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Florida Eels Organization in 8 games Deliver Strong Performances at the USPHL College Showcase With 6 Wins, 1 OTL and 1 Regulation Loss

The Eels  Premier and Elite teams got to play a number of teams out the Florida Division and Southeast Conference. The Premier team had a 6-4 win over the top ranked team  in the Midwest West Division the Minnesota Squatch. This was an excellent game between these two teams as we saw skill speed and high temp flow throughout the game. In game two of the weekend for the Premier team, the Eels suffered a tough loss agonist the Great Lakes top team the Metro Jets 10-3. No doubt this was a disappointing loss for the guys. It was their 2^nd game of the day and you could tell the boys showed signs of rust and having 2 weeks off.  They allowed 4 goals in the 1^st period and was held to one for. The shots were even at 15/14 but the tally was upside down. In the 2^nd period the Eels allowed 2 more and only tallied for 1 and in the 3^rd it did not go any easier as the Eels allowed 4 more. The coaches had little sleep in day one as they had to regroup and get ready for day two.

 In game 3 they faced off against the Rockets Hockey Club a top program in the Atlantic . The Eels won in OT 5-4 and felt a bit better on the weekend debut.  The Premier team concluded the weekend with a barnburner against  Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights. This was a very evenly matched game ending in regulation 2-2. The two teams continued to battle skating 3 on 3 into OT but the game still remained tied. The Eels won in a shootout to capture the win. Going 3-1 on the weekend collecting 6 out of 8 points.

The Elite squad also faced 2 games in their opening day. In game one they completely unravel the Columbia Infantry 9-0 unleashing 38 shots on the opposing goalies. In the 2^nd game the Eels took on the top ranked Rockets Hockey Club from the Atlantic Division and scored another 9 goals enroute to a 9-2 clear and convincing win over the RHC. Once again the Eels pounded 33 shots and held their opponents to a dismal 19. These two games were very impressive performances by the Eels Elite squad especially when you consider the players just returned back in town and for many they had no practice with flight delays etc.

The Eels Elite team continued with their winning ways with another huge win over another Atlantic Division leader the Jersey Hitmen in day two of the Showcase. In this game the Eels impressively blanked the Hitmen with a 4-0 shutout. The Eels then took on a 3^rd opponent form the North the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights in their final day of the Showcase. In this game the Eels and Knights skated 2-2 to end regulation. The game went into OT where the Knights scored to garner the win. The Eels Elite finished the weekend 3 wins and an OT loss to gain 7 out of 8 points.

No doubt the Eels impressed a good number of college scouts in attendance. There were a a number of our players spoken to after each game and many more who talked with the Eels coaches and GM Scarpaci and  we expect follow up in the weeks to come.

Summaries by Joshua Boyd / USPHLElite.com 

Forward: Zayn Haddon-Harris, Florida Eels

Haddon-Harris (‘04/Boca Raton, N.J.) joined the Eels this year out of the Spanish River/West Boca High School program. The younger brother of former Eel Taurin Haddon-Harris (now at Curry College), Zayn has made a big name for himself with 27 points in 25 games to lead the Eels Elite squad here in 2023-24. He put up six goals and five assists for 11 points in seven December games and his +6 rating was good for second on the Fort Myers-based Eels team.

Defense: Sean Burke, Florida Eels

The ‘03 out of Wellesley, Mass., continues to click at above a point-per-game pace this season as he has put up 20 points in 18 games, and that trend was additionally illustrated by posting a 1-8-9 line in seven games during the month of December. He is the No. 1 choice for Coach Mitch Hill to send over the boards, as he has skated a team-leading average of 19:12 per game.

Defense: Aidan Neville, Florida Eels

Neville (‘05/New York, N.Y.) has established himself as a great all-around player for the Eels who are hoping to claim yet another spot in the Nationals over the rest of this 2023-24 season. Along with the 1-7-8 line he put up during December’s seven games, Neville also put up 18:54 per game in ice time and four hits (second on the Eels), and four blocked shots (second among Eels blueliners).

In day one of the USPHL Winter Showcase case in Tampa,  the Eels Premier and Elite teams swept their opponents with 3 solid wins. First, the Elite team unraveled their Southeast rivals from Columbia with a resounding 9-0 blanking over the Infantry. Then the Eels Premier squad battled to a 6-4 win over the Minnesota Squatch from the Midwest West Division of the USPHL. This was a hard fought battle against a solid club who sits in 2nd place in their Division.

In game 3 for the Eels, the Elite team took down the Rockets Hockey Club by a score of 9-2. This was a very impressive win especially when you consider the RHC sits in 1st place over all in the tough and highly competitive Atlantic Division of the USPHL.

The Eels coaching staff and management were quite pleased with their teams’ performances of day one. Tomorrow the Premier squad faces two teams, including the Metro Jets and the RHC,  whereas the Elite will have one game against the top ranked Hitmen.

2024 USPHL Tampa Showcase

Dates: Wednesday, Jan. 3 to Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024

See Schedule on line

Each team will play a total of 4 games at this venue

Location: AdventHealth Center Ice, Wesley Chapel, Fla.

Conferences: Premier, Elite

Another new addition for 2022-23 will see many northern teams escaping the cold to hit the ice at the original hockey headquarters of the 2021 Hub City Tampa six-week event. Teams will represent six Premier Divisions and four Elite Divisions.

The Florida Eels want  to wish all a very merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah  Indeed enjoy your holiday with your family, love ones and friends.

Two Elite Players Selected Players of the Month

Congrats Goes Out to Defensemen  Sean Burke and  forward Fynn O’Neil selected as Players of  the Month

Today coach from Thomas College will make a presentation at the Skatium for our players at noon for the Elite team  and 1:30 pm for the Premier team

Thursday afternoon, Miss Clare will be hosting a team dinner for both the Elite and Premier teams immediately after each team’s practice