Florida Eels Elite Team Close Out USPHL December Showcase with an Impressive 3-1 Record

The Eels Elite team did incredible over the weekend showcase spotting 3 wins and 1 loss against the Southern and Massachusetts rivals. This was the Eels Elite team best record at the December showcase in quite some time. The guys played very hard and took it to them shift by shift period by period and game by game. There was only one hiccup against the Rush but seeing the way they played against Hampton, The Islanders Hockey Club and their most impressive performance against the Carolina Hurricanes, you can see they would like to have another go against the Rush. All the guys came to play and left everything on the ice. The Hurricanes were the most disciplined team we faced all season and have a tough structure but the Eels found a way to win. Moreover, they took down the mighty IHC who has a lock on 1st place in the incredibly strong North Division.

 

Many of the Eels players were talked to by a host of NCAA and ACHA college coaches and recruiters at the Showcase. In fact the Eels held a practice on Friday during the showcase at its own rink and several college coaches came to watch the practice. Each of the college coaches held a meeting with the entire Elite team to discuss their program with all  of the players and spoke individually to many of the last year players. The Eels were the only team to have garnered this attention. It was especially nice for our guys.

 

The Eels are now off for the Christmas break and will all return January 2nd to prepare for the Main USPHL Showcase in Boston. The Eels Elite will be practicing back here in Fort Myers before they embark on their bus trip. When they arrive in Boston they will be practicing as well and taking on the Bridgewater Bandits, visiting Worcester Rink, attending a NCAA Div. 3 game between NCAA Div. 3 Worcester and U Mass Dartmouth. A conference with Thomas college and visiting several other colleges and practicing at another college facility.  Info to be sent out soon.

 

Here are the results of the Showcase

Eels Defeated Hampton 3-1

Eels Defeated IHC 5-3

Rush over the Eels 4-0

Eels Defeated Cains 5-1

Florida Eels Showcase Ice Cap: Florida Eels Premier Team has 2 Wins 1 OTL and a 1 SOL to come out with a possible 6 of 8 Points in The December Showcase

These 4 games were intense as they come. The Eels lost in OT in game one against First Place Hampton Road Whalers. The Whalers are I 1st place in an incredibly tough division. The Eels dropped the IHC also in 1st place in their Division in OT. Then in one of the best game of the season the Eels lost in a shoot out to the Rush. In their last game of the Showcase the Eels defeated the Hurricanes who are tied with Hampton for 1st

 

These were “Play-off” quality of games. 3 of the games went into OT and that says it all. Every second of every shift was key. The Eels players gave every ounce of energy and it  took every player to compete at his best. The college coaches spoke with so many of our last year guys. It was great.

 

The Eels Premier players also practiced during the showcase having one day off. There the college coaches came to watch its practices and meet and greet the players. What special attention. While in Boston the Eels Premier team will have several practices, tour several college campuses, and attend NCAA Div. 3 game.

Its All About Advancing our Players to College. The Premier and Elite teams will be competing in 8 college showcase games in the next 6 weeks and going on several college tours.

Over the next month the Eels teams will be completing in the USPHL College Showcase in Florida, the Main USPHL Showcase in January in Marlboro Mass, practicing at various college ice rinks, visiting and touring several colleges, and playing some scrimmage games at some of the venues.

Starting this week – Thursday- We will be showcased in Florida in front of 30 college coaches in attendance.

While in the Boston area , January 6th we will showcased in front of 100+ college coaches. We will be visiting several campuses in Mass, New Hampshire, Maine and Penn

There will be a number of other exposures and visibility opportunities  for our players while at these venues.

These are excellent forums for our players to be seen and showcased. Over the past several weeks we have had extensive communication with a plethora of college coaches about our players and many players have been proactive in developing their highlight videos and have submitted applications to the colleges.

These are very exciting times for all of our players. The boys have been told of many of the other opportunities being given to them over the next several months

Eels Premier team Comes Up With a Solid Win Over Jr Blades

Their Smiles Tell The Entire Story

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).

Alex Caron Selected Player of the Week

Goaltender: Alexandre Caron, Florida Eels

The third-year Eel Caron (‘01/Sorel-Tracy, Que.) faced down the Tampa Bay Juniors and stopped 31 of 33 shots for a 6-2 win on Sunday to even up the weekend with Tampa. Caron improved to 9-1-0-0, as he avenged a Nov. 12 loss to Tampa, the only team to have beaten him this year.

Tonight Florida Eels vs the Jr Blades 9:00 pm

Come join us tonight as the Eels Premier team takes on the Florida Jr Blades. Game time 9:00 pm. The Eels are in 1st place where as the Blades sit in 3rd place behind the Tampa jars and ahead of 4th and 5th place Typhoons and Mad Hatters.

This is the Eels only game this weekend. They prepare of the upcoming USPHL Florida College Showcase next week at Hertz Arena

The Eels split against Tampa last weekend as did the Blades vs the Mad Hatters.

Join us tonight as the Eels are looking to gain some day light in their positioning in the standings.

Come Join The Eels For Their Last Homestand Before the Christmas Break

Come Join The Eels For Their Last Homestand Before the Christmas Break

 

The Florida Eels Elite and Premier teams square off against the Tampa Juniors tomorrow at the Fort Myers Skatium. This is the Eels last set of home games before the Christmas Break.  The Eels take on the Tampa Juniors to complete this weekend’s home and away series. On Friday both Eels teams lost to Tampa in very close games. The Eels teams have their chance to avenge their losses and get back on track before heading to the Florida College Showcase in 2 weeks.

 

The Eels Elite team faced adversity this  week as two of its players sustained serious injuries. Nick Corbett suffered a serious concussion during the Jr Blades game on Thursday evening  and then Spencer Carpenter incurred a major face, nose and cheek injuries last night against the Tampa Juniors. All of the players staff and Coaches witnessed these injuries, and they undoubtedly had an impact on both Eels teams. These boys are extremely close, and no doubt took a toll on all. The focus here by all is the health and safety of Nick and Spencer. We extend our thoughts good wishes and prayers to both boys and their families.

 

We are all extremely proud of the discipline and character demonstrated by all of our players and coaches during these extraordinary trying moments. It speaks volumes of our players character and resolve.

 

On Sunday you can be assured both the Eels Elite and Premier players will come out focused determined and committed to bring home wins. They are determined to show what they are made of and to showcase their fortitude and skill. Hence, join us Sunday Elite game 11:00 am drop of puck and Premier 1:15 pm.

Congrats to the 4 Florida Eels Premier Players Selected As USPHL Southeast Players of the Month for November

USPHL Premier Players Of The Month: South Region
By USPHL Staff, 12/03/21, 3:15PM EST

November 2021 Southeast Division

Forwards

Florida Division

Forwards

Taurin Haddon-Harris, Florida Eels

Another repeat Player Of The Month, Haddon-Harris is just such a standout talent not just because of the points he’s posted, but the consistency with which he has posted them. He is one of just 12 players league-wide to have crossed the 40-point mark already this year, and 26 of these have come in his last nine straight games. Eight of these games came in November, and saw 23 of his 26 points from the streak.

From October 31 through Nov. 10, he went through five straight games of scoring multiple points, culminating in a 1-5-6 line against the Atlanta MadHatters. He also had 2-5-7 in his final three games, all multi-point efforts, as he carries his hot streak into December.

Colin Patterson, Florida Eels

Another second-year Eel who joined Haddon-Harris in making it to the National Championship game last March, Patterson has already matched his 27 points of the entire 2020-21 season in just 19 games of this year.

Patterson posted a 7-9-16 line in his eight October games, including two four-point efforts and two three-point games. He started the month with a 3-1-4 showing against Atlanta, and ended November with a 1-3-4 performance against Palm Beach.

Ben Saurbaugh, Palm Beach Typhoon

An impressive 2003-born forward, the native of Painted Post, N.Y., is in his third junior season and second in the USPHL Premier. He made an appearance at the Premier Nationals last year with Elmira before moving south to join the new Typhoon.

He also picked up the offensive slack after fellow Typhoon Vesse Lampen’s 17-game, 26-point streak came to an end early in November. Saurbaugh went on to earn two goals and seven assists for nine points in just six games during the month. He has moved into second on the team’s scoring leaderboard, scoring 17 points in 19 games.

Defense

Jon Heller, Tampa Bay Juniors

With the six games he played in November, the fourth-year Junior Heller (‘01/Trinity, Fla.) moved into second in Juniors games played going back to 2017, with 130. That is also good for fifth all-time among Premier defensemen.

But he’s not a Player Of The Month just for showing up at the games, but for showing up in the games. Heller posted five points in his six games, and also registered a +5 ranking and blocked two shots while slightly reducing the Juniors’ goals against and shots against during the month. Overall, so far, Heller has posted 13 points in 21 games.

Trevor Voyda, Florida Eels

Another repeat winner, Voyda represents the Eels’ dominance in the league (standing fifth overall) and also its defensive prowess, as they give up an average of just 2.11 goals per game good for ninth out of 63 teams.

Voyda is another veteran Eel, an ‘01 from Jupiter, Fla., who has been with the Premier team for three years, the organization as a whole for four years and in the USPHL since 2017. In just 16 games, Voyda already has 15 points to pass both of his prior Premier seasons’ totals. He was helped in this venture by posting a 2-8-10 line in seven games.

Goaltender

Duncan Rolleman, Florida Eels

It’s an Eels 1-2 punch in goal, as Rolleman (‘02/New Hamburg, Ont.) steps into the Florida Division Goaltender of the Month spot previously held by creasemate Alexandre Caron. Rolleman went 4-0 over the course of the month of November, and he also gave up just six goals, and never more than two in a game during the month.

He started with giving up just three on 56 shots against the Atlanta MadHatters in two games, came back and beat Tampa 4-1 with a 29-save performance, and ended the month with 23 saves on 25 Palm Beach shots for his fourth straight victory and seventh overall for a 7-1-0-1 record on the season.

Congrats to Florida Eels Matt Schoer and Spencer Carpenter Selected Players of the Month for November

USPHL Elite Players Of The Month: South Region

By USPHL Staff, 12/04/21, 8:00AM EST

 

November 2021

Southeast Division

Florida Division

Forwards

Milan Levcenko, Tampa Bay Juniors

Levcenko is an ‘04 who is nearly at a two points per game average so far this year, with 28 points in 14 games. Eleven of those 28 points came in just six November contests.

Levcenko (‘03/Klaipedia, Lithuania) had two three-point outings and one four-point show in a 7-5 victory over the Florida Eels. He has also earned call-ups to two Tampa Bay Juniors Premier games this season.

 

Jake Duhaime, Tampa Bay Juniors

More than half of Duhaime’s points on the season have come since Oct. 29, with 13 of these 15 total points being registered during the month of November. The local product, an ‘04 from Ellenton, Fla., registered a 7-6-13 line for his six-game November schedule.

Duhaime’s highlight was a 3-2-5 line in a big win over the Palm Beach Typhoon. He also had a pair of goals in the Juniors win over the Florida Eels.

 

Spencer Carpenter, Florida Eels

Carpenter (‘02/East Schodack, N.Y.) moved to the USPHL Elite after playing for the USPHL 18U’s CP Dynamo squad last year. He certainly has adapted well to the junior lifestyle and schedule, putting together a 3-7-10 line during his eight games played in November.

Carpenter set up three goals – including the GWG – in a 5-3 Eels win over the Tampa Bay Juniors. For the season, he now has 20 points in 21 games.

 

Defense

Jordan Campo, Tampa Bay Juniors

Campo (‘03/Palm Harbor, Fla.) got into four of the Juniors games and did damage in each one, posting a total of eight points (2-6-8). His offensive highlight of the month was posting a 1-4-5 line in the 7-5 Tampa Bay victory over the Florida Eels.

Overall, Campo has registered 17 points in 22 games, which has helped him already pass the 15 points he put together in a full season in 2020-21.

 

Nash Cobbs, Tampa Bay Juniors

It says a lot about the Juniors’ defensive depth that the two Players Of The Month listed here don’t even usually play alongside each other. Typically, Cobbs (‘03/Ocala, Fla.) matches up with Philip Wsol and Jordan Campo pairs most often with Roy Shaver. Both had very similar output in the month of November, however, offensively and defensively.

Cobbs – a returning blueliner for the Elite Juniors like Campo – registered two goals and seven assists for nine points in six November games. He also kept this six-game, nine-point scoring streak going into December. He was also a +6 (close to Campo’s +5), and he registered seven blocked shots.

 

Goaltender

Matthew Schoer, Florida Eels

No one in the Florida Division came close to what Schoer was able to do in four November games. The 2001-born Long Valley, N.J., native went 4-0 for the Eels and registered two shutouts. On Nov. 7, he put up 33 saves to blank Atlanta, and exactly two weeks later, he stopped all 35 shots he faced from Palm Beach.

In the two games in which he did give up goals, he only gave up five total, and with 136 saves on 141 shots, that’s a gorgeous .965 save percentage for the month. Schoer’s a longtime USPHL veteran going back to USPHL 16U hockey with the Jersey Hitmen all the way back in 2016-17.

Come Join the Florida Eels Elite Team as they Face-Off Against the Jr Blades Thursday Night at the Hertz Arena 9:00 pm

Come Join us This Thursday

 

 

This Thursday the Eels Elite team takes on their cross-town rivals the Jr. Blades  at Hertz Arena.  Game time is 9:00 PM. This will be the 1st of 3 games for the Eels Elite team as they then play the Tampa Juniors on Friday in Tampa and return home to complete their weekend series against the Juniors at home Sunday 10:30 am at the Skatium.

 

The Eels Elite team is in 2nd place with 15 wins for 30 points. They are just 2 points below the Juniors who have 32 points. The Eels have played just 19 games compared to 32 for Tampa. So this is a dog fight in the Florida Division . In 3rd place, with 10 wins are the Jr Blades with 20 points. They are battling against their 4th place foes with just 11 points. The Blades are looking to climb the ladder to catch the Eels and gain daylight between them and the Mad Hatters. The Mad Hatters and Blades square off this weekend at Hertz Arena for a 2-game series So much is on the line at that end. HUGE weekend folks.

 

So folks, lets come out and support our Elite team this Thursday

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