Taurin Haddon-Harris is selected as Florida Eels Premier team Captain. This is Taurin’s 2nd season with the Eels.
Adam Gaudet and Easton Moore were selected as Assistant Captains This is Adam’s 2nd season with the Eels and Easton’s 3rd season with the Eels.
Congrats boys. They are excellent choices to lead their team this season
The following article was written by Eels Alumni Joey Munroe. Joe works as an intern in Washington DC He had been with the Eels since he was a mite.
Here is vision of this weekend home openers
The defending Florida Eels Premier Divisional Champions is looking to defend their title at home as they face off against the Atlanta Madhatters on September 18th and September 19th in a two-game set. Meanwhile, the Elite team who finished in second place last year just a few points shy of winning the Florida Division looks to make a statement this weekend as well. The Eels are considered the Flagship Junior program in their Division with both teams setting their goal on a return to Nationals.
We are the only program in the Florida Division to have had both our junior teams from their historic franchise advance to nationals in the same season. This happened several times. Although the last two years the premier team went unaccompanied, the organization’s hallmark is advancing players to the collegiate level. The USPHL has led over 2,400 players to college with 98 teams in the league. While our two teams have advanced 283 to the collegiate level, during the 2020 season we had over 22 players further their hockey careers to play in college. This is an outstanding accomplishment for a storied franchise, such as the Florida Eels. Our success is measured on how we prepare our players for the collegiate and professional level, it is not just about the national appearances.
Our players have been training hard all off-season long, these past three weeks have been an extensive time for our players, but they are well-prepared for their home opener this upcoming weekend. There is no other program training their players as much as us. We provide four weeks of training camp with 7–8-hour days on average of 4 hours.
We have players from across the world, including Western Canada, Vancouver Alberta Calgary, Quebec, and Montréal. We also have players from Sweden and Russia. In the United States players come from Michigan, Utah, Alaska, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Chicago, California, Texas, and Florida.
Our players have bought into the Eel’s culture and have dedicated their lives to get to the collegiate and professional levels. It isn’t easy to play for a successful franchise like the Eels. We demand dedication, unwavering determination, and the commitment to selfless play. Well, Atlanta we are ready for you, we don’t and won’t take this weekend for granted. Our organization doesn’t endorse complacency, we have an outstanding program with an excellent coach, who is a former NHL alumnus. We want to see you see pack the stands this weekend and bring the energy.
The Florida Eels Premier and Elite teams enjoy their team dinners at Hooters. This has been a long standing tradition between the Florida Eels and Hooters.
The Eels enjoy a great time before their weekend home openers. Both teams got together with the coaches and staff outside the rink. Thanks to Hooters and their fantastic staff.
Florida Eels hit the 23rd player to sign a college commitment advancing to college for the 2021 season. Jake Carlson from Lewisberry, PA, made the FGCU Div. 2 squad. Jake was a very gifted goal scorer. He played 3 seasons in the USPHL He will do well at FGCU’ Their program is always a National contender. He plays a very high tempo game. He joins TJ Zebley from last season’s Eels Premier team. 23 players advancing to college are unprecedented numbers. Moreover, this commitment marks the Eels 283rd player over all for the Florida Eels Junior Hockey
Check out the USPHL Dan Kay Show early predictions: Premier Division. Lucas Jones Predicts the Florida Eels Premier to win it all….. Very exciting to be under the radar
Members of the Eels Premier Team worked with local Warriors youth hockey program
10 Sep by Frank Scarpaci
We are proud of members of our Florida Eels Premier team as they assisted the local Florida Warriors Youth Hockey Program. Our players lent a hand to help advance the skills and demonstrate certain systems etc. Great mentoring of players from our hometown Fort Myers Skatium.
This is the way it should be. The older guys giving back. First class effort.
The Eels always have been an a part of the youth program here in Fort Myers, whether helping the Warriors, the local House league or the Fort Myers Skatium Learn to Play.
Way to go guys
Coach Frank
Location
Fort Myers
The Eels have built a “Wall” in their Crease An “impenetrable wall.” This wall is not built with stone or cement or other such materials. Oh no. It was indeed, designed by an architect. Eels GM Scarpaci. He then handed to blueprints over to his master craftsmen his coaches. Premier Coach Frank Scarpaci and Elite Coach Mitch Hill With the instruction. “This Wall is made to Stop Pucks.”
The Eels “Wall” if you will are its goaltenders. These goalies were hand selected. They are the fruits of our efforts: Months of scouting, recruiting and testing them at Post Season Showcases. We left no stone unturned. We took our time. We searched the globe and particularly we liked what we saw from Canada and the USA. We scouted and did our due diligence. Hours of video, talking with previous coaches and scouts. Ah, We have the guys we wanted. Every goalie we wanted we signed. They are extremely talented and skilled young men. “Our Mask Men.” They are experienced, highly gifted and equally important mentally tough.
On the Premier side of the equation, we all know we have the return of Alex Caron. He was appropriately coined by Dan K as “Alexander the Great” during the Eels National debut last March. Caron was incredible. Nothing short of spectacular. Simply considered one of the best goalies in North America and no doubt top in the entire USPHL. The Eels coaches were very excited when he decided to return this season. Opposing coaches are shaking their heads. He is so tough to score against. Alex echoes, “he wanted so bad to come back…he was right there. We had it. We tasted it and wants that Championship. He has unfinished business.”
Eels also have the return of veteran Devin Selleck who too was at Nationals and is looking to set his mark with the Eels Premier team this season. He trained very hard over the post season. Devin did very well over the Spring and Summer at the Post Season USPHL Spring Showcase and Pro AM sr. Chowder Cup. His play was solid and is looking to help the Eels return to the top spot in the Florida Division and bring home a National title. If every player brought the enthusiasm, grit and team spirit as Devin, we would never lose a game. He will do whatever it takes to win. This year he brings so much more to the ice, locker room and to the team. We are thrilled to have Devin back.
Then there is newcomer Duncan Rolleman New Hamburg, ONT. This young man comes in with considerable promise. At 6’6 225 lbs. his presence is immediately felt. But he brings to the “table” much more than size. He is an extremely talented goalie who has poise skill and mental toughness. He is a humble young man. He spent considerable time in the off season to prepare for the season with the Eels. He attended top goalie camps. He intended to show the Eels coaches he could be an impactful player. He too was tested at the Pro AM Sr Chowder Cup and he performed remarkably. He has had a very strong training camp. The Eels expect him to ripen into one of our top performers on our team and in the USPHL.
The 4th goalie is rookie netminder OlIvIer Dulac from Quebec. He brings to the table a lot of engergies and has solid talent. He is anxious and willing to learn and develop. He has a great attitude and knows the Eels legacy and tradition of developing goalies. He is the future of the Eels.
On the Elite side of the equation, the Eels are stacked. We have returning veteran Jake Mork. Jake was a rookie netminder for the Eels last season. It was his year to develop and be baptize if you will in Junior hockey. He indeed was immersed in that task. He became a solid netminder. He took over the top spot last season overtaking a number of veteran goalies. Over the summer he matured even more as player and a person. Goalies develop on a different time table than skaters. Jake gets it. You can’t rush it. He is getting stronger every day he hits the ice. He too joined us at the Pro AM Sr Chowder Cup and his performance was outstanding. Jake came in this year and has a new found commitment. He has gotten stronger, and his skill set is solid. He wants it. But realizes that as a goalie it takes time to resonate your game to the Next Level. He watched how the Eels developed Alex Caron and how he ripened into the top netminder in the league. That is what Jake wants. He is looking to dominate at the Elite level and capture the Eels top job next season. We love what we are seeking in Jake this year. He had a great camp, and we look forward to his performances this season.
The second goalie on the Elite team is Matthew Schoer. Matt played for us at the USPHL Pre Draft in May. He was an unknown. Matt stole the show in Boston. He impressed all of the Eels coaches so much we offered him a spot. He is a veteran netminder with an impressive and proven record. He has solid skill set. Very poised and mentally tough. Solid rebound control. Great positioning. Challenges shooters. A high character individual. GM Scarpaci loved the way he played. We feel he and Mork will be a dynamic duo and goaltending tandem and will help return our Eels Elite team to a top team in the Florida Division and battle in the playoffs for a National run.
So folks these Mask Men Are Our “Wall” They do not stand alone. They are part of a mosaic. Part of the “architected blueprint” that has been carefully and precisely laid out. So come by and meet them. Be it before or after the games, or at practices, feel free to say hello to our Netminders. Our Goalies. They are the last baston of defense. They close the door in our house. We all look forward to having a great season.
Guys
Check out Team App. The Eels GM uses Florida Eels Team App as its primary communication tool. Check out player profiles, schedules rosters news etc
Well Atlanta is coming to town next weekend. The Eels are not taking them lightly or for granted. The Eels teams are hardly complacent. The coaches have the boys working overtime in prep for the home opener vs. the Mad Hatters which is also our season opener. The Premier team plays first Saturday September 18th at 3:20 pm at the Fort Myers Skatium. Then the Elite squares off Saturday evening at 9:00 pm. On Sunday there will be another double header. This time the Elite team has the first honors with a game at 10:30 am, followed by the Premier game at 1:00 pm.
Last season the Eels Premier team went 6-2 overall on the season against the Mad Hatters. They outgunned the Mad Hatters by a margin of 44-19. The Mad Hatters did managed 2 wins over the Eels in February. Despite the sizable goal differential and the lopsided wins to looses, the two teams had some barn burner series. The games were much closer than what reflects on the scoresheet. Indeed, at the Premier level, the Mad Hatters had some incredibly talented players who played Tier I and II in Canada. They were men amongst boys. Very dominate and impactful. Almost every game was played like a playoff game. The atmosphere was incredible. We expect nothing short of this, this season.
The Elite team’s scorecard was 5-1-1 for the Eels. The Eels Elite team outscored Atlanta’s 30-23. But these are statics are from last season. And that cannot be overly emphasized. The Eels coaches know the Mad Hatters have added a considerable number of new faces to both of their teams. They too are anxious to take their teams to the Next Level. We have seen Atlanta’s coaches at Showcases and Combines and they have been hard at work to improve their lot. Moreover, the Eels coaches know full well that Atlanta is well coached. A former NHLer. So, we can expect some very competitive games next weekend.
As always, the Eels coaches had been very active in the off season as well. We advanced 20+ players to college and several others to Tier II Junior Hockey. We had at least one player who went to play pro hockey. So, the Eels had several spots to fill on both the Premier and Elite teams.
We will highlight some key returning players this upcoming week.
Please be sure to come by and join us at the Skatium next weekend. If not please tune in on HockeyTV for live streaming of games.
Well folks the excitement is upon us. In a few weeks the Eels have their season and home openers vs the Atlanta Mad Hatters. Both the Elite and Premier teams square off in a weekend series. Saturday September 18th is the season opener. Yes coincidentally it is the Eels home opener as well. These two pair of games will be a showcasing for many of the Eels new and returning veterans.
The boys from both teams are training very hard. A very dedicated group of guys. Very determined and committed. They are buying in to what the coaches are teaching. High level skill set all around.
The players have been working especially hard over the 1st two weeks of training camp. They have 2 more weeks of training before the weekend games. We hope you can all attend in person to watch our Eels take on their Georgia foes. If not the games will be streamed live on HockeyTV.
Keep up with the freshest news & the exciting games of your favorite PREMIER & Elite USPHL teams!
