Solar Bears Sign Mike Sgroi

**chilly666** · #1 (**permalink**) 01-12-2013, 12:51 PM

Orlando, FL - The Orlando Solar Bears announced today that they have agreed to terms with veteran F Mike Sgroi and D Nicholas Kuqali.

Sgroi (6'5", 230 lbs.) suited up for 51 games with the Evansville IceMen as part of the Central Hockey League (CHL) last season picking up 103 penalty minutes (PIM) along with five goals and four assists. He has appeared in 212 games at the ECHL level, beginning in the 2000-01 season, with the Elmira Jackals, Utah Grizzlies, Johnstown Chiefs, Pensacola Ice Pilots, Wheeling Nailers, Idaho Steelheads, Lexington Men O' War, Greensboro Generals, New Orleans Brass, and Toledo Storm. In those 212 games, he has recorded 802 PIM along with 60 goals and 58 assists for 118 points.

The Toronto, Ontario, native has dressed for 198 games in the American Hockey league (AHL) with the Chicago Wolves, Utah Grizzlies, Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, Albany River Rats, Syracuse Crunch, Binghamton Senators, Norfolk Admirals, and Bridgeport Sound Tigers, notching 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) to go along with 601 PIM.

The 34-year old forward spent one season with UMass-Lowell in 1999-00 prior to turning pro, where he played in six games. Sgroi played 63 games in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) with Springfield (1997-98) and Danville (1995-96), recording 395 PIM along with 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points.

"Sgroi is a big, powerful forward who can help out on the forecheck," said Head Coach Drake Berehowsky. "He can cause havoc in the opposing team's end, and is a very experienced player."

Kuqali (6'2", 205 lbs.) has played the last two seasons with the Mississippi Surge of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). In 78 games with Mississippi, Kuqali has scored two goals and added seven assists for nine points along with 75 PIM. He spent the 2010-11 season with the Brooklyn Aviators of the Federal Hockey League (FHL), scoring one goal and adding 13 assists in 40 games. Before turning pro, the Pittsburgh, PA, native skated for four seasons (2006-10) with the University of Wisconsin -Eau Claire (NCAA D-III), playing in 104 games while netting four goals and 14 assists.

Anthony19 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-12-2013, 01:03 PM

Lets hope its a contract! The guy is a Fn minor league legend!

**caps05** · #3 (**permalink**) 01-12-2013, 01:54 PM

Nice. He might have more fun if he'd signed in the West, but still, it's good to see the ECHL getting tougher, if he's there to play.

Humpzilla · #4 (**permalink**) 01-12-2013, 01:57 PM

Would love to have Sgroi back in the East. Anthony is right --- Sgroi is a legendary goon of our era. Right up there with guys like Brad Wingfield. It also would be nice for him to face off against the Komets again. He really was great for the E-Ville rivalry last season

flyersrule · #5 (**permalink**) 01-12-2013, 07:22 PM

Orlando has reading on the schedule 2x in early march. They have a couple guys who could fight him

SpaceAce · #6 (**permalink**) 01-12-2013, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humpzilla

Would love to have Sgroi back in the East. Anthony is right --- Sgroi is a legendary goon of our era. Right up there with guys like Brad Wingfield. It also would be nice for him to face off against the Komets again. He really was great for the E-Ville rivalry last season

Wasn't that fun?? We have some upset fans here in E-ville, but we don't need another forward and don't have room for another vet. He has been living in Orlando, so this is good for him. Too bad they don't come back to town this season.

Humpzilla · #7 (**permalink**) 01-12-2013, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpaceAce

Wasn't that fun?? We have some upset fans here in E-ville, but we don't need another forward and don't have room for another vet. He has been living in Orlando, so this is good for him. Too bad they don't come back to town this season.

Sgroi has been doing hockey stuff in Orlando for years. A few seasons back he was training with the then Orlando Seals of the SPHL. During that stint he almost caused a riot when the Huntsville Havoc came into town. Almost an off-ice brawl with Luke Phillips. The Seals even used footage of this incident while advertising tickets on tv in the Orlando-Tampa-South Florida markets on Sun Sports. I don't even think Sgroi was dressed for play....just a man looking to get into some action while in street clothes LOL