Mike Izzy
@DeletedAtUserRequest


The Augment, #Izzy-dogs, :beers:

Mike Izzy has had a personality that dominated the S40’s and S50’s. If you looked at just trophy wins, you wouldn't see the legacy Izzy has put through, as one of the best two-way forwards in the SHL. So let's bring it back to the early seasons of Mike Izzy’s career. How he got drafted to the SHL, how he cemented himself into a Calgary Dragons legend, and how he was nominated 8! times for the Jeff Dar award.

Originally not a Dragons prospect, Mike Izzy was drafted to the Edmonton Blizzard. But not for long, as Edmonton and Calgary swapped prospects. Mike Izzy for Teddy Cuddles. So, Mike Izzy’s legacy started then for Calgary.

Starting in S37, Izzy first came into the league with a modest start to the SHL. 7 goals, 9 assists. But as time went along, Izzy started to prove himself more and more to his team. In S39 he received his first accolade, 3rd All Star team for his first mini breakout season. 24 goals, 24 assists for 48 points. To go along with his first 200+ hit season.S40 was his first Challenge Cup win as well. In a combination of S39, S40, and S41 Mike Izzy was on a roll. All 40+ point seasons. Challenge Cup. hitting machine, but there was more that he could accomplish.

By the time S42 came around, Mike “The Augment” Izzy started on his roll of dominance as a two way forward. On the offensive side, it was the first time he reached a PPG in the regular season with 52 points. It is also the time he won his 2nd Challenge Cup With the Dragons. But most importantly, he also received a Razov nomination for playoff MVP. He also had his first Jeff Dar nomination as well, one of many.
S43, his 2nd jeff dar nom. S44, his 3rd Dar nom + 2nd All Star team too. Then in S46 was his 4th Dar nom. S47 he received his first and only Jeff Dar win. Marking 1 win and 4 noms over the past 6 seasons.
S48, another Dar nomination + 2nd All Star team. Then S49 is where he had the best season for both points and awards. Going 29 goals, 23 assists and 54 points. This is the best season ever for Izzy. On Top of that, he received 3rd All Star team, Jay McDonald award for most goals, Jeff Dar nom, and the Ron Mexico nom as well. S50 he continued that with his 8th and final Dar nomination, 3rd All Star. And then he won his 3rd Challenge Cup, and won the Anton Razov award. Popping off with 32 points in the playoffs.

So Mike Izzy’s Legacy? Probably one of the best if not the best two way forward ever. Considering he had 1 Dar win and 7 nominations. 950 GP, 360 goals, 448 assists, 808 points. 3585 hits which is good for 1st all time in hits. At the time of retirement, he was 18th all time in points. Even though he didn't win the Dar enough, the nominations alone are crazy enough to be considered. Combined that with 7 nominations in the S40’s. He was in the top 3 for almost every season. A McDonald award and a Mexico nom to top that off? Then 3 Cups too? Makes him one of the top SHL players ever.

I think the best way to describe Izzy, was how he described himself at retirement. Saying,
“With the paperwork submitted, I'd like to announce the retirement of Mike Izzy of the Simulation Hockey League. The Augment was a dynamic player who worked his ass off for 21 seasons. He loves the SHL, he loves the people in it, he loves Austria and Kelowna and he adores his home team Calgary who he spent his whole career with!”