Mike Sgroi
Encyclopedia
Mike Sgroi is a Canadian
professional ice hockey
left winger
who currently is a member of the Evansville IceMen
of the Central Hockey League
.
, he participated in the Battle of the Hockey Enforcers
, a made-for-TV event that featured enforcers from various minor leagues such as the ECHL
, AHL
, and the LNAH. The participants fought on-ice and in full equipment. Sgroi's fight against then-Sherbrooke St-Francois forward Jason Simon. Sgroi was declared the winner, but because the fight was stopped early, this caused the crowd of 2,000 people to boo the announcement. Sgroi would also fight Bone and Hewitt that night. Sgroi made it to the final round before losing to eventual champion Dean Mayrand
by split decision.
.
for future considerations. However, it was short-lived, as Sgroi only played one game with the Grizzlies before he was traded to the Elmira Jackals
. After he was traded twice in one week, this alerted clubs to his availability. There were two clubs however that were said to be very interested in Sgroi's services, these were Coventry Blaze and Sheffield Steelers, both of who play in the top league in the United Kingdom. After a few weeks their interest was said to have died down.
of the AHL
. On September 28, 2009, Sgroi was cut from Amerks camp. On November 2, 2009, Sgroi signed a one year contract with the Laredo Bucks
of the CHL
and wore jersey #22. After a month with the team, Sgroi was waived by the Bucks on December 10, 2009.
On January 26, 2010, the Elite Ice Hockey League
Club Sheffield Steelers
announced that they have signed Sgroi to a contract. To make room for him, the Steelers released forward Brad Cruikshank. Despite putting up 18 points in 20 games and providing the role of enforcer for the Steelers, the Steelers announced on May 20, 2010 that Sgroi would not be returning to the team.
On October 22, 2010, the Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League signed Sgroi to a contract.
of the Central Hockey League signed Sgroi to a contract.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
left winger
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
who currently is a member of the Evansville IceMen
Evansville IceMen
The Evansville IceMen were a professional hockey team based in Evansville, Indiana. The team folded in 2010, as IceMen owner Ron Geary purchased the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League and moved the team to Evansville, taking on the name "Evansville IceMen".The AAHL IceMen...
of the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
.
Early career
In 2005 while Sgroi was a member of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsWilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
, he participated in the Battle of the Hockey Enforcers
Battle of the Hockey Enforcers
The Battle of the Hockey Enforcers was a sporting event held in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada, on August 29, 2005.The event consisted of ice hockey enforcers fighting on the ice in full hockey gear, as sometimes seen in regular games...
, a made-for-TV event that featured enforcers from various minor leagues such as the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
, AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, and the LNAH. The participants fought on-ice and in full equipment. Sgroi's fight against then-Sherbrooke St-Francois forward Jason Simon. Sgroi was declared the winner, but because the fight was stopped early, this caused the crowd of 2,000 people to boo the announcement. Sgroi would also fight Bone and Hewitt that night. Sgroi made it to the final round before losing to eventual champion Dean Mayrand
Dean Mayrand
Dean Mayrand is a Canadian hockey player and boxer. Mayrand won the $62,000 first prize in the inaugural Battle of the Hockey Enforcers in 2005 in a split decision over Mike Sgroi....
by split decision.
2007-08
During the 2007-08 ECHL season, Sgroi was traded from Pensacola for Michael Cohen. Later that year, Sgroi set a career high in goals with 25 total, which quickly become a fan favorite in JohnstownJohnstown
- Places :Canada* Johnstown, Nova Scotia* Johnstown, Ontario, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville* Johnstown, Hastings County, OntarioRepublic of Ireland*Johnstown, County Dublin*Johnstown, County Kildare*Johnstown, County Kilkenny...
.
2008-09
On January 24, 2008, Sgroi was traded to the Utah GrizzliesUtah Grizzlies
The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :...
for future considerations. However, it was short-lived, as Sgroi only played one game with the Grizzlies before he was traded to the Elmira Jackals
Elmira Jackals
The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"...
. After he was traded twice in one week, this alerted clubs to his availability. There were two clubs however that were said to be very interested in Sgroi's services, these were Coventry Blaze and Sheffield Steelers, both of who play in the top league in the United Kingdom. After a few weeks their interest was said to have died down.
2009-10
Sgroi started the season in training camp with the Rochester AmericansRochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. On September 28, 2009, Sgroi was cut from Amerks camp. On November 2, 2009, Sgroi signed a one year contract with the Laredo Bucks
Laredo Bucks
The Laredo Bucks are an ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League. They play in Laredo, Texas, USA at the Laredo Energy Arena.-History:Arena Ventures, made up of six businessmen, teamed up with the City of Laredo to build a state-of-the-art facility for the Laredo area and South Texas...
of the CHL
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
and wore jersey #22. After a month with the team, Sgroi was waived by the Bucks on December 10, 2009.
On January 26, 2010, the Elite Ice Hockey League
Elite Ice Hockey League
Several competitions fall under the jurisdiction of the Elite League. In 2006–07, the EIHL ran a total of four competitions: the league, playoffs, Challenge Cup and Knockout Cup. The league consists of a single division, each team playing three home games and three away games against the other...
Club Sheffield Steelers
Sheffield Steelers
The Sheffield Steelers are a British ice hockey club, from Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 and play their home games at the Sheffield Arena. They are currently members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
announced that they have signed Sgroi to a contract. To make room for him, the Steelers released forward Brad Cruikshank. Despite putting up 18 points in 20 games and providing the role of enforcer for the Steelers, the Steelers announced on May 20, 2010 that Sgroi would not be returning to the team.
On October 22, 2010, the Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League signed Sgroi to a contract.
2011-12
On August 18, 2011, the Evansville IceMenEvansville IceMen
The Evansville IceMen were a professional hockey team based in Evansville, Indiana. The team folded in 2010, as IceMen owner Ron Geary purchased the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League and moved the team to Evansville, taking on the name "Evansville IceMen".The AAHL IceMen...
of the Central Hockey League signed Sgroi to a contract.
Personal
- Sgroi is also a mixed martial arts fighter who teaches muay thaiMuay ThaiMuay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
in the offseason. According to an Elmira JackalsElmira JackalsThe Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"...
press release, Sgroi started his mixed martial arts career 5-0. - Sgroi also enjoys playing poker in his offtime and has competed in tournaments. He once finished 27th out of 780 players in a World Series of PokerWorld Series of PokerThe World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
event - Sgroi appears in the 2010 EA SportsEA SportsEA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
video game NHL SlapshotNHL Slapshot-Features:Reference: * Peewee to Pros: Players are able to create their own 12-year-old hockey players or choose from a range of actual NHL players such as Wayne Gretzky, Alexander Ovechkin, Roberto Luongo, and Sidney Crosby...
. He is not assigned to a team, but can be found on the game's free agent list.