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The Florida Eels are very excited to announce the college commitment of Premier Forward Sebastian Potter to Indiana Tech for the fall 2024-2025 season. Potter joined the Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings in 2022, before joining the Florida Eels Premier in 2023. Join his time with the USPHL Potter played in 88 games, scored 24 goals, had 41 assists with a total of 65 points.

Potter a play maker for the Florida Eels will be heading to Indiana Tech in the fall. Sebastian is excited to start his collegiate hockey career and earn his degree from Indiana Tech. He looks forward to being apart of the team and the college atmosphere. Potter’s dedication and commitment over the course of the season was unparalleled and we have no doubt he will show this same dedication to the community of Indiana Tech.

Michigan native credits his success and ability to achieve his goals to the support of his family. Potter states it is with their support that he has been able to focus, and achieve all that he has put his mind too.

The Florida Eels are extremely happy for Potter as he embarks on his new adventure and wish him the very best at Indiana Tech.

The Florida Eels are excited to announce that four of the Florida Eels Elite players have been selected for the USPHL’s Florida Divisional Allstars: Forward Fynn O’Neill (Purdue Northwest Univeristy), Forward Alex Cochran, Forward Zayn Haddon-Harris, and Defenseman Sean Burke (Elon Unversity).

The Florida Eels are proud of all of our Elite players and their tremendous efforts this season. The Elite team worked extremely hard throughout the course of the year, and has a fire to come back even stronger this upcoming year. With that, we look forward to a great upcoming season.

For the full story of the USPHL’s Florida Divisional All Star Selects, be sure to visit www.usphl.com

Florida Eels are excited to announce that four players from the Florida Eels Premier team were selected for the USPHL Florida Divisional All Stars: Forward Noah Trathen, Forward Jared Salminen, Defenseman Maverick Crupi and Defenseman Brayden Goddard.

The Eels Premier team was exceptionally talented and proved to be among the the most competitive finishing as Semi-Finalists at the 2024 USPHL Nationals. All Eels coaches, players and staff worked exceptionally hard to help the players reach their goals.

We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of all our players including the four chosen for the USPHL Florida Divisional All Stars.

For full story visit www.usphl.com

Florida Eels are excited to announce the college commitment of Premier Defenseman Chaseton Sieling to Kent State University for the 2024-2025 season. Sieling joined the Eels in 2023 where he played in 28 games, had 3 goals, 1 assist, with a total of 4 points. Chaseton’s positive persona was felt by all his Eels teammates, coaching staff and administration staff.

The London, Ontario native is very excited about his future with the hockey program, and receiving his education at Kent State. Sieling will be joining fellow Eels Alumni Bryson Miller and former player and Elite Head Coach Alex Sanchez at the University this Fall.

Chaseton is a very determined young man with an incredible work ethic to get the job accomplished, Kent State University is lucky to have him join their community. The Florida Eels are extremely proud of Chaseton and wish him all the best in his hockey and academic future at Kent State University.

 

Florida Eels are excited to announce the college commitment of Premier Defenseman Mark Phillips to Rivier University for the 2024-2025 season. Phillips a four-year USPHL veteran joined the league in 2020 when he played for Motor City and then Southern Oregon Spartans. Mark joined the Eels Premier in 2021, for his final three seasons of his junior hockey career. During his junior hockey tenure Mark played in 106 games, scored 8 goals, 39 assists and had a total of 47 points.

Phillips the West Vancouver, British Columbia native will head to New Hampshire to start his college career. Mark is extremely excited about the future of  the hockey program, and his ability to pursue his education, at such a great school. Mark will be joining Eels Alumni Damon Kiaywasew and Jared Salminen at Rivier Univeristy.

Mark enjoyed his time with the Florida Eels, and worked extremely hard both on and off the ice to further his game. He grabbed hold of the Eels work ethic moto and made it his own. With incredible determination Mark became an Eels Assistant Captain and lead defenseman of the Premier squad. Phillips credits his success to his supportive family. Without, their support and guidance Mark knows that his dreams of playing junior and now college hockey wouldn’t have become a reality. It was their sacrifice in letting him leave home early, that allowed him to pursue this dream.

The Florida Eels are very excited for Mark’s future in college hockey and know he will continue to represent the Eels well. We wish him all the best as he heads off the college in the Fall.

Florida Eels are excited to announce the college commitment of Premier Forward Jared Salminen, to Rivier University for the 2024-2025 season. Salminen a four-year USPHL veteran started his Junior Hockey career with the Florida Jr. Blades, in 2020-2021 where he played for two seasons before joining the Florida Eels Premier in 2022. Over the course of his junior hockey career Salminen played in 168 games, had 52 goals, 101 assists, with a total of 153 points.

Florida native heads to Rivier University where he plans to study Sports Management. Salminen, states he is “excited about the goals of the (hockey) program” and his future on the team. Salminen will head North this fall leaving his family, who live locally in Florida. Salminen, credits his success to the “support of my family throughout my (junior) years.”

Salminen enjoyed his time time with the Florida Eels and appreciates the “coaching staff who work hard at providing opportunities for everyone.” Jared part of the tenacious “coneheads” line, along with College Commits Devin Shepherd (Framingham State University) and Noah Trathen (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), were a dominant force on the ice. However, Jared’s 6’2”, 195 pound presence was a force in itself. Salminen was as dedicated to his office training as his on ice, and helped lead the Eels to two playoff victories, and to the Semi-Finals of Nationals.

Jared Salminen will be joining Eels Alumni Damon Kiyawasew at Rivier Univeristy in the Fall. He will be a wonderful asset to the Rivier family and will continue to be a wonderful representive of the Eels. Congratulations Jared, the Eels wish you all the best in your college career.

Florida Eels are excited to announce the college commitment of Elite Forward Cooper Bergman. Cooper joined the Florida Eels in 2023, where he remained for two seasons. During his time with the Eels he played in 61 games, scored 8 goals, had 18 assists and a total of 26 points. While with the Eels Cooper demonstrated a strong work ethic, and strong leadership skills. It was this that lead him to be named Assistant Captain for the 2023 season.

During Cooper’s time with the Eels, he was a true embodiment of what a an Eels is: loyal, hard worker, a member of the community, to name a few. Cooper conducted himself with a high moral fiber, not just focusing on himself but his teammates and how to propel them to be successful. Cooper’s overall attitude was nothing short of impeccable, always showing up with positivity, drive and determination to get the job done.

 

Jamestown, New York native will return home from Florida to hometown for the College experience. Bergman expressed that he as excited to not only pursue his college education but have the opportunity to once again be close to home and near his family, where he can spend time with his nephews. Cooper looks forward to not only gaining an excellent education from Jamestown Community College but participating in their hockey program. Additionally, Cooper plans to continue his community involvement and perhaps take part in coaching a local youth hockey team.

 

Cooper was a remarkable asset to the Eels organization and will be missed next season. The Florida Eels wish Cooper great success in his future both in academic and hockey career at Jamestown Community College.

After playing with the Eels in the 2016-2017 season, Gennello advanced to NCAA Division III Hockey at Framingham State University, where he would play 3 years before graduating in 2021. After graduating Gennello continued his playing career overseas lacing up for Muik Hockey in Finland Soumi-Sarja. The 2022-2023 season saw Gennello move to behind the bench, starting the season as the Assistant Coach with the USPHL Northwest Division Vernal Oilers. By Thanksgiving Gennello would assume interim Head coaching duties and less the team to a 21-8-5 recorded which included a Division title, and USPHL National tournament appearance. “I am super excited to be returning to the Eels organization. Frank and Frankie are the best in the business and I’m excited to be joining a staff that has continued to grow and find ways to get better each and every year they compete.”

It is with a heavy heart that we wish farewell to our good friend and his family. Mitch has been the Eels Elite head coach for the past 3 seasons where he took his team to 2 Divisional titles and 2 USPHL National appearances. He also served alongside Coach Frankie Scarpaci as assistant coach of the Florida Eels Premier team.

We all have some great memories over the last 3 seasons, with Mitch getting married to Kayla last year and this season with the birth of his beautiful daughter, Brielle. We will always cherish the smiles Brielle brought to his face. What a ride it has been and Coach Mitch will always be a part of our Eels family.

Coach Mitch will be moving on to pursue other business ventures and will be missed.  He will continue to work behind the scenes with Coach Frank, Coach Frankie and our staff  to make the transition smooth and seamless.  No doubt Coach Mitch will also be involved in our continued recruiting efforts for the seasons to come.   We wish Mitch and his family the very best…

Florida Eels are excited to announce the college commitment of Elite Forward, Marc Ghafari to Middle Tennessee State University for the 2024-2025 season. Two year USPHL Florida Eels veteran Ghafari played in 32 games, scored 5 goals, had 5 assists, and a total of 10 points. Ghafari will make his college debut next season at MTSU.

Ghafari states that while playing for the Eels he honed his competitive nature, “the eels are a competitive environment, where the standards are high. We expect nothing but the best.” He plans to use this completive nature and drive to help propel him in his collegiate hockey career and in his academic studies.  Ghafari plans on using these learned skills to help him excel in his academics and future hockey career.

Marc Ghafari, Canadian native is excited to attend college in Tennessee. As the University allows him to pursue the his dreams of becoming an airline pilot, as it offers a strong aviation program. Ghafari attributes his abilities and success to the support of his family. As he states he “would not be where I am today without my family’s support. They allowed me to go after my junior dreams and now college.”

The Florida Eels wish Marc great success at Middle Tennessee State University.