Record first regulation loss of the season

Boston, MA. – The Florida Jr. Blades returned home on Sunday, January 8 after winning three out of four games at the Eastern Junior Winter Showcase at the New England Sports Center. The weekend’s single loss was Florida’s first regulation loss of the season. The Jr. Blades fell 4-2 vs. the EJHL South Shore Kings from Foxboro, MA.

The Jr. Blades still own a 25-1-1 record and lead the Empire southern conference with 51 points, nine points ahead of the second place Atlanta Knights. The last time the Jr. Blades recorded less than two points in a single game was in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Atlanta Knights on October 7, 2011. The Jr. Blades remain undefeated on home ice.

“The South Shore game is definitely a disappointment,” said head coach Tad O’Had. “We will use this loss as a way to motivate us to perform at a higher degree.”

Four Jr. Blades share the title of weekend leader in points, all registering three points: captain blue liner James Hyatt (11g, 13a, 24pt), forward Josh Koerner (26g, 25a, 51pt), defenseman Ross Kovacs (6g, 12a, 18pt) and winger Eryn Siracusa (12g, 27a, 39pt).

Over 120 scouts representing Hockey East, ECAC Hockey, and Atlantic Hockey schools, as well as nearly every NCAA Division III school from the Eastern United States attended. Several scouts from professional teams also saw the games throughout the weekend.

“The EJHL Showcase was an excellent opportunity for our club to continue to compete against the best from the North with such powerhouse programs,” said O’Had. “We were able to show we are battle tested and get our players showcased to elite colleges and scouts.”

The Jr. Blades return home Thursday, January 12 vs. the Tampa Bay Juniors. Puck drops at 7:30 at Germain Arena.

Game 1:

New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs – 2, Jr. Blades – 4

Game 2:

NY Apple Core – 3, Jr. Blades 4

Game 3:

Capital District Selects – 3, Jr. Blades 6

Game 4:

South Shore Kings – 4, Jr. Blades 2

GAME SHEETS: http://www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro/teamschedule.html?teamid=327258&seasonid=7391

Interviewed by NBC-2 in December 2011 on social media coming to FGCU.

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Estero, Fla. – The Florida Jr. Blades displayed the defensive depth on Saturday night at Germain Arena, killing all seven penalties and recording three shorthanded goals. Florida’s defense held Space Coast to only four scoring chances, while the Jr. Blades pummeled the Hurricanes with 82 shots on goal throughout the three periods.

The Florida Jr. Blades were quick off the draw in the first period when Troy Degler shot the puck from just outside the Hurricanes’ crease and Chaise Howard (1g, 3a, 4p) tipped in the deflection from the corner for his first goal of the season. Josh Koerner was also credited with an assist.

Florida quickly widened the deficit to two goals when Koerner recorded his 13th goal of the season (13g, 4a, 17p) and second point of the game at the 18:32 mark.

The Jr. Blades dominated the first period offensively, recording 33 shots on goal while Florida’s blue line restricted Space Coast to only one. Florida skated into the locker room leading 2-0.

Rookie defenseman Blake O’Neill (2g, 4a, 6p) kicked off the second period with an unassisted tally at the 17:17 mark. After blue liner Ty Lasker sat a tripping penalty, the Jr. Blades penalty kill unit stepped up and defenseman Dan Thompson (2g, 1a, 3p) recorded an unassisted, shorthanded goal at 14:15.

At 6:29, Fort Myers native Michael DiVico (2g, 0a) recorded an unassisted goal of his own, giving the Jr. Blades an unanswered five-goal lead for the remainder of the second frame. The period ended with shots on goal totaling 52-5 in favor of Florida.

After a very physical third period, Eryn Siracusa (5g, 5a, 10p) registered a shorthanded goal with 5:47 remaining in the contest. The penalty kill unit forged on, giving the Jr. Blades a 7-0 lead when D.J. Thomas (4g, 4a, 8p) added Florida’s 3rd shorthanded goal at 4:30, assisted by defenseman Ross Kovacs (1g, 2a, 3 p).

J.P. Larmoyeux (4g, 5a, 9p) added an even strength tally shortly afterwards, giving the Jr. Blades an eight-goal lead with just three minutes remaining in the game.

The Space Coast Hurricanes failed to respond and the Jr. Blades claimed an 8-0 victory, extending their flawless regular-season record to 6-0.

Shots on goal for all 60 minutes compiled to 82-4 in favor of Florida.

http://www.floridajrblades.com/home/game-recap-blue-line-leads-blades-to-8-0-victory-over-space-coast/

Being born in the late-1980s, I’m the first generation to literally grow up in a digital world. Somewhere in the depths of a scrapbook, there’s baby picture of me poking away at an IBM computer the size of mini-fridge. When I was 10-years-old, my parents gave me my first desktop Gateway. I filmed and digitally edited my 13th birthday party, and the same year I got my first cell phone – a silver Motorola flip phone the size of a brick. I don’t have veins, I have wires.

Me with my mom, first taste of digital life

Question is: is the digital world helping the Internet generation utilize our brains, or are we just distracting it with multitasking overload?

There are times, I’ll admit, my digital savvy has been more distracting than productive. I’ve fiddled away hours clicking through Facebook statuses or played mindless hours of Guitar Hero until my thumb nearly cracks off.

Last week, my honors reading class at Florida Gulf Coast University discussed of Don Tapscott’s “Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation Is Changing Your World.” Our class of seven (plus one journalism professor to keep us on track) seemed to all agree that the baby boomers’ implications that NetGen-ers lack concentration, productivity and retain less information aren’t all true.

Tapscott wrote about interactive technology, and how regularly playing an action video game can change how the brain processes information.

John, an outspoken, bearded philosophy major can vouch for video games, using Halo as an example. “You notice your radar, how much ammo you have, where your teammates are, how much life you have left all while you’re having a conversation with your team on a headset,” he says.  “We are able to instantly compartmentalize every aspect of the game.”

I guess it’s no surprise teenage boys lock themselves into their bedrooms for hours at a time, committing virtual massacres inside their TV screen: there’s a hell of a lot to process simultaneously.

Audrey, a soft spoken 21-year-old from Malaysia, takes multitasking to an entirely new realm. She says in order to concentrate, she listens to Chinese music (one of four languages she speaks) as she reads her textbooks that are written in English, writes her blog in English all while switching back and forth from Facebook.

She does admit the the United States’ reliance on technology has made her a little lazy since moving to the states to attend college. “I grew up in Malaysia, and we had to memorize a lot,” she says. “Here, we copy and paste. I think it has to do with culture.”

But why memorize when we carry around Google on our iPhones?

As much as my generation is reliant on our BlackBerrys to help us find the nearest coffee shop, I think it has to be more with efficiency than laziness. The world moves faster than ever, and there’s an increasing urgency for productivity. If Merriam-Webster says “google” is a legitimate verb, then Google I will.

— My guest post on www.kylealacy.com, author of Twitter Marketing for Dummies

After stuffing the stat sheet at the showcase, Florida now boasts four players on the league leader board in points. Out of the top 20 forwards in the MET, Oleg Kuzmin ranks 5th (38g, 28a, 66pts), Daniel Echeverri ranks 9th (30g, 27a, 57pts), Captain Mark Woinicki ranks 13th (24g, 30a, 54pts) and J.P. Larmoyeux was added this weekend, ranking 18th (18g, 31a, 49pts).

Florida’s special teams also shined throughout the weekend, tallying four power play and five shorthanded goals.

The Jr. Blades kicked off the four-game weekend with a 10-1 blowout win over the New York Saints. Twenty-year-old forward Oleg Kuzmin registered his second hat trick in three games, recording four goals versus the Saints. The Moscow native recorded his last hat trick goal in overtime on February 12 vs. the Tampa Bay Juniors at Germain Arena. Seventeen-year-old forward Josh Koerner also had a multiple goal game, registering two goals for a season total of 24 goals, 14 assists for 28 total points in 37 appearances.

Goaltender Joe Keyser highlighted the second game of the weekend, earning a shut out in the 4-0 Florida win over the Valley Forge Minutemen. Forward Dan Echeverri lead the Jr. Blades in points with one goal and two assists, followed by forwards Josh Stanclift and J.P. Larmoyeux with two assists each.

Florida wrapped the weekend with two games opposite the East Coast Eagles, bringing home 3-2 and 7-2 wins, respectively. Koerner recorded the game-winning goal in the 3-2 victory over the Eagles, sealing the contest after J.P. Larmoyeux’s two tallies in the second period.

Echeverri shined once again in the 7-2 triumph over East Coast, registering three points (2g, 1a). One of the youngest players on the roster, fifteen-year-old Troy Degler, also stood out for Florida with both a goal and an assist.

“This has been an incredible first season, the team camaraderie and closeness this group of young men have formed is wonderful,” says Head Coach Tad O’Had. “We have strong team leadership, team togetherness and overall conditioning level. These three components make our entire organization very excited for a lengthy playoff run.”

“We came here with a job to do, there were goals set that needed to be reached,” adds Associate Coach Jake Laime. “The entire staff couldn’t be happier with what we have accomplished thus far and really look forward to the post season.”

This weekend clinched second place for the Jr. Blades, earning them a bye through the first round of playoffs and they advance to the Frozen Four in Atlanta, Georgia. They also secured a spot at the Keegan Cup Finals in Philadelphia.

http://www.floridajrblades.com/mjhl/448/

June 3, 2011

ESTERO, FLA – The Florida Jr. Blades are proud to announce that All-Star defenseman James Hyatt will return to Estero for the 2011-2012 campaign.

Last season, the 19-year-old posted 11 points (3g, 8a) in 26 appearances and was tied for first among blue liners in goals (along with Michael Wilson & Eliot Bock) as well as second in total points.

Hyatt’s season-best performance was on January 16, 2011 when he notched the game-winning goal in overtime to lift the Jr. Blades over the Hampton Roads
Jr. Whalers 3-2.

“James is a defensive stall worth, he posses tenacity and an unrivaled work ethic,” said head coach Tad O’Had. “He leads by example and improved his game by 100% from start to finish. We are pleased to have him back.”

Five-foot-nine, 170-pound Hyatt was named to the 2010-2011 MET South All-Star team, given a MET South defenseman of the week nod and also earned the Athletic Republic Strength & Conditioning award for the month of September.

As a member of the inaugural, MET South 2^nd-place roster last season, the Coral Springs, Florida native is returning to Estero hungry for a championship.

“We got a taste of it last year, and for an expansion team to make it to nationals is a great achievement, but just like Tad and Jake say, if you don’t expect to win it all you aren’t expecting enough from yourself,” said Hyatt. “I know all of us returning to the Blades this year have that same mindset.”

http://www.floridajrblades.com/home/all-star-defenseman-james-hyatt-re-signs-for-2011-2012/

May 11, 2011

ESTERO, FLA – Forward Josh Koerner made it official on Tuesday, May 10 that he would re-join the Florida Jr. Blades for his sophomore season.

“I’m excited to be a part of the Jr. Blades organization for a second year and I am looking forward to another great season,” said Koerner.

Seventeen-year-old Koerner was a major part of Florida’s inaugural roster that led the team to USA Hockey Jr. B National Championships in Marlborough, Massachusetts. He was selected to the MET Top Prospects Game, Athletic Republic Player of the Month for January 2011, received Player of the Week honors and ended the season with the Met South Rookie of Year Award. Koerner also compiled an impressive 38 points in just 37 regular-season games (30g, 18a).

“Koerner is an incredible talent; he has a bright future in hockey,” said associate coach Jake Laime. “It’s the Jr. Blades’ goal to help develop him onto collegiate hockey and beyond.”

The 5’11, 170lb winger played his personal best on October 10, 2010 vs. the Space Coast Hurricanes where he recorded two goals and two assists.

Koerner’s longest point streak last season season stretched from February 3, 2011 – February 19, 2011 where he recorded 11 points over four games (6g, 5a). Including playoffs, Koerner recorded two or more points in 13 of 45 games in a Jr. Blades sweater.

His character shines on and off the ice; the Montgomery, NY native is an excellent student in the classroom and a student of the game on the ice.

“We are extremely excited and proud to have Josh back, we are looking forward to a great upcoming season,” said head coach Tad O’Had. Along with the signing of Josh

Koerner, currently up to 12 players are looking to return from last year’s national-bound team.

The Florida Jr. Blades are continuing to add to an already impressive roster with recruiting showcases in St. Louis, Denver, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Chicago and
Nashville.

http://www.floridajrblades.com/home/rookie-of-the-year-inks-with-the-jr-blades/