And the U16 Team Continues to Dance!

And the U16 Team Continues to Dance!

 The U 16 Midgets Win Game 3 assured of a Championship Spot at the Ellenton Ice Memorial Weekend Tournament

The Eels U16 Midgets win another exciting game against the Scorpions. The Scorpions had previously went undefeated downing the Gulf Coast Flames and the Golden Wolves and were looking to take first seed until they met up with the Eels this evening. No doubt the Scorpions are a regular team with players who are extremely acquainted with each other. Their passing was crisp and accurate. They had speed and the benefit of knowing each other well.

The Scorpions used their experience to break all of their opponents down. 

That is until they met the Eels U16 guys!

The Eels team is made up largely of players from our tryouts last week. Sure there were about 1/2 of the players from last year's Eels but integrated were many of the new players who tried out.

However, unless you were at the Tryouts last weekend, you never would have known this team was new. In reality, these guys hardly had time to drop their bags and meet one another let alone being acquainted.

Coaches Jari Sanders, Frank Scarpaci and Dan Alessi were quick to get these boys together as a cohesive unit and go over the game plans, systems, fore-check; power plays and penalty kill systems. We preach team effort. No super stars. Back checking is as important as flying up the ice trying to score.

It is a great thing to watch to see how the players all came together for one purpose. The guys want this to work. We have a mission and goals for the U16 team to be a great Team next year; and next year starts now.

I cannot pick out any super stars on this team. Each player is contributing and that is what this team is about. It kills me when a team has an insufferable selfish player who refuses to pass or takes long shifts. Here the boys are seeing with 35-40 second hard shifts we can drive hard to the net, prevent break downs with equally hard back checking. Think about it folks: The Season has not even begun.

I have goose bumps just seeing the effervescing energies bursting amongst these players.

No matter what happens Monday in the Championship round, we know we have kindled and ignited the spark that will propel this team for the 2012 -13 season.