The Florida Eels are honored to announce our 7th College Commitment this season A huge congratulation goes out to Brian Kozek as he commits to Framingham State University.  He is no doubt one of the Florida Eels top academic students. He had many NCAA Div. III options. He was honored to have been recruited by so many well-known and respected college coaches from some very prestigious colleges and universities.  No doubt FSU loves what they saw in him both from a tangible and intangible basis. 

Kozek is from Chicago, IL. He has been with our Eels Junior program for 4 years. He is a model for USPHL and the Florida Eels player development.  Initially he played for the Eels Empire team, then the USP3 team, then the Elite team and this year our Premier team. It was all about developing his skill set and getting him ready for college hockey. This season he was voted as team Captain as he was also Captain on his USP3 team and assistant Captain on the Elite team. He did an incredible job with leadership responsibilities on each team he was on. 

Florida Eels General Manager Scarpaci says: 

“Brian Kozek has great vision on the ice. He has tremendous passion and is one of the most dedicated and determined young men who ever laced up a pair of skates for the Eels. He has one of the best work ethic I have ever seen in a player.    He arrives at practice a minimum of 1 hour before anyone else and remained an extra hour shooting 150 pucks each day 5 days a week. This is a very dedicated and determined individual. He realizes in order to make it in life you can’t just put in your time. He works on all of the little things in his game during his down time. These are the ingredients of a successful individual in life whether as hockey player, lawyer, businessman or any craft. That is what makes him so special. I strongly believe he will go far in life. He will excel at anything he does.” 

 He is a great character young man who comes from extremely loving and supportive parents:    Anne and Mike Kozek, who were supportive in every way to facilitate and allow their son to reach and realize his dreams and goals of advancing to the Next Level: College Hockey. In fact, Mrs. Kozek moved to Florida and billeted numerous Eels Junior players over the past 4 seasons and has been real surrogate mom to our players, and has had a major impact on their lives.  The Kozek’s have been dedicated volunteers with the Eels program.

 Eels Premier coach, Frankie Scarpaci noted in his player profile and scouting report:

This Eels veteran has a big leadership role.  A big physical defenseman that plays in all 3 zones. A guy you want in the trenches with you in big games. As a defenseman, he makes excellent first passes out that college coaches look for.   He battles extremely hard in front of his net. He plays like he has deeded rights to the crease. Also, a monster on the boards.   Possess excellent gap control.  Block shots. In addition to his defensive skill, he has excellent offensive abilities. Indeed, he is the lead leading goal scorer for a defenseman.   He has a hard-heavy shot from the blueline that gets through traffic. On the powerplay and regular shift.    He gets sticks in lanes on the penalty kill. This season like in his previous seasons with the Eels, Brian was selected by a panel of coaches to the league’s All Star Team.

Kozek is looking forward to becoming a FSU Ram and playing for Coach Guy Angers. FSU plays in the prestigious Massachusetts state college league MASCAC.  Brian will be playing against Plymouth State, Salem State, Worcester State University,  Fitchburg State, Westfield State, and the University of Mass Dartmouth.  Coach Angers has been coaching for over 8 years at FSU.  He is building a strong program that his players and the University can be proud of. Kozek is use to a coach like Coach Angers who brings enormous passion, excitement and creativity to a team.  Brian is excited as well as he is joining 2 former Eels teammates: Goalie Nolan Greene and forward Michael Gennello who play for the FSU men’s hockey program. 

We wish the best of luck to Brian. There is no doubt that he will make us all proud in his endeavors and studies at college.