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Congrats Goes Out To The Florida Eels Elite Team on Their Incredible Win over the Mad Hatters

Folks it was a clear and convincing win over the Atlanta Mad Hatters on Friday evening. Yes, but it wasn’t the score that made this game so phenomenal. These guys traveled from Fort Myers to Atlanta. But the trip was delayed by 4 hours. The team sat in traffic in Tampa for 3 hours. Then again, I north of Tampa for another hour. The anxiety and frustration was all surrounding the players. The game time was changed by the Mad Hatters to help with the delay. The boys got off the bus had a quick sandwich protein shake and no time for off-ice warm up. Right into the game.

Some teams would have been totally disoriented and unfocused. Well as the coaching staff put it “You have two choices…. you can use this as an excuse and complain you are tired…dead legs and not ready….or you could come out like you never were more ready for a game in your life.  You can unleash the wrath of god on the offense, engage the most aggressive and suffocating fore-check and help or goalie with a smothering defense….” Well, we were so proud of guys says GM Frank Scarpaci. They showed enormous determination composure, and fortitude. Coach Mitch echoed , we out shot them 47-31. The first period set the tone…. We had 17-7. Period 2 had no let down….17-15 and the 3rd period we had 13-9. In fact, those were the official numbers Our stat person had us at 22 shots in both period 1 and 2.

This was an extremely satisfying win. Again, not because we won but in the way we play. The resilience and character and effort of all the guys. We were indeed impressed. It was a reflection in the way we train. When faced with adversity, you don’t shy away. You take the bull by the horn and overcome the obstacles. Life is full of situations like these and it is how you react to them. Our boys made us proud.

Scoring went as follows:

Florida Eels 4 at Atlanta Mad Hatters 1 – Status: Final
Friday, November 5, 2021 – Atlanta Ice House

Florida Eels 0 2 2 – 4
Atlanta Mad Hatters 0 1 0 – 1

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Heidel Atl (tripping), 7:59; Carpenter Eel (hooking), 13:02.

2nd Period-1, Atlanta Mad Hatters, Price 7 (Kostun), 2:04. 2, Florida Eels, Evanyk 2 (Colton, Carpenter), 2:51. 3, Florida Eels, Evanyk 3 (Carpenter), 11:52. Penalties-Krutz Atl (cross-checking), 6:17; Kostun Atl (tripping), 9:27; Price Atl (tripping), 13:51; Ward Eel (elbowing), 19:18.

3rd Period-4, Florida Eels, Bzovey 6 (Colton, ClIngerman), 5:23 (PP). 5, Florida Eels, Carpenter 5 (Rioux, Dominique), 5:49 (PP). Penalties-Crabb Atl (roughing), 3:36; Heidel Atl (tripping), 4:46; Crabb Atl (roughing), 7:14; ClIngerman Eel (cross-checking), 11:28; Robb Eel (tripping), 12:18; Crabb Atl (misconduct-dispute referee’s judgment/ruling), 17:22.

Shots on Goal-Florida Eels 17-17-13-47. Atlanta Mad Hatters 7-15-9-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Florida Eels 2 / 0; Atlanta Mad Hatters 0 / 0.
Goalies-Florida Eels, Dulac 1-2-0-0 (31 shots-30 saves). Atlanta Mad Hatters, Dees 3-6-0-1 (47 shots-43 saves).

Eels Premier Team Dominates Mad Hatters in Game 1 of 3 game Weekend.

A 6 point game for Taurin  Haddon-Harris, a second Hat Trick in 2 games for Collin Patterson and a 3 point game for Trevor Voyda and an incredible performance by Duncan Rolleman in net gives a snap shot of last night’s performance. This was not an ordinary game. Like the Elite squad these guys traveled from Fort Myers to Atlanta but the trip was marred with a 3 hour delay in traffic in Tampa. A complete standstill. Then another 1 hour after Tampa. The anxiety level was at an al time high. The Mad Hatters were gracious and accommodating with changing the game time to help resolve the timing of the schedule.

The boys had to regroup upon arrival. Shake it off and get focused and that they did. No time for excuses. This was the cards they had, and they had to forge through and shed off the dead legs and get their game face on. And that they did. The boys showed what hard work at practice and mental conditioning was. They prepared for adversity. These are life lessons. And needed to preserve.

The boys came out on fire. An unleashing of their Eels fore-check to be equally fortified by their patterned suffocating back checking. When called upon to produce the Eels power play kicked in with precision. It was faulting of late but it all came together last night. It was surprising how fast the boys played. It looked like the Hatters were tired and the Eels kept pressing. The Eels were discipline in trying to refrain from penalties. It was a solid performance. Again, the barometer here wasn’t just the win or the score. It was the resilience and determination put forth after the adversity presented.

Scoring was as follows:

Florida Eels 7 at Atlanta Mad Hatters 2 – Status: Final
Friday, November 5, 2021 – Atlanta Ice House

Florida Eels 3 2 2 – 7
Atlanta Mad Hatters 1 1 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Florida Eels, Patterson 8 (Voyda, Haddon-Harris), 8:21 (PP). 2, Florida Eels, Voyda 2 (Haddon-Harris, Patterson), 9:53. 3, Florida Eels, Patterson 9 (Gaudet), 15:03 (SH). 4, Atlanta Mad Hatters, Gallagher 4 (Zamborsky), 18:18. Penalties-Depencier Atl (hitting from behind), 7:54; Phillips Eel (major -hitting from behind, game misconduct), 11:37; Hambling Eel (cross-checking), 12:41.

2nd Period-5, Florida Eels, Patterson 10 (Haddon-Harris, Svoboda), 3:04. 6, Atlanta Mad Hatters, Durrett 3 (Grajewski, Gallagher), 4:25. 7, Florida Eels, Moore 2 (Haddon-Harris, Voyda), 5:46 (PP). Penalties-Whelton Atl (cross-checking), 4:50; Zamborsky Atl (hooking), 6:34; Gallagher Atl (tripping), 9:56; Graham Atl (slashing), 13:57; DavIdson Eel (roughing), 17:20; Shepherd Eel (roughing), 17:20; Cunningham Atl (roughing), 17:20; Gallagher Atl (roughing), 17:20.

3rd Period-8, Florida Eels, Hambling 2 (Haddon-Harris), 14:42. 9, Florida Eels, Haddon-Harris 7 (Moore, Kiyawasew), 17:44. Penalties-Hambling Eel (elbowing), 0:58; Gallagher Atl (misconduct-dispute referee’s judgment/ruling), 2:20; Hambling Eel (hooking), 6:14; Karlstrom Eel (slashing), 11:00; Gallagher Atl (roughing), 16:46.

Shots on Goal-Florida Eels 10-10-12-32. Atlanta Mad Hatters 13-9-8-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Florida Eels 2 / 0; Atlanta Mad Hatters 0 / 0.
Goalies-Florida Eels, Rolleman 4-1-0-1 (30 shots-28 saves). Atlanta Mad Hatters, Snellenburg 2-5-0-0 (32 shots-25 saves).

The Florida Eels Elite team defeats the Mad Hatters 4-2 in game two of their 3 game series. The Eels won game one 4-1 on Friday evening and came back today once again with an aggressive forecheck and equally smothered the Mad Hatters defensively to thaw any sustained attack on the Eels goaltender. When tested,  Eels netminder Jake Mork did what he is known to do – turn away shooter after shooter. The Eels outshot the Mad Hatters 50 to 30 putting 4 behind the Mad Hatters goalie.

The win brings the Eels within 2 points of the first place Tampa Juniors. Both the Eels and Tampa play again Sunday so it is critical for the Eels to take home another win over the Mad Hatters. This will be the Eels and Mad Hatters  3rd game of the weekend series. Sunday’s drop of puck is 9:15 am.

Scoring went as follows:

Florida Eels 4 at Atlanta Mad Hatters 2 – Status: Final
Saturday, November 6, 2021 – Atlanta Ice House

Florida Eels 2 1 1 – 4
Atlanta Mad Hatters 1 0 1 – 2

1st Period-1, Florida Eels, Carpenter 6 (Allen), 4:25. 2, Atlanta Mad Hatters, Spears 7 (Price), 11:23. 3, Florida Eels, Bzovey 7 (Engles, ClIngerman), 16:35 (PP). Penalties-Ward Eel (holding), 2:13; Krutz Atl (high-sticking), 15:27.

2nd Period-4, Florida Eels, Evanyk 4 (Dominique, Carpenter), 12:56. Penalties-Brazeau Atl (slashing), 8:35; Brazeau Atl (tripping), 11:46; ClIngerman Eel (roughing), 12:24; Kostun Atl (roughing), 12:24; Corbett Eel (cross-checking), 13:22; Brazeau Atl (delay of game), 19:02.

3rd Period-5, Florida Eels, Dominique 5 (ClIngerman), 7:57. 6, Atlanta Mad Hatters, Brazeau 4 (Kostun), 16:44. Penalties-Brazeau Atl (hooking), 2:12; Ingalls Eel (tripping), 10:21; Crabb Atl (roughing), 15:29; Carpenter Eel (elbowing), 19:33; Price Atl (interference), 19:33.

Shots on Goal-Florida Eels 16-18-16-50. Atlanta Mad Hatters 9-9-12-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Florida Eels 1 / 0; Atlanta Mad Hatters 0 / 0.
Goalies-Florida Eels, Mork 6-0-0-0 (30 shots-28 saves). Atlanta Mad Hatters, Pelletier 2-3-0-0 (50 shots-46 saves).

Tonight, the Florida Eels Elite team take on the Florida Jr Blades in a midweek early evening game at 5:30 pm at the Fort Myers Skatium. It is a single game night where the Elite team exclusively host the Blades. This is the first of 4 games the Elite team will be playing over the next 5 days.

The Eels sit in 2nd place having played 11 games with 16 points behind the Tampa Juniors with 22 points. Tampa has played in 17 games. That is 6 more than the Eels. The Jr Blades are  in 3rd place also with 16 points but they have played 15 games. Hence you can see how important tonight’s game is for the Eels in the standings. The Eels are looking to gain some ground on Tampa and narrow the gap. A win here would put the Eels at 18 points just 4 points behind Tampa. Equally important it would give some daylight over the Jr Blades.

The Eels are coming off a very impressive 7-0 win over Tampa. This wasn’t just a win. It was the Elite team’s best game of the year. Moreover, it was a solid and convincing win over the Division leader and one of the best teams in the Elite Division in the USPHL. Additionally, the boys felt good not just with that win but with their practices over Monday and Tuesday. It was two very impressive days of hard work and accomplishment. Indeed, the tea was dialed in with their additional off ice videos and gym sessions.

The Jr Blades split their 2 games against the Atlanta Mad Hatters last weekend. They lost Saturday 6-2 and ironically came back with a 6-3 win on Sunday. The prior weekend they had won one game against the Mad Hatters at home and lost one game.  One week prior they lost to Tampa 6-2 and lost to the Typhoon 6-5. However, they too defeated the Tampa Juniors 4-2 but got crushed by Tampa 9-3 on October 1. How do you read the Blades? It is very difficult. They are inconsistent from day-to-day game to game and week to week. Thye have proven the can defeat any of the other teams in the Florida Division: Except the Eels where they susutaied a Signiant hammering back in September. But this is not a team to take lightly or for granted They downed Richmond, the Jr Hurricanes, Potomac and Hampton at the Southern Showcase. So they are dangerous. We always know they bring their A game against the Eels.

The Eels have a number of players on fire right now. Some very hot hands and they are producing some solid goals and assists. But they also have others equally productive in their roles in shutting opponents down. They have a entire set of guys whose job it is to disrupt the other teams scoring and play. They create a plethora of loose puck turn overs, interceptions, and smother and suffocate their opponents both on the fore-check and back check. These intangibles is what wins games. Our goaltending from all 3 netminders has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Hence, we see tonight’s game as one that is quite exciting and in the spirit of the games against the Jr Blades extremely spirited and competitive. Both teams have a lot riding on today’s results. Both teams are hungry and thirsting to gain ground.  Join us live puck drop at 5:30 pm at the Skatium. Otherwise on HockeyTV.