The Florida Eels are excited to announce the return of Mikhail Melikov. It is without a doubt that Melikov was one of the Eels most valuable players last year. Without question he was one of the USPHL top players. Melikov is a 2002, 6’0″, and 195 lbs. Last year Melikov played defense for the Eels Elite, where he won Defenseman of the Week countless times, won Player of the Month and was a year end All Star. He came in 10th overall in league scoring, he was 1st for defenseman goals by eight and was the only defenseman in the league to break twenty goals and was one of the youngest players in the league. Additionally, Melikov led the Eels Elite team in scoring by six goals, including playoffs. Stats aside, Melikov’s potential is phenomenal. For how skilled he is, he actually uses every bit of his frame; he thinks the game at a very high level; high hockey IQ and has the skillset to fulfill what he sees.
The Eels coaching staff sees Melikov as a force to be reckoned with. Coach Sanchez echoes, “He is a player that is not only consistent but rises to the occasion. Looking at his stats last year, we can see that he does not just score in games that result in blowouts, but he scores in the games where it takes everything for the team to win. I remind you that he played defense last year and had six game-winning goals… this is an achievement for any player, but it is remarkable for a defenseman. We believe that his success can be attributed to the extra work he puts in.” Premier Coach Frank Scarpaci says, “Melikov is at the rink before practice shooting pucks, and he is there, after the gym every day. He always is asking to do practices with both teams, and he never gets tired of the game. His love for the game and commitment to get better will help set him apart from other players his age as he continues developing.”
It is needless to say that we are excited to have Melikov back. We hope that he continues to develop and wreak terror in the league. This year is a big year for Melikov and his development, and we believe the sky is the limit for him.
