Mike Souza

Michael Souza

Michael Souza
Born	January 28, 1978 Wakefield, Massachusetts(age 33)
Height Weight	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position	Forward
Shoots	Left
Serie A team F. teams	Bolzano-Bozen Foxes SG Cortina (Serie A) EHC Olten (NLB) EHC Basel (NLA) Cologne Sharks DEL Hershey Bears (AHL) Portland Pirates (AHL) Florence Pride (ECHL) Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) Norfolk Admirals (AHL) New Hampshire Wildcats (HE)
Ntl. team	Italy
NHL Draft	67th overall, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career	2000–present

Michael Souza, (born January 28, 1978) often referred to as Mike Souza, is a professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Bolzano-Bozen Foxes of the Serie A. Born and raised in the United States, Souza later gained Italian Citizenship and participated at the 2009 and 2010 IIHF World Championship as a member of the Italy men's national ice hockey team.

Playing career

Souza was born in Wakefield, Massachusetts. Souza attended the University of New Hampshire from 1996 to 2000. He is a cousin of fellow UNH player Paul Thompson. In 1997 Souza was drafted 67th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. At UNH Souza was noted for his speed and skating skill. In 1999 UNH reached the championship game of the 1999 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. In the championship game Souza scored a key goal in the third period to force overtime. Maine won in overtime, however. In 2000 Souza was a member of the Hockey East All Star team.

After leaving UNH he played in the AHL for three seasons with the Norfolk Admirals and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In 2001 and 2002 he attended the Chicago Blackhawks' training camp. The next two seasons Souza split his time between the ECHL and the AHL, playing for the Florence Pride and Reading Royals of the ECHL, and the Portland Pirates, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and Hershey Bears of the AHL.

In 2005 Souza began to play in Europe. In the 2005–06 season Souza played for the Cologne Sharks of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, EHC Basel of the Swiss National League A, and EHC Olten of the Swiss National League B. In 2006 he moved to Italy to play in the Serie A. He played with SG Cortina for four seasons before moving to the Bolzano-Bozen Foxes in 2010.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1996–97	U. of New Hampshire	HE		39	15	11	26	20		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	U. of New Hampshire	HE		38	13	12	25	36		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	U. of New Hampshire	HE		41	23	42	65	38		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	U. of New Hampshire	HE		38	15	25	40	58		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		75	14	17	31	44		3	0	0	0	2
2001–02	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		66	20	11	31	58		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		5	2	2	4	7		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL		59	7	15	22	89		9	0	1	1	12
2003–04	Florence Pride	ECHL		17	8	13	21	29		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Portland Pirates	AHL		27	5	5	10	16		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL		14	4	1	5	22		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Reading Royals	ECHL		12	6	3	9	20		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Hershey Bears	AHL		53	14	8	22	36		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Cologne Sharks	DEL		5	0	1	1	6		9	1	1	2	14
2005–06	EHC Basel	NLA		3	1	0	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	EHC Olten	NLB		23	16	18	34	38		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	SG Cortina	Serie A		31	22	31	53	32		8	5	5	10	12
2007–08	SG Cortina	Serie A		31	13	15	28	32		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	SG Cortina	Serie A		42	23	20	43	34		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	SG Cortina	Serie A		28	6	11	17	12		—	—	—	—	—
Serie A totals				132	64	77	141	110		8	5	5	10	12

References

External links

• Mike Souza statistics at Hockeydb.com

Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Souza