Szmatula joins Icemen

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Icemen, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Winnipeg Jets and American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose, announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Mike Szmatula for the 2020-2021 season.

Szmatula joins the Icemen after recording 49 points (20g-29a) in 56 games with the Adirondack Thunder last season. Szmatula earned his second career ECHL Player of the Week honor last season for the week of January 20-26 when he recorded eight points in three games. The 28-year-old posted 48 points (27g-21a) during the 2018-19 season and has accrued 99 points (47g-52a) in 122 career ECHL contests with the Thunder.

Szmatula appeared in five AHL split between the Stockton Heat and Utica Comets during the 2018-19 season.

Prior to his professional career, Szmatula totaled 108 points (47g-61a) in four collegiate seasons split between Northeastern University (2013-15) and the University of Minnesota (2016-18). The Commerce, Michigan resident won a Clark Cup championship and was named the Playoffs Most Valuable Player while with the United States Hockey League's Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2013.