The Florida Eels is a Tier III Junior A ice hockey organization playing in the United States Premier Hockey League's Elite and USP3 divisions. The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) is an American ice hockey league. Founded in 2012, the USPHL has over 80 organizations from across the USA from Maine to Florida to the Midwest California to Washington State, fielding teams in the NCDC, Premier, Elite, 18U, 16U and 16U Development Divisions.
The USPHL is uniquely positioned to facilitate a clear pathway for players graduating from Bantam looking to progress through Midget and Junior Hockey on to college and pro hockey. The USPHL will operate with 5 divisions - NCDC Premier, and Elite at the Junior Level and 16U and 18U at the Midget level. Each division provides a step in the progression to fulfilling a player’s ultimate goal of becoming a collegiate or professional hockey player.
Unlike any other league in North America, it is possible for a player to advance through an organization starting at mites and ending in junior hockey. The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL.com), which operates across the United States, is the nation’s largest amateur ice hockey leagues. The league is comprised of 100 teams representing 80 organizations. Over the past two years, the USPHL has seen over 350 of its players advance to the collegiate level and numerous others advance to the professional levels.
Teams have been selected to participate in specific USPHL divisions based upon geography, strong player pools, rink ownership, financial strength and history of success and integrity at the highest level. The USPHL aims to prepare and develop players for college hockey and beyond with a tiered development structure in accordance with USA Hockey’s American Development model.
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Early Years and Evolution
The organization was established as the Fort Myers Eels in or before 2006. In 2007, the organization was renamed the Florida Eels. From 2008 to 2011, the organization was a member of the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League. From 2009-2011, the organization operated a second team that was also a member of the Southeast Junior Hockey League.
The organization sat out the 2008-09 season. During this season the International Junior Hockey League operated a team called Team Florida out of the same arena. The organization operated just two teams starting in 2009 (one in the Southeast Junior Hockey League and one in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League. They dropped to one team with a team in the EJHL South.
Offensive Prowess and Key Players
Year after year, the Eels’ offensive talent lights up the league - and our history proves it. The Eels roster is stacked with skill, speed, and experience, and the offensive lineup is deep with players who’ve built chemistry and know what it takes to be #1. Whether it’s Premier or Elite, we’ve got a deep bench loaded with snipers, playmakers, and all-around offensive threats.
On the Premier side, the torch has been passed from legends like Demeed Podrezov, Adam Guadet, Jared Figeroua, to high-octane talents like Taurin Haddon-Harris, Noah Trathen, Colin Patterson and most recently, Anthony Zebley. From returning leaders hungry for more, to rising rookies determined to earn their spotlight - the race for the scoring title is wide open. One team. Two divisions. Countless scoring threats.
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Recent Events and Community Impact
A trip around the South is always pleasant, especially as the weather up north begins getting a little colder every day. The big story over the last week was, of course, the return of the two Florida teams most impacted by Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28 - the Florida Eels and the Florida Jr. Blades, who are based in Fort Myers and Estero, respectively. Ian made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane that final Wednesday of September and destroyed several structures around the Fort Myers area and was the direct or indirect cause of more than 100 deaths.
The Eels and Blades players, staff, families and billet families thankfully all survived the hurricane, though many were impacted by property damage. The Eels and Blades players who remained in the Fort Myers spent most of the last month helping out with cleanup projects around the community. The Eels started their Florida Cup with the Palm Beach Typhoon in their first game action of any kind since Sept. 26 at the USPHL Southeast Showcase, due to dealing with preparation and then the recovery from Hurricane Ian for nearly a month. But they looked in mid-season form when they defeated the Typhoon by a 6-1 score in Saturday’s play-in round.
In the Sunday night final, a prime time event with The Dan K Show on the call and USPHL Commissioner Bob Turow ready to present the Cup, the Eels came back from being down 2-1 after one period to score four more goals to just two for Tampa Bay the rest of the way. Julian Gagnon (‘04), who played only in the final against Tampa, has posted points in his last four straight games played, going back to Sept. 25 in Hampton Roads, posting an active 2-3-5 scoring streak.
USPHL Elite Division Highlights
Carolina Jr. The Jr. Canes remain at first place in points in the USPHL Elite for the time being, leading with 24 points off a 12-1-0-0 record. The Potomac Patriots are hot on their heels just two points back at 11-4-0-0 for 22 points. The latest two wins in a string of now 10 in a row came at the expense of the first-year Columbia Infantry. The Jr. The Jr. Canes are off to their best start since going 13-0-0-0 in 2019-20, one game off of their best-ever start. That 13-game run is also their best-ever winning streak. Their 25 goals in four games, all with five or more goals scored, match a similar streak between Oct. 25 and Nov. Nathan Rhodes (‘04) has a 3-5-8 line over his last six games, improving to 15 points in 13 games. Additionally, ‘04 Swiss import Matteo Viglino has a 3-5-8 line in his last five games, giving him all of his points for the season.
USPHL Elite Standings
| Team | Record | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Jr. Canes | 12-1-0-0 | 24 |
| Potomac Patriots | 11-4-0-0 | 22 |
Individual Player Achievements and Alumni Success
The legacy of the Florida Eels lives on at Curry College, where Gage Dill and Taurin Haddon-Harris continue to dominate, just as they did in their USPHL days. It comes as no surprise to Florida Eels General Manager, Frank Scarpaci, that Curry College is thriving with these two on the roster. “These boys led the Eels for several seasons in scoring and leadership, pushing us to the top of USPHL rankings and deep national runs."
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When Dill and Haddon-Harris took the ice for the Eels, they were nothing short of game-changers. Their dominance on the ice was undeniable. But their impact goes beyond raw skill. These two were charismatic leaders, setting the tone with their high-energy, high-tempo style of play.
Goaltending Excellence
The Florida Eels Junior Hockey program has long been synonymous with excellence, particularly when it comes to goaltending. Year after year, the Eels continue to produce top-tier netminders who not only dominate the USPHL but also transition seamlessly into the collegiate, professional, and even national team circuits. A glance at the Eels’ recent history is enough to prove their success in this crucial position.
The Florida Eels Premier Team has been home to a string of remarkable goaltenders, each leaving a legacy of excellence between the pipes. Tresor Wotton (2023-24) is the latest standout, following in the footsteps of Duncan Rolleman (2021-24), Adam Rouleau (2022-23), Alex Caron (2019-22), Jakub Kostenly (2019-21), Viktor Pulsson (2018-19), and Danick Francour (2018-19).
The success story doesn’t end at the Premier level. The Eels’ Elite Division has also seen its fair share of exceptional goaltenders, including Karlis Mezargs (2020), Jacob Mork (2019-21), and Matthew Schoer (2020-21). With a proven track record of developing goaltenders who make an impact at higher levels, the Florida Eels remain a prime destination for collegiate programs seeking top-tier talent. The next wave of Eels goaltending excellence is already on the rise, with Noah Van Herik and Russ Decoste poised to make their mark next season.
The Florida Eels Premier squad has a game-changer in net, and his name is Noah Van Herik. With every game, Van Herik showcases his ability to steal wins, making highlight-reel saves and keeping opponents frustrated. His composure under pressure, combined with his agility and sharp positioning, make him a nightmare for shooters. But it’s not just his talent that sets him apart-it’s his work ethic. Van Herik is relentless in his pursuit of improvement, fine-tuning his skills and bringing a championship mindset to the ice. As the season heats up, expect Van Herik to continue raising the bar, anchoring the Eels’ defense, and proving why he’s one of the top netminders in junior hockey.
When the Florida Eels Premier team hits the ice, one name stands out between the pipes-Russ DeCoste. With a calm and composed presence, DeCoste consistently delivers clutch performances, shutting down opponents with lightning-fast glove saves and precision positioning. This season, DeCoste has been a cornerstone of the team’s defensive unit, boasting impressive stats and a proven track record of keeping the Eels in every battle. As the Eels continue their push for victory, Russ DeCoste stands ready to rise to the challenge, proving time and time again why he’s one of the top goaltenders in the league.