COVER STORY
The Tampa
Bay Junior’s
Host USPHL
Florida
Showcase
Photo Credit: Josh Boyd, USPHL
If Success Is measured By Excitement, The United States Hockey League Nailed it!
By Reba LaRose
The sunshine that Florida is known for may
have refused to shine on this mid-December
weekend but that was okay, the United States
Hockey League Junior Florida Showcase shined
brightly in its place.
In all, there were 12 organizations with a total of
24 teams in both the Premier and Elite divisions
gathered at Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley
Chapel from December 14-17 for the 44-game
showcase. The state-of-the-art facilities of FHCI
drew high praises from all the teams who visited
the arena for the first time.
Garret Strot, head coach of the Tampa Bay
Juniors, and his team were enthusiastic hosts for
all who came.
“We are excited to host the showcase and put on
a first-class event. This will be the first time we
have had the showcase at our arena,” said Strot.
“I think the players and fans will enjoy the whole
atmosphere that FHCI provides.”
For the USPHL, their goal is to not only organize
successful events and bring young adults of all
backgrounds together on the ice but give young
players between the ages of 16-20 an opportunity
to play in a high-level league with the ultimate
goal of landing a spot on a college hockey roster.
Each individual USPHL organization in the
Southern U.S. is required to have an Elite
and a Premier team. All of these teams push
their players to excel both on and off the
ice, emphasizing the importance of
doing well in school and earning a
good education.
The ultimate goal is to train great
hockey players while also preparing
them for life after hockey. Since its establishment,
the USPHL has helped to place thousands of
young men into colleges across the country.
“The showcase had over 30 college scouts
watching and recruiting players for next year
and future years,” Strot said. “The USPHL last
season sent more players to NCAA colleges than
any league in the U.S., and teams from the
Florida and Southeast Divisions were among
the most heavily recruited teams.” Players from
this showcase will be impact players next season
at the NCAA Division III collegiate level,” he said.
In the past, the showcase has been hosted at
Palm Beach Skate Zone in Lake Worth, and at
Germain Arena in Estero Florida. The showcase
was moved to Wesley Chapel for the first time this
year, and if the response the arena received is any
indication, this event will return to the FHCI again.
While visiting players, families, and fans enjoy
the advanced features of the rink, the Tampa Bay
Juniors and rink staff benefit just as much.
“Hosting the showcase helps us showcase our
rink and our organization. We try to run a firstclass
organization and do it the right way, and
I think fans and players will see that in our
facilities and in our program,” Strot said.
Photo Credit: Josh Boyd, USPHL
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