2026-27 NCDC Season Preview: South Conference – Florida Division
The 2026-27 NCDC Season Preview Series continues with a look at the South Conference’s Florida Division.
All six Florida organizations enter their first season at the NCDC level, bringing established Premier programs and a new organization into Tier II competition. The division features a mix of speed, physicality, depth and organizations focused on providing players with additional opportunities for development and advancement.
Here is a team-by-team look at the Florida Division entering its inaugural NCDC season.
Coral Springs Jr. Cats
Head Coach/General Manager: Rett Vossler
2025-26 Premier Record: 30-14-0-0, 60 points
2026-27: First NCDC Season
The Coral Springs Jr. Cats enter their first NCDC season with a largely new roster and a group Vossler believes will be balanced throughout the lineup.
“Overall I think we have a very balanced group,” Vossler said. “But if there’s a standout area, it would be our goaltenders.”
Vertti Sakko, Daniel Duzek and Noah Hammarström are among the newcomers expected to immediately take on significant roles.
“They are players that we expect to come in and lead the charge,” Vossler said.
Coral Springs added size during the offseason while assembling an almost entirely new group for the move to the NCDC.
Vossler expects the Jr. Cats to establish an aggressive identity.
“Hard working, relentless and aggressive,” Vossler said. “We have a group of 26 young men that are eager to prove themselves at the NCDC level.”
Night-to-night consistency will be critical in Florida.
“In the Florida Division you have to show up every game,” Vossler said. “Anyone can beat anyone here on any given day. Ultimately, that only helps players improve.”
After establishing a foundation last season, the organization now wants to continue progressing.
“Success at this level is about winning games and advancing players in their careers,” Vossler said. “We aim to continue those trends.”
The jump to the NCDC provides another challenge for the program.
“The game is the same, everything is just a little faster and more detail-driven,” Vossler said. “As a coaching staff, we have prepared all summer for this.”
Florida Eels
Head Coach: Frank Scarpaci III
2025-26 Premier Record: 26-16-2-0, 54 points
2026-27: First NCDC Season
The Florida Eels enter their first NCDC campaign believing depth throughout the roster can help them immediately adjust to Tier II hockey.
“Depth in all positions,” Scarpaci said. “We really like what our group looks like on paper when it comes to defending and being able to move pucks out of our zone efficiently.”
Derrick Pederson, Oliver Melnychuk, Paxton Campbell, Spencer Hambling and Xavier Charron are among the players expected to take on larger roles.
Newcomers Arvid Lath, Dane Sauderman and EJ Goviea could also provide immediate contributions.
The Eels have traditionally focused on generating offense through strong defensive play, and that approach will remain central as the program moves to the NCDC.
“We want to be defensively sound, committed to limiting other teams’ quality chances and then be quick in our transition game to counter,” Scarpaci said.
The organization used the offseason to add depth while preparing to build on the standard established by its Premier program.
Daily improvement will be a major emphasis.
“We have to be focused on improving every day,” Scarpaci said. “Every day we have to come in with the mindset that we are outworking teams Monday through Friday so we can have the biggest growth in our conference.”
The Eels also want to prepare their players for opportunities beyond the season while competing for the Florida Division.
“With such a competitive market for these kids in getting college opportunities, we want to do everything we can to get them ready, seen and spots beyond this season,” Scarpaci said.
For the organization, reaching the NCDC represents another significant step.
“To be able to match up and compete against the best this league offers is a huge challenge that we’re beyond excited for,” Scarpaci said.
Florida Jr. Blades
Head Coach: Noah Wild
2025-26 Premier Record: 12-28-2-2, 28 points
2026-27: First NCDC Season
The Florida Jr. Blades enter their first NCDC season looking to establish themselves through skating, pressure and a strong team culture.
“We will be a strong skating team with an in-your-face type style of play,” Wild said. “It will be a great group with a great culture to build here for this upcoming season.”
Briar Dickson returns and is one player the organization is particularly excited to see take another step.
“He has excelled at all levels he has played at, and we are very excited to see the next step he will take,” Wild said.
The Jr. Blades also expect several European newcomers to have opportunities to make an impact as they adjust to the North American game.
During the offseason, Florida focused on improving its goal scoring while adding players capable of contributing in 200-foot roles.
Wild described the identity simply as “a fast, hard-working family.”
Mental toughness and consistency will be critical throughout the Florida Division schedule.
“Staying mentally tough and being consistent with our competitive levels,” Wild said.
For the Jr. Blades, the primary measure of success remains straightforward: player development and advancement.
The move to the NCDC also adds another level of competition throughout the state.
“We are very excited for the move,” Wild said. “It has changed the landscape a bit and has brought a new, exciting expectation of competition for the Florida Division.”
Florida Surge
Head Coach: Mac Diver
2026-27: First NCDC Season
The Florida Surge begin their first NCDC season with an entirely new roster and an emphasis on building the culture of the program from Day 1.
“We are a new team bringing in a lot of guys with like mindsets,” Diver said. “They all want to come in and compete, pushing each other to be better and help build this program.”
Depth at forward is one area Diver believes could immediately benefit the Surge.
“We will have four lines that can all really go, with guys that will be competing day in and day out to earn their spot and keep it,” Diver said.
With no returning players, Florida will rely on a number of newcomers to establish the program.
Sam Roteman brings a full season of NCDC experience and is expected to provide veteran leadership. Dominic Baeza makes the jump from the Premier level, while Swedish forward Carl Lauridsen brings size, speed, skill and physicality to his first North American season.
The Surge used the offseason to lay the foundation for the organization and establish the type of culture they want moving forward.
“Nothing is given and everything is earned,” Diver said. “We aspire to have a club that identifies as a hungry group that will always be striving to reach new heights.”
Matching the Florida Division’s physicality will be an important part of the transition.
“The Florida Division, even before the NCDC, was notorious for being a great balance of physicality and skill,” Diver said. “Our group has to be willing to come in and match or exceed the physicality of the rest of the teams in our division.”
Despite being a first-year program, the Surge are not lowering their expectations.
“We prefer to set expectations high and be a contender in the Florida Division and the league overall,” Diver said.
The opportunity to bring NCDC hockey to the organization has created additional excitement.
“It is fantastic to have Tier II hockey down in Florida,” Diver said. “This jump is something we’re preparing for every day to make sure our guys are ready to go on Day 1.”
Tampa Bay Juniors
Head Coach: Garrett Strot
2025-26 Premier Record: 25-18-0-1, 51 points
2026-27: First NCDC Season
The Tampa Bay Juniors enter their first NCDC season believing depth throughout the lineup can become one of their biggest strengths.
“On paper, we should have four solid lines and defensemen,” Strot said.
Several players are making the move up from Tampa Bay’s Premier program, including Weston Hermann, Zack Myers and Brady Lane.
Forwards George Brkljacic, Edgar Bekuzarov and Niko Makeala are among the newcomers Strot believes could contribute early in the season.
Depth was the organization’s primary offseason focus as Tampa prepared for the increased demands of NCDC hockey.
The Juniors expect to establish a straightforward identity built on effort and pace.
“Hard working, playing with speed,” Strot said.
Being prepared every night will be vital against the rest of the Florida Division.
“In the Florida Division you have to be ready to play every game and compete at both ends of the ice,” Strot said.
Tampa enters its first NCDC season with an ambitious goal: Dineen Cup.
“The move to NCDC is going to raise the competition for all the teams and test the depth of your roster,” Strot said.
Typhoon Hockey Club
Head Coach: Matthew Maniglia
2025-26 Premier Record: 11-31-1-1, 24 points
2026-27: First NCDC Season
Typhoon Hockey Club enters its first NCDC season with a combination of experienced junior players and younger talent looking to establish themselves at the Tier II level.
“Our biggest strengths entering the 2026-27 season are our depth and competitiveness,” Maniglia said. “We have a strong mix of experienced junior players and talented younger players who are hungry to establish themselves at the NCDC level.”
Returning players will have opportunities to earn increased responsibilities, while Maniglia expects the same competitive approach from the incoming class.
“We brought players in who we believe fit what we’re trying to build, but everyone will have to earn their role once camp begins,” Maniglia said.
The offseason centered around raising standards throughout the organization.
“We focused on continuing to improve our organization from top to bottom,” Maniglia said. “We wanted to raise our standards, strengthen our overall structure and continue creating the best possible environment for our players.”
Typhoon expects its identity to take shape around competitiveness, discipline and detail.
“We expect to play with pace, structure and attention to detail,” Maniglia said.
Consistency will be especially important against a competitive Florida Division.
“We need to bring the same level of preparation and compete every day while continuing to improve throughout the season,” Maniglia said.
Typhoon will measure success through sustained progress.
“If our players develop, our team continues improving and we’re playing our best hockey when it matters most, we’ll consider that a successful year,” Maniglia said.
The jump to Tier II represents an important step for the organization.
“We understand the level is going to increase, and our focus has been making sure our players, staff and overall organization are prepared to meet that standard,” Maniglia said.
