The Florida Eels Elite fired up and ready to claim a win, to tie the first seed spot against the Tampa Bay Juniors entered the ice on Thursday, afternoon to take on the Florida Jr. Blades. However, they feel short as Florida Jr. Blades Elite claim a 6-3 victory in Thursday, November 21st match up against the Florida Eels Elite. Although the Eels did not meet their goal of closing the point differential with the Tampa Bay Juniors, who currently have 27 points to the Eels 25, with a win today-hope is not lost!
With Ethan Rotante staring his eight game between the pipes, the Eels lined up to face off at 1:45 pm. At 5:16 in the first the Florida Jr. Blades claimed their first point of the game. At 6:36, it was Florida Eels Lorik Tremblay assisted by Tyson Gagnon, who claimed his first goal of the game and goal for the Eels-tying up the game 1-1. At 7:47 in the first it was Jackson Carnes, assisted by Zayn Haddon-Harris and Filip Nyberg, that propelled the Eels into a 2-1 lead over the Jr. Blades. However, at 16:13 and 17:12 the Jr. Blades secured two more goals in their favor, closing the first period with a 3-2 lead over the Florida Eels.
The Florida Eels, fighting back tied the game 3-3 at 2:16 in the second when Lorik Tremblay assisted by Stepan Kuznets, secured his second goal of the game. The Eels continued to fight for another opportunity to find the back of the net but were sadly unable too. At 15:05 in the second, the Jr. Blades again captured the lead and closed the period 4-3.
The Eels came out, with hopes of regaining control of the game, and scoring points in their favor during the third period. However, the Florida Jr. Blades, pushed the goal differential by two when they scored another goal at 4:45 in the third. Even though the Eels continued to try to find opportunities to reach the back of the net throughout the third period, it was the Jr. Blades who solidified a 6-3, when they scored their final goal at 18:58 in the third. Thus, the Florida Jr. Blades, claiming a 6-3 victory over the Florida Eels Elite.
However, hope of the first-place seed title is not lost for the Florida Eels Elite. The Florida Eels Elite, will need to shake of today’s loss against the Florida Jr. Blades, as they have a quick turn around with another game tomorrow, Friday, November 22nd in Tampa as they showdown for the first place slot in the Florida Division. A win against the current first place seed, the Tampa Bay Juniors, in tomorrow’s match up would slide the Eels into a co-hold of the first-place seed in the Florida Division. The Florida Eels are known for their tremendous grit and ability to come back and show up when it counts and the Eels are determined to slide into the first place slot to have co-hold the first place seen along with the Tampa Bay Juniors.
The Eels will head home for some rest and recovery before game day preparations tomorrow. Coaches will go back to the drawing board, and new action plans will be drawn ahead of tomorrow’s game time action. The Eels will double down on their efforts in preparation for tomorrow’s showdown match up against the Tampa Bay Juniors. Join the Florida Eels live at the Advent Health Center Ice Arena in Wesley Chapel for tomorrow’s 7:00pm puck drop or watch live on FloHockey. Let’s Go Eels!
Written by Nikki Scarpaci-Fliss
