Icemen Bolster Forward Corps with Mike Szmatula

JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Jacksonville Icemen, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets and AHL’s Manitoba Moose announced Friday that the team has agreed to terms with forward Michael Szmatula for the 2020-2021 season. 

Szmatula, 28, joins the Icemen after recording 49 points (20g, 29a) in 56 games played with the Adirondack Thunder last season. Szmatula (pronounced smuh-two-la) 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 5-9, 180-pound forward 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 American Hockey League games split between the Stockton Thunder 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 (2013-2015) and the University of Minnesota (2016-2018).  The Commerce, Michigan resident won a Clark Cup Championship and was named the Clark Cup Playoffs MVP while with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2013. 

Szmatula joins fellow forwards Wacey Rabbit, Brendan Warren, Abbot Girduckis, Adam Dauda, Ian McKinnon, Craig Martin, Nathan Perkovich, Matt Marquardt, Cameron Critchlow, Ara Nazarian, Eric Neiley, Derek Lodermeier and defensemen Luke Shiplo, Jacob Cederholm, Kevin McKernan, Jarod Hilderman, and Jacob Panetta as players to have agreed to terms with the Icemen for the 2020-21 season

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The Icemen’s home opener is slated for Saturday, December 12 at 7:00 p.m.  The Icemen are expected to start the season with limited capacity seating. The best way to ensure your seats is with a season ticket membership package. Full & partial season plans are currently available!  Contact the Icemen at 904-602-7825, or visit online at www.jacksonvilleicemen.com  

The 2020-21 Jacksonville Icemen Season is Presented by Community First Credit Union #YourCityYourTeam