It is surely a funny concept. Every season starting in April, GM Scarpaci and his cadre’ of 6 coaches head on recruiting missions across the USA Canada Europe and most recently Asia. We scout literally 1,000’s of players , host 12 teams between the post season Chowder Cup teams, tryouts of upwards of 400 players from its various tryouts and Spring and Summer Showcase teams all in search for players for its upcoming season.
Our schedule will show ½ dozen games against cross town rivals the Florida Jr. Blades, our West Coast foes the Tampa BayJuniors , the Atlanta Mad Hatters our East Coast rivals the Palm Beach Typhoon, in addition to 2-3 games verus top competitors like the the Charlotte Rush, the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes, and the Potomac Patriots. We will have games against the Metro Jets, the Toledo Cherokee, the Islanders Hockey Club, the Norther Cyclones, the Jersey Hitmen, the Rockets Hockey Club and several others. One can ask who are the Eels biggest Challenge?
Well to be honest with you they all are formable foes. All indeed very competitive year in and year out. Some a bit stronger depending on the year. After all it is Junior Hockey. From an Eels coaching and management perspective we know that the stronger our opponents, are the better we will be during playoff time and advancement to Nationals. You always should remember that in the end regular season games are in fact “training games” for the playoffs and Nationals.
The Eels hallmark is our training and prepartation. The Eels are indeed intense. We have one key ingredient: Work! We undergo 4 weeks of pre-season training that includes 6+ hours per day, 7 days per week, Then during the regular season we train 4 – 5 hours per day including: gym, video training, dry land shooting and ice. In addition to our regular division games, we attend 4 showcases.
However, each year no matter how hard we train, how hard we work, we face a far stronger and more rigorous opponent than any team we face on a weekly basis. That foe is the annual Hurricane. To many they look at it as “strong and forceful storm”. Indeed it has “Power” that includes wins well over 100 MPH. and storm surges with impactful flooding. To many, including the best meteorologist, think that the Hurricanes forces pass through and then dissipate. But this is a fallacy. In fact, the Eels, who have battled and taken on the likes of Hurricane Ian, Hurrican Hellene and Hurricane Milton over the past several years, harnessed the forces, power and storm strength into the very fabric and DNA of each and every player in the Eels organization. This strength emirates from, our resolve, intestinal fortitude, determination and will to prepare, endure, experience and community volunteerism.
The Hurricane experience builds character far beyond hockey. It builds appreciation and community responsibility that is impossible to explain unless you are here. It shows our young men this is life and bigger than ice Hockey.
Well just look at the proof in the proverbial pudding. The Eels have won the playoffs 10 years; The Eels have advanced to Nationals 10 years, the Eels have made it to the semi-finals and finals more than any other program. Well folks we do attribute our systematic and continuous accomplishments to our unique training program: 5 hours per day 5 days per week. This backed by our very talented and dedicated coaching staff, allows us to set ourselves apart from others.
However, there are certain intangibles that tip us over the edge. Things that help us dig deep, and find a determination and grit like no other. We harness the POWER from these hurricane winds, the fortitude, resolve commitment and dedication. Our boys learned to channel, to propel these ingredients to their year-end mission and goals. So when someone ask who are the Eels number one rivalry is, you can easily say the Hurricanes. But just like our other rivalries, we take them on and we win!
Written by Florida Eels GM: Frank Scarpaci
