The Florida Eels Premier and Elite teams take on the Palm Beach Typhoon. Three seasons ago we had tremendous games against the teams in Palm Beach and we are excited about their return. It was the Hub City event last season that triggered the Northern Cyclones to field a new franchise in Palm Beach. They are the owners of the new organization. They loved what they saw and experienced in Florida and the other organizations and wanted to be part of this great culture in the Florida Division. We are equally excited about them joining our Florida Division. It consists of the Florida Eels, the Junior Blades, the Tampa Juniors, the Typhoon and the Atlanta Mad Hatters. We are expecting a return to the Division next season from the currently dormant South Carolina team.
The Typhoon owners have done a very good job in recruiting players. Their teams have full on each of its two teams: Premier and Elite. The Typhons are owned by a solid group the Flanagan’s. They are a very professional group and know how to recruit and develop players. Over the years the Northern Cyclones have had some very spirited games vs the Eels and have been extremely competitive.
In the Standings, Palm Beach sits in 3rd place in the Premier Division. They have played 9 games with 3 wins 5 losses and 1 OTL for 7 points. The Eels are in 2nd place having played only 6 games with 5 wins and 0 losses and 1 SOL for 11 points. The Eels are 4 points behind Tampa, but Tampa has played in 11 games. That is 25% of their season. This weekend games are indeed important to the Eels as they have a chance to tie Tampa and still have 3 games in hand. By the same token Palm Beach has a chance to gain some day light over their 4th place rivals the Jr Blades with 5 points and breathing down the Typhon’s neck. These are divisional games and very important in the standings.
On the Elite scoreboard, Tampa is also in 1st place having played 11 games with 7 wins and 4 losses for 14 points. The Eels are also in 2nd place with only 7 games played. They have 5 wins 2 losses for 10 points. Key 4 points out of 1st. In 3rd place are those pesky Blades who also have 5 wins but have 4 losses. So the Eels are looking to gain an edge here and tie Tampa. The Typhoon’s won just one game but it was a huge comeback win over the Jr Blades last Thursday. They came back for 4 goals. Palm Beach came storming back against the Mad Hatters a week earlier with 4 goals in the 3rd period but lost with only seconds remaining in regulation. They are not an easy team to play against. Just as the Blades who were stunned last Thursday.
This Friday both teams travel to Palm Beach Ice Zone for a double header. The Premier plays at 5:30 pm and the Elite immediately after around 7:40 pm. On Sunday the teams return home for a double header at the Skatium. Elite faces off at 10:30 am and the Premier squares off at 1:00 pm. Our guys are ready for action. Having been off last 2 weekends. We are very eager to get in some games. Our Eels teams are both ranked in the top 10 in the league. That is impressive. And the Premier team has been ranked number one in the Dan K Power Rankings.
No doubt we expect Palm Beach to lay everything on the line. These are key 4 points for both teams on the line. These are not easy to come by. The Eels would capture 1st and inch closer to take Tampa out of the lead in the Division. But Palm Beach needs breathing room. There is nothing more dangerous than a team fighting for survival. This is a program who wants it just as bad. On the same hand, our guys are very determined and hungry. Come join us for the upcoming weekend at the Skatium or on HockeyTV.
