Florida Eels: Organization ‘aggressively recruiting’ for turnaround

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The summer may be even busier at some points than the regular season for Frank Scarpaci and his expanded coaching staff. There is a long list of showcases and tournaments the Eels are scouting and/or playing in.

“The Eels are aggressively recruiting for next year,” said Scarpaci.

A quick rundown includes EHK (Chicago and Detroit), Junior Prospects (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Five Hole (Indianapolis, Ind.), Monster Showcase (St. Louis, Mo.), American Cup (Pittsburgh, Pa.), EJHL Spring Showcase (Marlboro, Mass.), Pro-Am Pre-Draft (Walpole, Mass.), JPS and Under Armour (both in Colorado), Elite Edge (Tennessee), EJHL Summer Showcase (Marlboro, Mass.), Chowder Cup (Foxboro, Mass.) and the USA Hockey Select Festivals.

The team has already played in five showcases with more than 150 different players on their roster.

“We are signing some extremely talented young men who will make significant contributions to the Eels program both on and off the ice,” said Scarpaci. “We have more than three dozen players coming in from the likes of Colorado, California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan Massachusetts and Europe.”

As much as the team looks forward to strong new talent, the Eels also are looking forward to bringing back some players who impressed them last year.

“These are the guys with heart and soul who really want to play here and make their mark to get to play college hockey,” sais Scarpaci. “This year, we are focusing on work ethic and talent. If you do not pass the threshold of having determination dedication and self sacrifice with a burning desire to excel and outhustle the opponents, then you don’t get to pass go.

“I do not care who you are or where you came from or where you played before,” he added. “We are returning to the ideals that made the Eels a great program of years past.”

Veterans coming back (players with more than two years already with the Eels) include Joey Giambalvo,Joey Colatarci, Vasili Malliaras, Dion Pipia, Scott Perkins, Mark Marsala, Nick Cormier, Brett Harris andDillon Knox.

Second-year players include Dominick Rovito, Sean Gawel, Ed Streit, Brandon Hotaling, Vinny Cavalieri,Ryan Frank, Hunter Gonzalez, Ryan Deese, Steve Fister, Ben Torruela and Patrick Daniels.

“The Eels have set aside four weeks of training camp for preseason, and that will definitely set the tone for the new season,” said Scarpaci.