Florida Eels Premier Team Set the Tome off the Showcase by Defeating 20-0 Islanders Hockey Club Previously Ranked No. 1 in the league. Eels Split
Weekend at The Showcase Going 2-2 Overall.
The Eels vs the IHC was the first game of the Showcase and it set lights off across the USPHL. No doubt the Eels were considered by many as the under dogs. But they proved otherwise. This was not an easy game by no means. The IHC struck first in the 1st period. The teams were pretty even throughout that period as the play went back and forth battling for every inch of the ice surface.
It took the Eels 5 minutes of the 2nd period before they hit pay dirt by a goal from Regnars Udris (3) ASST: Gage Dill (15), TJ Zebley (18) But then the IHC came storming back wit2 more goals in the 2nd to give them back the lead.
Coach Scarpaci settled his team down and designed a game plan and his troops responded with 4 unanswered goals in the 3rd period.
Jared Figueroa (13) ASST: Jens Petersen (20)
Adam Gaudet (13) ASST: None
Maksim Tereshchenko (18) ASST: Jake Court (18), Gage McNeish (9)
Jared Figueroa (14) ASST: Adam Gaudet (12)
Eels netminder Jakub Kostelny played another phenomenal game turning away 25 of 28 shots on net. The Eels pounded the IHC Goalie with 30 shots.
The Eels coming off a real high point had 2 setbacks in day 2 where they fell to the Hampton Road Whalers and the Charlotte Rush. The boys were disappointed but knew they had the resolve to come back hard more determined and hungrier looking to avenge their losses. GM Scarpaci said no excuses. We understand though. It is days before the Christmas break and many of our guys are heading back to Europe. It is very hard at this time of year. You have to remember they are kids. But they showed what their training was all about thus far. They were not willing to throw in the towel so to speak. In game 4 the Premier kids came out on fire.
The Eels were facing one of the top teams in the Southern Division and in the USPHL – the Carolina Hurricanes. This was the 2nd time the Eels faced the Jr Cains. This team has it all. Solid goaltending Big D and high-flying aggressive forwards who can score. But the Eels brought their A game to this one. It was a defensive battle between the two squads. They fought for every inch of the ice. Each line knew they had to be smart and not make mental mistakes. But you cannot over think these games. The boys trained hard all year and it was Showtime. And that is what they did. The game remained scoreless for two periods. Each goalie was tested again and again.
At the 8 minute mark once again a big goal from Eels Defensemen Regnars Udris (4) ASST: None (SH)
Then another Eels D man stepped up for the 2nd goal at 17 minutes into the period
Gage Dill (14) ASST: Keve Toth (2), TJ Zebley (19)
Wow. And guess what the 3rds and final goal was notched by another Eels D Man Egor Nosov (5) ASST: Gage Dill (16)
Eels Goalie Jesper Ahlberg turned away all Cains suitors and garnered a shutout.
This was a great ending for the Eels for the Showcase. They closed up with a 2-2 record defeating tow top teams and now have a well-deserved rest.
