Florida Eels Have Electric
Season, Shine on National Stage
By Reba LaRose
As yet another impressive season in the USPHL has come to an end, the
Florida Eels hockey club from Fort Myers has many accomplishments
to look back on and be proud of. The most notable of which led them to the
biggest junior hockey event of the year in Boston for the USPHL National
Championship as one of the three Florida teams fighting for the chance at
the Cup.
The Premier Eels defeated this year’s national champions, the Hampton
Roads Whalers 3-1 in the round robin and were the only team to do so.
Although they experienced victory early against the soon to be champs, they
finished 1-1-1 in the finals, as did the Elite team who defeated the Jersey
Hitmen 7-1 in the first round.
“The experience of playing against some of the best players in the
USA, Canada, and Europe, and the exposure garnered there was
phenomenal and will speak volumes for their future,” Frank Scarpaci,
Eels head coach, said.
Florida’s Formula for Success
All year long, the Eels have endured rigorous training that has helped mold
them into competitive and aggressive junior hockey players. This training
and the fresh, young talent that it helped to develop is what Scarpaci
credits as a main factor in the continuous successes of the program.
When players come to Fort Myers to play for the Eels, they know they are
signing up for intense training and total dedication to advancing their skills.
Scarpaci says that he and his staff train their players with the focused
mentality of, “What would it be like if you had the chance to play for the
Olympic team – how would you train?”
Scarpaci adds, “We know the answer to that question: you would give
every ounce of energy and that is what we want from you.”
Coaches are training and conditioning players in the weight room and on the
ice five times per week building both individual and team efforts throughout
the four lines they boast. Overall this season, there were 208 goals scored
by the Eels, and they allowed just 121.
“This type of commitment transcends to games and we see it. That is
why we are considered a relentless team and probably one of the most
dangerous teams out there,” Scarpaci said.
The Eels have enjoyed more than 15
years as a top Florida juniors program
and is one of the longest lasting in the
state. In their nearly two decades in
South Florida, the Eels have advanced
233 players to play college level
hockey, four players to the NHL,
and every year welcome talent from
across the United States, Canada, and
countries all over the world.
Scarpaci said that they expect to send between eight and nine Premier level
players to play college hockey, and three or more of their elite players to
spots on collegiate rosters.
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