THE FLORIDA EELS PREMIER TEAM EDGED OUT BY THE JR BLADES 4-1 IN FRIDAY NIGHT’S LAST REMAINING AWAY GAME
16 FEB | BY FRANK SCARPACI
The Florida Eels Premier Team Edged Out By The Jr Blades 4-1 In Friday Night’s Last Remaining Away Game The Eels Premier Team came out a bit flat last night and were bitten by cross town rivals 4-1. In fact, this was the Eels first loss of the season against the Junior Blades. In the previous 6 games the Eels downed the Jr Blades by a considerable margin. In fact, the goal differential was 47 -13. That is a +34. The Eels managed on average over 7 goals per game. No doubt having seized the playoff spot had an impact on the punch last night. The coaches were not happy with the performances of all the players and more importantly neither were the players. They knew they simply did not have it last night.
It happens sometimes players and a team come out flat. All cylinders were not firing and it is good it happened before the playoffs. Take this as wakeup call echoed Head Coach Frankie Scarpaci. This is not what our team was built on. We know what weapons we have. We know the skill level we have. We know the type of commitment we need from all of our players. The guys were upset with themselves. To quote – Pat Riley – “There are only two options regarding commitment. You’re either IN or you’re OUT. There is no such thing in life as between.” Coach Scarpaci concluded, “My guys will be IN.”
GM Scarpaci commented, the one term we loathed and is not part of our vocabulary is complacency. And that is how we played. They heard me echo those terms from day one and they fell into that trap. But as I say you learn more from your losses than you wins. This was a huge and Signiant lesson in hockey and life. I am certain of one thing…. the team that played last night will not be the team that shows up Sunday at the Skatium. You will see a hungrier more focused and more determined team. A team that will come out to win. To quote one of the best coaches in sports echoed …. “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up. –Vince Lombardi. Trust me we will be back up.”
Coach Scarpaci said this team has so much talent. We have 4 lines as good as any team in the league. This is one of the true dominate teams in the league. They not only have dreams and goals they have paid the price all year long to realize and reach their goals.
