Record-setting goal scorer returns to Rockford
August 29, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill.- Rockford IceHogs Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Steve Martinson announced on Tuesday that the United Hockey League club has re-signed center Preston Mizzi for the upcoming 2006-07 season. Per club policy, terms of Mizzi's agreement were not disclosed.
The 2005-06 season was a breakout campaign for Mizzi, who was named the club's co-MVP and set a team single season record netting a career-high 38 goals with Rockford. Overall, the veteran centerman notched 40 goals on the season, and lit a pair of lamps while playing in 14 games in the American Hockey League. Mizzi also set an IceHogs record by netting 17 power-play goals during his first season in Rockford.
"Preston's a very valuable player," said Martinson. "Besides scoring a lot of goals, he kills penalties, takes big face-offs and has tremendous stamina. Preston along with several of our top young players have been heavily recruited by the ECHL, which also sells opportunity. The fact that we loaned the most free agents and that Preston was loaned to the most teams out of that group, was a major factor in his decision to return to Rockford.
"When you compare free agent AHL call-ups, only the Reading Royals (ECHL) came close with 11, while Las Vegas (ECHL) with seven was a distant third. The other 24 ECHL teams loaned a combined 1.16 players per team, which includes eight teams that didn't loan any free agents. I don't think there is a better situation for players when you combine Double-A hockey's highest salary cap with our Milwaukee/Nashville affiliation."
Mizzi received call-ups from three different teams in '05-06, including the Milwaukee Admirals, San Antonio Rampage and Chicago Wolves. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native spent 12 games with Milwaukee, the Hogs AHL affiliate, contributing a goal for the Western Conference Champions.
To go along with his career-high 40 goals, Mizzi set an IceHogs single game record when he scored four goals against the Muskegon Fury on April 9. For his outstanding performance in October last season, Mizzi was named the UHL's Player of the Month after compiling 9g-2a-11pts in six games.
"A lot of the reason I wanted to come back to Rockford is because I have such a good relationship with Steve and he let me play the type of hockey that I wanted to play," said Mizzi. "I'm looking to improve on what we did last year. Losing to the eventual winners isn't a bad thing, but looking around the league I think we will have a very good chance this season. With all the American league teams so close, I figured that I would give it another go and try to make it back to the AHL once again.
The 5-11 center is considered a veteran this season as he enters the campaign with 346 career games played at the professional level. Of Mizzi's 346 games, 45 of them occurred in the AHL. Mizzi was also productive for the IceHogs in the postseason last season as he assisted on 10 goals in nine contests. The sixth-year player recorded 21 multi-point games, second most on the club last season, and his eight multi-goal contests were also a team single season record.
With Mizzi returning, the IceHogs have announced 12 of their signed players for the upcoming season. Also inked for the '06-07 campaign include forwards Francis Belanger, Jesse Bennefield, Nicolas Corbeil, Rob Voltera, Steve Yetman, defensemen Jared Bourassa, Dan Boeser, Matt Gens, Lee Jacobson, Mike Letizia and Tom Zabkowicz. Season Tickets Now Available: The Rockford IceHogs wrapped up its most successful campaign in club history in 2005-06 and we want you along for the ride in 2006-07. Season ticket packages are now available for the Hogs' 8th season in Rockford by calling (815) 986-6465. Ticket packages start as low as $95!
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