Florida Eels Elite team edge number one ranked Wilkes Barre Scranton Knights in OT win, as they kick off the second half of their season Friday, January 3, 2025 at the 2025 USPHL Tampa Showcase. It was Eels goaltender, Filip Vitanov started in his fifteenth game of the season, and first game of the showcase between the pipes, the Eels lined up at center ice. The players on both teams laid everything on the ice with explosive speed, smothering forecheck and suffocating backchecking. Florida Eels General Manager stated, “it was one of the best games we played all season.”
It was WBS Knights that claimed the first point of the game, at 12:13 in the first period. The Eels fought tirelessly but remained scoreless at the end of the first. WBS Knights closed the first leading 1-0 over the Florida Eels. Eels Carmen D’Ambrosio, unassisted who claimed the Eels first point of the game at 5:54 in the second period. The Eels and WBS Knights were now tied 1-1 in the second period. At 9:34 Eels Paxton Campbell, assisted by Zayn Haddon-Harris, grabbed the Eels second goal of the game taking the lead for the first time. However, at 11:53 in the second period WBS Knights struck again, and tied the game 2-2. At 19:08 in the second period, Eels Brantlee Hoffman, assisted by Tyson Gagnon grabbed the Eels third goal of the game. The Eels closed the third period leading 3-2 over WBS Knights.
The Eels continued to dominate the third period, and Vitanov continued to deflect advances made by the WBS Knights. However, with less than a minute left in the third period, WBS Knights pulled their goalie, to gain a man advantage over the Eels, and at 19:34 in the third period they tied the game 3-3. The Eels and WBS Knights were headed into overtime.
Ready to lay it on the line, and goaltenders perched in their posts, both teams lined up for the drop. Tensions high, players determined to gain the advantage, the fans cheered with excitement. With just .17 seconds ticked off in the Eels/WBS Knights overtime, it was Florida Eels Etienne Cartier, unassisted, who captured the game winning goal! Eels claiming a 4-3 win over the WBS Knights.
The Eels Elite hit the ice again this evening, where they will face off against the Hampton Roads Whalers. Florida Eels Elite vs. Hampton Roads Whalers puck drop is set for 8:15pm at the Advent Health Center Ice Arena in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Join us live, or tune in on FloHockey, don’t miss out on the action.
