Michael Sgarbossa – a native of Campbellville, Ontario, Canada – feels right at home during the cold, snowy and rainy winters in Cleveland, Ohio. The 22-year-old forward is currently playing in his third season with the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Sgarbossa said that, despite not having a National Hockey League (NHL) team in Cleveland, there are a lot of passionate hockey fans in the city. The Monsters play at Quicken Loans Arena, known locally as “The Q,” which is also home to the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League (AFL).

“I think they could support an NHL team,” Sgarbossa said of Cleveland. “I think we’re about third in attendance in the AHL. We draw really well and the fans are really passionate about hockey, which is refreshing. It’s lively. There are a lot of season ticket holders that are really into it and it seems like every year there’s more that get into it. It’s really growing hockey, not just in Cleveland, but also in the U.S in general. It’s nice to see.”

Sgarbossa was selected 54^th overall during the 2008 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection by the Barrie Colts. In 2008-09, during his OHL rookie season, he netted 10 goals and 33 assists for 43 points in 67 games. He also had 43 minutes in penalties.

During the 2009-10 season, he scored seven goals and added 13 assists during 19 games with the Colts before he was traded to Saginaw Spirit. He posted 32 points, 12 goals and 19 assists, in 58 games with Saginaw. He also represented his home country as a part of Team Canada for the World Under-18 Championships.

In September 2010, the San Jose Sharks of the NHL signed Sgarbossa to a three-year, entry-level contract. After camp, he returned to Saginaw and skated in 26 games for the Spirit before being traded to the Sudbury Wolves.

With the Wolves, Sgarbossa had 62 points in only 37 games during the regular season and was Sudbury’s leading scorer in the playoffs. During the 2010-11 season, between Saginaw and Sudbury, Sgarbossa scored 36 goals, including 15 power play goals, with 46 assists and was plus-13 in the 63 games he played.

During the 2011-12 season, while with Sudbury, Sgarbossa’s NHL rights were traded by San Jose at the trade deadline to the Colorado Avalanche. At the end of the season, he became the first Sudbury Wolves player in 33 years, since Mike Foligno, to win the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the OHL’s leading point scorer with 102 points and was selected in the First All-Star team.

“It wasn’t something that I strived to do,” Sgarbossa said of winning the leading scorer award. “It was more the team that I was on… and the players around me really helped me out on that. It was something that I didn’t ever expect would happen to me, but I just had a really good year. Sometimes you just need a change in scenery.  I went to Sudbury and it really worked. Everything clicked. The city took me in, the organization loved me and it was a really exciting time. When I finally did it, I think everyone was more happy than I was, so it was a good feeling.”

During his first professional season in 2012-13, the Avalanche assigned Sgarbossa to their AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, due to the ongoing NHL lockout. He made his NHL debut in late January 2013 and skated in six games with Colorado before returning to the Monsters.

“Obviously happy, excited,” Sgarbossa said of how he felt the first time he got called up. “But, you kind of figure, how am I going to get there, what’s the plan… It’s kind of a hectic travel day. You have to get to Colorado or wherever the team is at the time, but once you get there you can relax and just focus on playing your game and doing what you do best. The team does a pretty good job of finding you transportation and organizing everything, so you don’t have to do a whole lot.”

Sgarbossa played 57 games for the Monsters throughout the season and was the team’s second-leading scorer with 19 goals and 25 assists.

“My first year of pro, I didn’t really know what to expect,” Sgarbossa said. “You move away and you’re living on your own for the first time, so that was a little bit different. I didn’t know how to find an apartment.  It was my first time doing that, so it was a little bit hectic, but it was also really exciting.”

During his second professional season, in 2013-14, he skated in 49 games for the Monsters, but missed over two months after suffering a lower body injury.  Fortunately, the injury has since healed and has not been a problem for the young professional.  

“It hasn’t been an issue (this season), which is nice,” Sgarbossa said. “To have such a strong first year and then my second year… there was a lot of hype and I was really looking forward to it, and then I suffered that injury, which really set me back. I kept trying to come back and I came back too early and then I got hurt again and, you know, I was never really 100% for the full season. But this year it’s been totally different. I don’t feel any pain or notice I have the injury anymore, so it feels good.”

So far this season (2014-15), Sgarbossa has played 39 games with the Monsters, with four goals and 19 assists, for a total of 23 points. Additionally, he has played three games with the Avalanche and notched one assist.

“When you’re playing well in the AHL, you’re on the top two lines and you’re producing points. When you get called up to the NHL, most of the time, you’re playing on the third or fourth line. You’re typically not playing on the power play or for as many minutes as you did in the AHL, so you alter the way you play a little bit. You can’t take as many risks, you have to play a more simple game and play in the system that Colorado wants you to play in. But you still have to do the things that got you there. As soon as you start playing someone else’s game, that’s when you get sent back down. So just do the things that got you there, keep playing simple.”

“I was up my first year as well,” he added. “So I kind of have a little bit more experience from my first time being called up, but it was exciting because it was the first time I got to play for Patrick Roy.”

Since becoming a professional hockey player, Sgarbossa has become very familiar with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA). He said the Monsters’ Player Representative keeps him and the team informed on any updates and changes.

“I like how they keep you informed,” Sgarbossa said of the PHPA. “We have a team Player Representative. I like the connection they have… I think with the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement), we argued for a lot of good components for hockey players in all leagues, especially the AHL, which was nice that we got a little bit more. But it’s good they keep you well-informed and we have a strong union, so I have no complaints and I look forward to helping make it even stronger.”

Sgarbossa said he enjoys living in Cleveland and playing with the Monsters, but hopes to get more playing time with the Avalanche this season.

“As far as living in Cleveland and playing for Lake Erie, it’s been nothing but good times,” Sgarbossa said. “The coaching staff, the organization and the city has been really good. We have a really good set up. We have a really nice rink to play at. I think the team is on the right track and I have really enjoyed my time in Lake Erie.  Obviously, you want to make Colorado, but it’s a good place to develop and it’s a good place to play.”

And the focused forward said his goals for the remainder of the season and beyond include helping the Monsters make the playoffs and then eventually becoming a permanent player in the NHL.

“For the Monsters, I hope we can make the playoffs,” Sgarbossa added. “That’s the goal of any team is to make the playoffs. Produce a little bit more for them, help in any way that I can. And, as far as personal goals, obviously making the NHL and signing a one-way contract and sticking, whether it is with Colorado or whoever you’re with, as long as you make it, it doesn’t matter where you’re playing. That’s the end goal for any hockey player.”