ECHL Orlando Solar Bears

Solar Bears Add Sgroi, Kuqali

Published on January 16, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release


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 [image: Mike Sgroi] (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 [image: Nicholas Kuqali] 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.

Get Tickets: The Solar Bears return to the Amway Center to face the Wheeling Nailers on Thursday, January 17, at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, January 19, at 7:00 p.m., and Monday, January 21, for a special holiday start time of 3:00 p.m. Good seats are still available. Visit www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com .

The Orlando Solar Bears, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild and AHL's Houston Aeros, play all of their home games at the 2012 Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year, the Amway Center.

Individual tickets for all regular season home games are on sale beginning as low as $15. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.comor the Amway Center Box Office.

Check out the Orlando Solar Bears Statistics

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ECHL Stories from January 16, 2013


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