The Surrey Eagles are excited to announce that 2000-born goaltender Thomas Scarfone has committed to the team for the upcoming 2019-20 BCHL season. Scarfone comes to the Eagles from the Stanstead College program of the Midwest Prep Hockey League.
Scarfone finished the season with a brilliant 23-9-1 record, a .912 save percentage, and 2.18 goals-against-average in his second season with Stanstead. He is the third player to announce a commitment to the Eagles this offseason, joining defenceman Owen Nolan and forward Nate Ibraheem.
“I’m really excited,” Scarfone told SurreyEagles.ca in an interview. “I’ve been looking over my options over the last few months and I’m really pleased with my decision to go to Surrey. I can tell it’s a great organization and I know it’s going to be a good opportunity for me.”
Heading into this offseason, the Eagles prioritized stability on the back-end for the 2019-20 season – including in the crease. By bringing in one of the most highly sought-after young goaltenders, the team hopes to have found one of the pieces to the puzzle.
Scarfone is confident that he’ll be able to step in immediately and make an impact for the club. He’s also excited to be part of the young core group of players that will take to the ice at the Eagles Nest this upcoming season.
“I’m expecting to come in and be ready to go between the pipes right away,” Scarfone said. “I know I’m going to be ready for the task because of the type of training I’ll be doing in the summer. I’ll be ready to play and to help the team win games right away.”
His summer training consists of being on the ice with other junior-eligible goaltenders, but also professionals and QMJHL-level players as well. His longtime goalie coach back home in Montreal is Jocelyn Deschenes, who he credits with progression over the years.
“A lot of my technique and work ethic comes from [Deschenes]. It’s nice to be on the ice every day with pro guys, and I try to see him basically every day in the summer.”
Other players he trains with in the offseason include the Campbell brothers, who play for the Victoria Grizzlies, and former Surrey Eagles forward Ryan Brushett. Brushett finished second in BCHL scoring this season with the Powell River Kings, and gave a glowing review of Surrey to Scarfone – which encouraged him make his decision.
In terms of making the adjustment to the BCHL level, Scarfone knows it will be a challenge, but it’s a challenge that he is doing everything in his power to prepare himself for. It’s his goal to arrive at camp in game-shape and ready to jump in immediately.
“I see myself as a goalie who excels at reading plays well. I like to be vocal as a sixth man on the ice, to help my teammates out. I think the Olympic-sized ice in Surrey will help with that because it will be easier to see plays to make down the ice, and more room for me to play the puck in behind the net.”
“It’s obviously going to be a big jump from playing hockey in New England, but I know it’s something that I’ll be ready for. I’m going to prepare myself to be more than ready to hop in. I want to be ready right away and able to make an impact with the Eagles.”
Welcome to Surrey, Thomas!
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