Former Florida Eels defense man, RJ Boyd, was drafted to the NHL’s Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL Draft.  RJ who is 19 years old and born in 1991 stands 6′ 2″ tall and weighs in at 175 lbs.  He has been playing hockey for the last few years at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Massachusetts.  Cushing  is a coeducational college preparatory boarding school for grades 9 through 12.  Before going off to Chushing Academy to complete high school, RJ attended Edison Prep School in Ft. Myers.

Starting out playing Squirt A and moving his way to PeeWee AA, Bantam A, Bantam AA, and Midget AAA hockey he then went on to play Juniors in the SEJHL and MJHL at the Pro Am Pre Drafts and Chowder Cups.  With hopes of being drafted into the NHL, RJ Boyd now has had a dream come true. Born and raised in Florida, and being selected by a Florida NHL team, he is the very first to accomplish this feat.  Everyone here with the Florida Eels organization is very proud of him and wish him the very best.

Florida Eels Youth Ice Hockey

Florida Eels Youth Ice Hockey

The word came to us in an email today from the Florida Eels hockey director, Frank Scarpaci.  Scott Harrington will be coaching the Eels PeeWee ice hockey team in the 2010-2011 travel season.

Coach Frank says, “Scout will undoubtedly be able to build on those players moving up with his extensive experience, his skill and knowledge of the game. It is our goal to work on skill development and to prepare them for their journey one day to play college hockey.”

The PeeWee age can be the most challenging age in ice hockey for the coach as well as the players.  The players need to start learning proper body contact, checking and working on their slap-shots.  The coach will also need to stress the fact of playing as a team to the players and teach them to work together as one.  “Scott has been selected based on his experience and reputation” says Coach Frank.

Many of the PeeWee players played in the Squirt league this past season and had an outstanding year.  With a win in Huntsville Alabama, at the Regional Silversticks, these kids will have a great upcoming year as PeeWee’s under Coach Scott.

Congratulations Coach Scott your deserve it.

The Florida Eels are very excited about the prospects of having 5 travel teams in the fall 2010. All of the teams will be playing in the FAHL. At tryouts, we will determine whether the teams will play AA or A. It is the policy of the Florida Eels organization that the level of the team should be decided when we evaluate the talent of the players at tryouts rather than arbitrarily designate AA or A.  The Eels teams will be having 3 practices per week for all of the player.  Also 2-3 hours of fitness and off-ice training as well.  In order to

give each player and team the most out of their season.

The league provides a 20 game schedule.  The Eels do not mandate that teams participate in extra tournaments but do strongly encourage that the teams partake in 1-3 Florida Tournaments. Since tournaments are optional these fees are not included.

Tryout includes off-ice strength and conditioning evaluations and on-ice competition. Cost for the tryout weekend will be $100.00 for the primary tryout and $20.00 for each additional tryout weekend.

Florida Eels Ice Hockey

Tryout dates and times are as follows:

May 13th Thursday 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Squirts and Peewees

May 15th Saturday 3:;0pm – 4:30 pm Bantams

May 15th Saturday 4:30 – 6:00pm Midgets

May 16th Sunday 9:00 AM – 10:00 am Mites and Squirts

May 16th Sunday 10:00 am – 11:00 am Peewees

May 22nd Saturday 3:00pm – 4:30 pm Bantams

May 22nd Saturday 4:30 pm – 6:00pm Midgets

May 23rd Sunday 9:00 am – 10:00 am Mites

May 23rd Sunday 10:00 am – 11:30 am Squirts

May 23rd Sunday 11:30 am – 1:00pm Peewees

For more information, please contact Florida Eels GM and Coach, Frank Scarpaci at 941-400-9023 or at scarpacif@aol.com

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The Sunday game brought the Jacksonville Barracudas and the Florida Eels together and the score ended in a 1-1 tie.  Sean Kopper got the only goal for the Eels and the assist went to Trey Dougherty.  This keep the team worried that they would have to settle for playing in the consolation game for 3rd or 4th place.  But later that Sunday night the Trashers and the Barracudas would have to play and the final score put the Trashers on top with the win giving the Eels just enough points to face the Brandon Bulls once again, but this time in the Championship game.  This was a great game that the Eels had.  The 1st period ended 0-0.  2nd period ended with the Bulls in a 1-0 lead.  In the 3rd period Bill Carmelia found the back of the net to make the score 1-1.  With just about half of the final period left the bulls took the lead again and very late in the game put one more in on us to take the championship 3-1.

The tournament officials recognized Brian Hotaling as the Tournament MVP in goal.  The team did have a good weekend and they did play hard.

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The Florida Eels Ice Hockey Team, Bantam AA

The tickets are selling for $2.00 each or you can get 3 for $5.00. 

 If you are not at the rink and wish to get some tickets you can get ahold of me by email at BlaineSword@gmail.com and put Valentines Raffle in the subject line and let me know how to get ahold of you.  I have placed the list of items at the bottom of this post so you can see what we have to raffle off.  You don’t have to be present to win but I will need to get you your half of the ticket.

Grand Price – Round of golf for 4 guests ( applicable cart fees included) (a value of $600)
Sponsored by: Worthington Community Renaissance, Ft. Myers

Florida Elite Hockey Summer Camp with Coach Frank Scarpaci  –  2 x 1 week value each week of $ 375
Sponsored by F. Scarpaci

Patricia D./ Brenda R. Grider/ Judys Nails  – Hair, Pedicure, Massage – Gift Certificate $ 135

Sanibel Day Spa – Gift Certificate Pedicure/Manicure Value $ 105

Charles of the Village Saloon and Dayspa 2 Haircuts/ 1 Massage

Eco Tours Sanibel – Gift Certificate 2 P. $ 60

Ruth Messmer Florist – Gift Certificate $ 50

Joe s Crabjack – Gift Certificate $ 25 and T-Shirt

Zumba – Gift Certificate 4 x

Heart n Home Country Cape Coral – Candle

Pete s Philly Steak – Gift Certificate $ 10

Merrick Seafood – Gift Certificate $ 10

Every Detail – Gift Certificate Car Detail Cleaning (Wash,  Wax, Tires, Vacuum, Windows, and Armour-All) $85 .00 Value

Cheeseburger Paradise – Gift Certificate 2 x $ 25

Dinner Bell Café – Gift Certificate $ 10

Sports Authority – Gift Certificate $ 10

Starbucks – Gift Certificate $ 10

Target – Gift Certificate $ 10

City Tavern – Gift Certificate $ 20

Cape Crematory.com – 2 Tundra Wood Hockey Sticks/ 3 pair CCM Hockey Socks/ 1 Bobble Head Doll

City of Fort Myers – 10 Gift Certificates for a Free Public Skate Session

Sweetbay Supermarket – Gift Certificate $ 15

Blockbuster – Gift Certificate 2 x $ 10

The 21st of Novermber was the perfect day for a fundraiser at the Fort Myers Skatium. With 3 Bantam AA games, 2 Junior games and a College roller hockey tournament we knew that the building would be full of people that would love to help out a fellow hockey parent and coach.  With a bake sale, a raffle of close to 20 prizes, and a pasta lunch and dinner going on all day it could not have gone any better.  All of the parents and players that were there starting from 9:00 am that day gave in many different ways.   With all of the bake goods sold, raffle tickets, and dinners the Eels managed to raise a good amount of money so far for the Carlson family. And we are not done just yet.

The Florida Eels still have a few more events that we are planing to put together in the near future.  A car wash will be held soon, a special Public Skate this weekend on Saturday the 28th and the Fort Myers Skatium and a roller hockey event that will be announced very soon also at the Skatium. 

A very special THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who donated time to cook, those who bought the food to make,  who contributed money to the cause, who solicited restaurants  and local stores who contributed, those who ran around to pick up items, those at the bake sale, those who sold tickets, those who helped publicize the event to the media,  and those who simply came to eat.

I just came across a great article  on  “How Young is Too Young for Serious Travel Hockey”  If you have a few minutes and you are a parent of a youth hockey player you should take the time to read it.  Also leave a comment and tell us what you think.  I have been a hockey parent for the last 5 seasons and my outlook on where my son was going to where he could go have changed.  I really think that if he can push himself on the ice and more importantly in the class room, he just might be able to get himself into a good college someday.

Here is the link to the article and please let me know what you think on the topic in a comment.

How young is too young for serious travel hockey?

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The Eels started off the first game of this weekend down 1-0 against Tampa Bay in the first.  Ben Wetmiller of the Eels took the puck end-to-end assisted by goalie Corry Johnson to tie the score.  With only one minute left in the 2^nd period Tampa scored and again moved into the lead.  KJ Bell of the Eels responded only 38 seconds20later, assisted by Taylor Barnett and Wetmiller – making it an even game going into the 3^rd.  The Eels were not to be outdone again by Tampa and put two more unanswered pucks into Tampa’s n! et.  Jordan unassisted,  and the 2^nd by Michael Scalisi assisted by Jordan to finish the game with a 4-2 victory.

Sunday, the Eels came out strong scoring 4 unanswered goals in the first.  Bell scored the first goal assisted by Rajen Mukherjee and Lincoln Green-Vamos.  Dion Pipia was next with an assist from Cody Peakman and Richey Boyd.  Peakman then picked up a rebound by Pipia and Wetmiller making the score 3-0.  Less than a minute later Boyd took the puck end-to-end and put one in top shelf.  Michael Scalisi, assisted by Boyd had the Eels next and final goal of this game in the 2^nd period.  Tampa put two in the Eels net in the 3^rd period against goa! lie Yussup Amirkhanov making the score 5-2 Eels.

The Eels Junior B team came out solid this weekend defeating the Charleston Wolverines twice over the weekend  4-2 and 5-2.  Zack Buckland led the team with 4 goals in the 2 games, while Wehebe Darge had a hat trick in the second game against the Wolverines. Nathan Makler shut down  the Wolverines offensively between the pipes only allowing 2 goals in the 2 games.

The Eels first loss of the season was to the Long Island Royals.  Down 3-1 at the end of the first, the Eels fought back with two goals in the final period.  The Royals slipped one by Martinez to make the final score 4-3. 

Despite the loss to Long Island, the Eels are leading the MET league in wins and points.  In addition the Eels have three of their forwards amongst the leading scorers in the MET League – Joey Giambalvo (8p), Zach Buckland (7p), and Cody Boyd (5 p).

Next weekend marks the opening weekend for the Florida Eels Junior C team. The Eels are fileding two teams this year. the Junior C and Junior B squads.  The 4 Junior C teams from the Florida Division will battle it out for the Showcase Championship.  These will  be very exciting games. Come and meet and support the many new faces of the Florida Eels. We have added 14 new players this year to our program and we look forward to you and your family being in attendance and supporting our local teams.  Below are the dates and times of our games.

Leave a comment on this blog post if you would like.  Thanks