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Dan K’s Highlighter Players

October 6, 2021

2021 USPHL Raleigh Showcase

What is a highlighter player you make ask? Simply put, these players listed below are athletes that stand out beyond the stat sheet, put in the extra effort and stand out for all the right reasons on ice level.  The below won’t always be your league leader, your point-getter or even the skater with the “C” on their chest; but you can rest assured these are the select skaters you want on your team.

At The Dan K Show, we pride ourselves on our ability to help scouts throughout the country find their diamond in the rough; we hope this segment will do just that.  If you think you or someone you know is a Highlighter Player, reach out a www.dankshow.com/contact.

PREMIER:

Damon Kiyawasew (2002) – C – Florida Eels

Kiyawasew skates by defenseman like they are standing still.  The Eels product, is a great stick-handler, a speedster and a forward that helps spread the ice for coach Frankie Scarpaci.  Where Damon shines is putting pressure on the defense with his breakout ability, making zone presence a taller task for opposing squads.  This a Carl Hagelin-esque playing mentality, that if employed properly can turn a title pretender into a title contender.  (I tried to the tell the New York Rangers this regarding Hagelin but they wouldn’t listen!)

Alexandre Caron (2001) – G – Florida Eels

There is not a better goaltender on the planet right now in my opinion.  Alexandre “The Great” Caron, is the most underrated netminder playing in any rink nationwide at this moment.  He stops everything that moves, skates well, can play the puck as a 6th man, kills the forecheck and just doesn’t give up easy goals.  His performance in last year’s postseason nearly helped lift the National Championship trophy for his Eels in the 20-21 season.  Crazy enough, Caron’s biggest competition for netminder of the year thus far is in his own locker room, Duncan Rolleman.  Combined, Caron and Rolleman have allowed just 6 goals on 155 shots faced.  Scouts should be going through an American Ninja Warrior style set of challenges just to get a chance, to have Caron in net for their squad!

Spotlight On Florida Eels Elite Players

Alexander ClIngerman

2003 Rookie. Right Shot Forward/Center from Marriottsville, MD. He is 5’10”” 150 lbs.

Prior to joining the Florida Eels, he played high school and youth hockey in Maryland where he scored 32 goals and captured 24 assists.  He also joined the Eels at the Spring and Summer Showcase series in New England. He is a high energy player who is relentless   on the forecheck and equally aggressive in the D Zone.  He is a solid skater with explosive speed. He is extremely coachable. High hockey IQ.   Has a good nose for the net. With his continued growth he ripen into a solid goal scorer.   Great work ethic  Strong hockey sense. He is very dedicated and determined young man. Comes to practice 2 hours and spends his time developing his shot.  He has contributed significantly to  the Eels success this season. In just 7 games he already scored 2 goals.

Landen Engles 

2003 Veteran Left Shoot Forward/Center from  Sioux Falls SD. He is 5’11” 170 lbs.

This is Landen 3rd season playing Juniors. This is his 2nd year with the Florida Eels.  Prior to joining the Eels Elite team, he played high school and youth hockey in New York. Over the Spring and Summer, he joined the Eels at the Pro Am Chowder Cup Series. The Eels coaches were indeed impressed with his skill set and fortitude. In 7 games thus far this season he garnered 5 assists. He brings that good old fashion blue collar work ethic to every practice and game. A consummate competitor. His off- ice work ethic and conditioning is phenomenal. Great character individual. He is so young and has incredible upside. As the number of assist illustrate, he already is one the Eels Elite team’s impactful player.

Neil  Campbell 

2002 second year Veteran Right Hand Defensemen from Hollywood Florida   Shoot 6’04” 220 lbs. This is his second season playing juniors with the Eels. He is a fan favorite. Highly spirited.

In his rookie season he scored 3 goals and notched 3 helpers. He plays with a high compete level. Very strong Uses his incredible size to his advantage. Extremely effective in the D zone. Owns the crease. Relentless along the boards and in the crease. One of the hardest hitters in the league. Plays well in all 3 zones. Hard heavy slap shot on the offensive blueline. One of the most dedicated players on the team. Outstanding character Strong leadership on and off the ice.  This is a young man with very strong upside. A clear college prospect.

We are very proud of these 3 boys and we are honored they are part of the Eels family this season.

Spotlight On Florida Eels Elite Players

2002 Rookie. Right Shot Centerman from  East Schodack, NY He is 6’02” 175 lbs.

Prior to joining the Florida Eels he played high school hockey in NY and U18 Tier I AAA with CP Dynamo. He also joined the Eels at the Spring and Summer Showcase series in New England. He is a high energy player with solid skill set. He is very aggressive on the forecheck and puck retrieval. Has a good nose for the net. Strong appetite to score.  Great work ethic High hockey IQ.  He has contributed to a significant part of the Eels success this season. In just 7 games he garnered 4 goals and 1 assist. He plays special teams on the power play and kill penalties. Solid college prospect.

Jake Dominique

2002 Rookie Left Shoot Forward from New York. He is 5’9” 170 lbs.

Prior to joining the Eels Elite team, he played high school and youth hockey in New York. Over the Spring and Summer, he joined the Eels at the Pro Am Chowder Cup Series.   The Eels coaches were indeed impressed with his skill set and fortitude. In 7 games thus far this season he garnered 5 assists.  He brings that good old fashion blue collar work ethic to every practice and game. A consummate competitor.   His off- ice work ethic and conditioning is phenomenal.  Great character individual.  He is so young and has incredible upside. As the number of assist illustrate, he already is one the Eels Elite team’s impactful player.

Mathieu Rioux

2002 second year Veteran Right Hand Defensemen from  Monteal, QUE, Quebec  Right Shoot 5’09” 140 lbs.  This is his second season playing juniors with the Eels. He is a fan favorite. Highly spirited.  He too was a forward converted to defense. Back home in  Montreal he played Tier I AAA for Somang. Last year he was a key player on the Eels Elite team. As a rookie he scored 13 goals and notched19 helpers. playing He can move the puck up ice with lightning like acceleration.  Great in the transition game. Excellent skill set. Outstanding skater with quick speed.  He is a difference maker. He sees the ice very well. Great vision. High hockey IQ. Very competitive. He quarterbacks to top line power play and key on the PK. He has tremendous hockey sense. Great work ethic. Outstanding team guy. He is a solid   College prospect. He has so much upside. In his short season of 6 games he already has 1 goal and 4 assists.

The Florida Eels Elite team picked up where they left off at the USPHL Southeast Showcase in North Carolina. In their final game against the Potomac Patriots the Eels out gunned the Patriots 8-0. Last night the Eels continued with their offensive tent attack firing 58 shots at the Jr Blades goalie. Their attack netted 8 goals for the young guns. Moreover, the scoring was balanced among a number of different players. This was the same stanza against the Potomac Patriots.  Coach Hill has built his team as a team. Quite impressive.

Equally strong was our defense and goaltending. We kept our shots against to 34. Jake Mork slammed shut all but one suitor maintaining the game to 8-1 margin. To appreciate this game was not just the Eels scoring. No, it was their complete play. They were in control from the outset. An early goal, a relentless fore-check and a denying back check. This was an incredibly strong effort in front of a good crowd. Great job guys

Scoring was as follows:

Florida Junior Blades 1 at Florida Eels 8 – Status: Final
Wednesday, September 29, 2021 – Fort Myers Skatium

Florida Junior Blades 0 0 1 – 1
Florida Eels 3 1 4 – 8

1st Period-1, Florida Eels, Engles 3 (Ward, Rioux), 3:36. 2, Florida Eels, Ward 2 (Harrop, Engles), 14:09. 3, Florida Eels, Herringer 1 (Rioux), 16:47. Penalties-Ward Eel (slashing), 17:52.

2nd Period-4, Florida Eels, ClIngerman 2 (Gagnon, Rioux), 8:57 (PP). Penalties-Reyes Fjb (interference), 7:20.

3rd Period-5, Florida Eels, Harrop 3 (Ward, Rioux), 8:15. 6, Florida Junior Blades, Filoramo 2 (Benjamin), 11:02. 7, Florida Eels, Bzovey 2 (Colton), 14:51 (PP). 8, Florida Eels, Ward 3 (Colton, Harrop), 16:26 (PP). 9, Florida Eels, Rioux 1 (Gagnon, Evanyk), 17:29 (PP). Penalties-Rioux Eel (tripping), 0:29; Reyes Fjb (major -elbowing), 13:11; Engles Eel (bench -unsportsmanlike conduct), 13:11; Neish Fjb (tripping), 14:16.

Shots on Goal-Florida Junior Blades 9-9-16-34. Florida Eels 21-14-23-58.
Power Play Opportunities-Florida Junior Blades 0 / 0; Florida Eels 4 / 0.
Goalies-Florida Junior Blades, Falsetto 4-1-0-0 (58 shots-50 saves). Florida Eels, Mork 3-0-0-0 (34 shots-33 saves).