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NEW
YORK STATE HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY- HALL
OF FAME CLASS OF XXXX |
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Mike Sparago-
(Suffern 1978-1982)
Member Photo |
Mike Sparago is a rarity- an
outstanding hockey player who
played three
sports in high school and
excelled in all three. This
Suffern HS graduate
started on Suffern's renowned
varsity hockey team as an eight
grader, being
only the second eight grader to
ever make the team. Mike played
4 years of
varsity hockey for Coach John
Orlando and along the way was
voted All
County 3 times. He wound up
being the 7th leading point
scorer and 4th All
Time leader in goals for the
Mounties. In 1980, while still
competing in
high school, Mike was selected
by the United States Olympic
Committee to
play in the 16 years and under
Best 100 Players Showcase.
During the Fall season Mike
played football. He was a two
year
starter for the Mounties and was
voted All County HM by the
Journal News.
That year he was the 4th leading
rusher in Rockland County.
In the spring Mike played
lacrosse for the Mounties and
Coach
Orlando. He was a 4 year starter
on Suffern's highly successful
varsity team
and was selected 2nd team All
County in his Jr. year and First
Team All
County as a senior.
After Mike graduated from
Suffern HS in 1982, he joined
the Sioux
City Musketeers of the United
States Junior Hockey League and
played with
them through 1984. During that
time he was selected as a first
team league
All Star and scored 54 goals and
36 assists in the games that he
played. Also in 1984 Mike was
selected to play for the USA in
the World
Junior Cup in Switzerland where
the USA team was the GOLD MEDAL
winners.
For his efforts on the USA team,
Mike earned a hockey scholarship
to
Ferris State University in
Michigan, that competes in the
Division 1 NCAA
Central Collegiate Hockey
Association. Mike was a three
year starter and
graduated with a degree in
business from Ferris State.
Mike continued his hockey career
by being invited to the training
camp of the St, Louis Blues of
the NHL. After training he
signed with the
Virginia Lancers of the Atlantic
Coast Hockey League, a class A
professional team. In his rookie
year Mike was 4th on the team in
scoring
with 26 goals and 48 assists in
the 41 games he played in and
helped the to
the ACHL Championships. For his
efforts he was named "Rookie of
the Year"
of the Atlantic Coast Hockey
League.
Now retired from competitive
hockey, Mike works as a
financial
advisor with Morgan Stanley and
lives in Hohokus, NJ. Mike is
married to his
wife Deborah. They have 3
children, Jack 9, Lindsay 7 and
Charles 5. He
spends his time coaching youth
hockey at Sportorama and
football in Bergen
County.
Mike Sparago was one of the best
players ever to come out of the
downstate
area.
Mike is also a member of the
Suffern HS Athletic Hall of Fame
and the
Rockland County Hall of Fame.
The induction to the Hall of
Fame will take place on Saturday
March 12,2011
at the NYS High School Hockey
Championships Final Four at the
AUD in Utica,
NY.
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Mike was inducted into
the New York State
High School Hockey-
Hall of Fame, March
2011, for his
dedication to the
sport as a truly
great player who has
contributed
noteworthy service
to New York State
high school hockey. |
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The New York
State High School Hockey- Hall of
Fame, located in the Lake Placid Olympic Center's '32
Rink hallway,
recognizes former outstanding Players, Coaches and
Teams that have contributed noteworthy service to New
York State high school hockey. |