Congrats To Our Eels USP3 Team For Their Season. What Heart and Determination

20 Feb 2017 by Frank Scarpaci

A huge congrats goes out to the boys on the USP3 team for their performances and development this season. Each team has an identity. No matter if you are an NHL team, a College team or a Junior team, there is a team identity. Some teams are defined by their potent offense and scoring. Some teams are known for their strong defense. Some teams are identified by their hitting. Some teams are truly veteran teams . The Eels USP3 team has its own identity. They are separate and distinct: The first is “Player Development” There isn’t a team in the entire USPHL that develops and advances its players, as does this team.

This year is no exception. Look at where it started:
Brian Kozek and Nolan Greene moved up from last year’s USP3 team.

The following players were originally earmarked for the USP3 team and moved up:

Gavin Medina
Jean-Simon Robidoux
Colton Crabtree
Andrii Rusakov
Nikita Lopatin
Nicholas Kotz
Blake Hoffman
Richard Allgood
Rajhan Munnings
Caden Tchop
WOW!!!!!!!!

The 2nd word is “Heart.” OMG did these guys have heart. Look at their roster 75% were 1999 and 2000 DOB. Most of these boys would have been 2nd year midgets. But no. They took the quantum leap this season made the investment of time and money. These players made huge and unparalleled strides. Our players are so much ahead of other players their age. They have gone through 3 weeks of the most intense and rigorous junior training camp. They have undergone the toughest practices 5 days per week, 40 weeks of the season. They have been working out each day in World Gym for another 1-½ hours each day for 40 weeks. They shoot every day for an hour 100+ pucks a day. They experienced 5 major college showcases and the bus trips like pro and college athletes.

Look at the 20 first year junior players such as Barry Groesch, Richie Lepardo, Dylan Robello, Daniel Merida, Jimmy Sturdivent, Corey Altieri, Dylan Tschabold, Mason DeMeyere, Dimitriy Minakov, Ethan Gill, Will Carey, Anthony Sozio, Jason Posner, Matthew Maniglia, Allan Hernandez, Jared Figueroa, Terell Bolz, Ryan Boyd, John Witkowski and Dashel Quartarolo. Unreal. No other team with 20 first year players came close with 19 wins and making the playoffs. Think about it 10+ teams in the USP3 Division did not make the playoffs. The experience alone – playing older guys and playing in the playoffs speaks volumes to their development. Think about the playoff experience they garnered. They got to play the number one seed in the USP3 division. No gimmees so to speak.

These boys were integrated with key veterans who once again showed guidance and were mentors to all of rookie players. Thanks to Captain Alec Parr and assistants Kellen Crowther and AJ Giordano, and regular players Liam McCune and Brandon Fitzsimmons

For the parents who are often thousands of miles away, I want to reveal what the boys have been doing over the last 3 weeks of regular season. The USP3 guys worked 6 and sometimes 8 hours per day preparing for their playoff run. This included 1 1/2 hours day on the ice, 1-½ hours off ice and gym; watching and dissecting 3 hours daily of video analysis of the Jr. Blade’s games; played on Wed and Thursday night high school games against the Elite players as precursors to the playoffs; and hours of chalk talk and strategy with all of the coaches. These efforts clearly demonstrate unequivocal and emphatic dedication at the highest degree.

Folks do you think this was a team that had heart, determination, will to win, and courage? Indeed, as an individual who has been coaching for decades, I haven’t seen a group of young boys who were as hungry to learn with the fortitude, faith and resolve to take on any opponent including the Jr. Blades and if God willing later Charlotte and then Boston.

These boys were not willing to concede or accept that anyone could “outwork” them. They believed they would bring down Goliath. Folks, notwithstanding not advancing beyond the first round, they proved correct! No they were not victorious in the win Colum. No they did not advance to round 2. No they did not upset the Jr. Blades. But yes they were not out worked. The Blades were a very experienced and primarily a 1996 veteran team. The Eels were like the Blades last year. The Eels were young and learning and they garnered invaluable experience and in hockey experience means so much. It was through their experience and training that earned them the right to get into Round 1. Gaining playoff experience added to their depth chart for years to come.

I am incredibly proud of these young men. I am honored to have been one of their coaches this season and elated that they were part of the Eels organization. I look forward to all of them returning next season and continuing to pursue their “End Game” That is College Hockey. No organization advances more players to that level and these boys will also realize those dreams. They understand that dreaming and goals are not enough. For heaven sake everyone has those dreams and aspirations. The Eels USP3 players know it takes incredible hard work, self-sacrifices dedication determination and fortitude. It takes over 1,500 hours per year to prepare for this. This is precisely our Eels formula. I want to again thank the boys and their parents and families who helped them achieve this year’s height.

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