Alumnus Cazzola signs with EIHL’s Edinburgh

Capitals sign prolific forward Mike Cazzola

A big #AcadiaU congratulations to alumnus Mike Cazzola who has signed a 2 year deal to play overseas with the EIHL’s Edinburgh Capitals!

Even more impressive, Mike has enrolled at the Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh in the highly regarded MSc Physiotherapy program for the next 2 years. Back to being a student athlete Mike!

Axemen Coach Darren Burns had the following to say about Cazzola, “Mike is an extremely dynamic and cerebral player. His hockey IQ is very high which enables him to be an excellent play maker. Mike’s creativity will instantly make players around him better. He also possesses a strong competitive nature which will contribute to the team’s overall success.”

23 June 2017 – Story below courtesy of edcapitals.com

Prolific Canadian point scorer Mike Cazzola has signed up for the Edinburgh Capitals On a 2 year deal.

From Guelph, Ontario Mike Cazzola joins the Capitals straight from a hugely successful rookie season in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). The forward was the top point scorer for his club the Fort Wayne Komets, and was also the top point scoring rookie in the ECHL with 76 points (30 goals and 46 assists) in just 67 games. Voted on to the ECHL All Rookie All Star team, Cazzola ranked joint 11th overall in the league for point scoring in his first season in the highly competitive league.

Cazzola’s junior career saw him score 225 points in 219 games, the majority with the Erie Otters from 2008-2012.

He then attended Acadia University from 2012 to 2016 and continued to post impressive numbers scoring 133 points in just 107 games for his University. He was voted Rookie of the Year in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS AUS) league in 2012-2013, and followed this up the following year by being voted onto the First All Star team. He then followed this up with two Second All-Star team awards in his final two seasons with Acadia. Over his four seasons attending the University he was never out of the top two in scoring and was top scorer twice.

Notably in 2013-14 Cazzola also represented Canada at University level and won a gold medal on a roster that included Mike D’Orazio and was coached by ex-Capital Taylor MacDougall’s father (Gardiner).

Last season was Cazzola’s first in the professional ranks and he made a huge impact on the ECHL with the Komets. At 5ft 7” and 165lbs the forward is a fast skater with a low centre of gravity who combines speed, skill and is equally adept at scoring and play making.

β€” Edinburgh Capitals (@edcapitals) June 23, 2017

Mike Cazzola will combine playing for the Capitals with enrolment at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. This was a huge draw for the player as he seeks to develop both on and off the ice during his time with the club. Queen Margaret University is renowned for teaching and research relevant to society’s needs, and Mike will be enrolled in its highly regarded two year post graduate degree (MSc) in Physiotherapy. The University is recognised for its community environment; its specialisms in health, business, and creativity and culture; and its strong links with the workplace which give studentsΒ the opportunity forΒ real world application of academic knowledge.

There is no doubting that the signing of Cazzola has added significant scoring talent to the clubs 2017/18 roster.

On signing Cazzola Edinburgh Capital’s General Manager Scott Neil said: β€œWe’ve been tracking Mike since last summer and keeping in contact. I’d have liked him to be part of least years roster, I think he was part of the ingredient that was missing. His ECHL statistics last season show you what he brings to a hockey club. Dmitri and I are excited to have added an intelligent highly skilled, proven point scoring forward to the roster at this early stage of our recruitment process.”

On his decision to join the Edinburgh Capitals Mike Cazzola said: β€œI’m really looking forward to coming over. The club have been great to work with, I have been in touch with the Capitals for over a year and I cant say enough about how good they have been to work with. They’ve really helped me line up my move and with Queen Margaret University. I want to thank them. Β I’ve heard great things about the club and city, and obviously I am aware of Head Coach Dmitri Khristich and the plans for the club. I’m looking to make an immediate impact on the ice for the club and with the fans. I can’t wait to get started and am excited to meet my team mates and the Capitals fans.”

Welcome to the Edinburgh Capitals Mike Cazzola from all at the Edinburgh Capitals.