlotte Rush.  Simply put the Eels had a bad game. No sugar coating it. It happens.  You could say they were lost in the euphoria of the Premier Nationals re-match of the Rush and the Eels, or the fact they were playing the National champs etc. But we did not play well regardless, and the Rush did. We left that game a better team. We learned from the mistakes. In fact, you learn twice as much from your losses than wins. And that we did. We regrouped and analyzed the issues and inequities and took it to the next match. And that we did. The very next morning the Eels faced off against the Southern Division leaders the Carolina Hurricanes. An incredibly well-structured team who play an extremely disciplined game with a plethora of talent and weapons. Many thought the Eels did not have a prayer against the Cains. Well the Eels thought differently.

In this game you saw another Eels team. Back to business.  They came out in the 1st period with ground forces like soldiers hitting the beach. We played a very physical game along the boards. Hitting everything that moved. In the 2nd period we went in our aural attack and swamped them with a systematic and continuous assault on their goalie with shot after shot with a resounding 5-1 clear win. In the 3rd period we set up a stone wall defensively and completely shut down the Canis counter attack. Our goaltending was incredible with Matt Schoer and once again the Scouts took notice.

The Eels Elite players are off for the Christmas break and will be heading to Boston for the USPHL Main Showcase to take on many of the top teams from the North and Atlantic Divisions. They are a determined group and will take extra efforts to do whatever it takes to perform well. Up in Boston as in Florida the Eels will be practicing aside their games. We do not believe it is enough to simply play games. The Eels invest in practices. We will be doing 2-3 practices, playing extra scrimmage games, touring colleges and watching U-Mass vs Worcester State College games.  Sure these extra items are taxing but sure speak volumes in the Eels players’ development. We submit it shows.

Well folks the Eels Premier team did what they do best and that is win another big one last night over the Jr Blades. The Eels are now in sole possession of 1st place with 18 wins for 37 points in only 22 games. In 2nd is Tampa who have played 25 games and have 33 points. The Blades in 3rd with 21 games and have only 17 points. Both Palm Beach and Atlanta have only 10 points battling for that 4th playoff spot.

More than the win it was how the Eels played. Think about it. This Blades team is one of the most improved squads in the Division. They played the Eels tough taking us into OT. But to appreciate how well the Eels played you have to think about who was not in the line up. Now that tells the entire story. 3-4 key players and the Eels played at the level they performed.

This was the Eels last game before the Showcase next week. The Eels will have several days of practice to hone in their skills and get everyone on board and ready for the key games against their Southeast foes.

Scoring last night went as follows:

Florida Eels 3 (OT) at Florida Junior Blades 2 – Status: Final OT1
Thursday, December 9, 2021 – Hertz Arena

Florida Eels 1 1 0 1 – 3
Florida Junior Blades 0 1 1 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Florida Eels, Budgell 9 (Kiyawasew, Haddon-Harris), 12:29 (PP). Penalties-Crawford Fjb (cross-checking), 11:38.

2nd Period-2, Florida Junior Blades, Weitzel 6 (Pappas, Clark), 10:49. 3, Florida Eels, Hambling 4 (Haddon-Harris), 19:51. Penalties-Hambling Eel (boarding), 5:25; Kiyawasew Eel (elbowing), 8:31; Ketola Fjb (indirect head contact), 11:33; McCormick Eel (interference), 14:33.

3rd Period-4, Florida Junior Blades, McLaughlin 5 (Crawford, Weitzel), 2:32. Penalties-No Penalties

1st OT Period-5, Florida Eels, Kiyawasew 11   1:16. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Florida Eels 10-14-17-4-45. Florida Junior Blades 6-16-12-0-34.
Power Play Opportunities-Florida Eels 1 / 0; Florida Junior Blades 0 / 0.
Goalies-Florida Eels, Caron 11-1-0-0 (34 shots-32 saves). Florida Junior Blades, Carabelli 3-5-2-0 (45 shots-42 saves).