Mike Sgroi Sucks Forum

I talked to Mike Sgroi on Tuesday night as he drove from his home in Orlando to the airport to catch a flight to Syracuse. Judging by the tone of his voice and his enthusiasm, it sounds like he could fly here without a plane.

Sgroi, always an energetic sort, is downright ecstatic to be getting a chance with Syracuse. He said he was planning on playing on Johnstown anyway this year, on an ECHL deal. If things go OK with the Crunch in the next week, maybe he earns an AHL/ECHL pact.

"I've been glowing all day,'' he said. "I'm modest about my chances. I'm so thankful for the opportunity. This is something that's been thrown on my plate.''

Sgroi said he got word from his agent this morning that the Crunch wanted to take a look at him, and pronto. He had the same question of the Blue Jackets that everyone else would - isn't the Crunch already covered in the enforcer department with Jon Mirasty?

"But it wasn't a me or Mirasty type of thing,'' he said. "Mirasty is there to stay. It's not bad to have two guys who can fight. Maybe they are looking for insurance in case he gets called up.''

Sgroi has been this way before, of course. He played 16 games for Syracuse in 2005-06, producing two goals, one assist and 32 penalty minutes. He came to the Crunch on short notice, straight off a long suspension he earned in Albany for leaving the penalty box to fight. He looked in great shape at the time, but now he says he was a little soft.

Last season, he played for both Johnstown and Pensacola in the ECHL. He showed a surprising scoring touch, combining for 25 goals and 22 assists.

At age 30, he said he's nearing the point where he's considering whether it's time to give up hockey. So he attacked his workouts this summer with a vengence. He tought stand-up fighting to MMA wannabes, and spent the rest of his time lifting weights and skating. He comes to Syracuse packing 235 pounds on his 6-foot-5 frame.

"This summer, I knew that young guys are getting jobs,'' Sgroi said. "I understand that. That means I have to do extra. I'm glad I have a place to show what I've done. This is a pivotal year for me.''

Sgroi was bummed when I told him that Edmonton has claimed Steve MacIntyre off waivers from Florida, meaning MacIntyre won't be in Rochester's lineup when the Amerks visit for an exhibition game on Thursday.

"I was looking to make my mark with MacIntyre,'' he said. "That guy is a serious heavyweight threat. He's someone I want to fight to prove myself.''

- In other news, the Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Columbus has put veteran NHL center Mike York on waivers. If he clears, he'll be assigned to Syracuse. York, 30, has played just three AHL games in his career - all in 1998-99, with Hartford.

Lindsay Kramer

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By Jim CommentucciFormer Syracuse enforcer Mike Sgroi will get another chance to make the team. He's coming to Crunch camp starting Wednesday.

I found out Tuesday that Sgroi, who played 16 games for the team in 2005-06, has been invited to the team's training camp, which starts on Wednesday. Sgroi split last season between Johnstown and Pensacola of the ECHL.

To me, this is a bit of a stunner. The Crunch still has Jon Mirasty, and a couple weeks ago Columbus assistant GM Chris MacFarland dismissed the idea of bringing Brandon Sugden back because Mirasty has earned the spot as the organizational enforcer.

Maybe this is how it shakes out now - Mirasty impressed the Blue Jackets during the preseason and will be on-call as Columbus' tough guy. Sgroi is signed to play in Johnstown again, which is now Columbus' ECHL affiliate. When Mirasty is called to pinch-hit for the Blue Jackets, Sgroi can pop up to Syracuse for those three-in-threes.

"We know him. We're familiar with him. We know what he can do,'' MacFarland said. "He said he's worked hard this summer, as hard as he can, wanted a chance to come to camp and show he can still be a quality AHL player.''

Anyways, the one preseason game against Rochester and the two against Binghamton are shaping up as more fun by the minute. But pity the Amerks - they lost their enforcer Tuesday when Edmonton claimed Steve MacIntyre on waivers from Florida.

So what do the Panthers do? Maybe sign Sugden if he doesn't make the Islanders? Nah, that would be too delicious a scenario to contemplate.

- In other player news, Columbus center Steve Kelly has cleared NHL waivers and will join the Crunch. I figure either him or Dan Smith as an excellent captain choice for Syracuse.

Also, Columbus sent down goalies Dan LaCosta and Sebastian Dahm and defenseman Andrey Plekhanov.

Lindsay Kramer