Crunch

Captain Mike Angelidis (right) has snarled at Syracuse Crunch foes for four seasons.

(Brett Carlsen)

Syracuse, N.Y. — Center Mike Angelidis, the relentless captain of the team for the past four seasons, will not return to the Syracuse Crunch in 2016-17.

Tampa Bay assistant general manager Julien BriseBois said the organization will not be offering Angelidis, an unrestricted free agent, a new deal. Free agency begins Friday.

"In fairness to Mike, we want him to continue his dream of establishing himself as an NHL player,'' BriseBois said Thursday evening. "We felt he had a better opportunity for him to do that elsewhere.''

Angelidis, 31, was one of the most popular and community-minded players in team history. He skated 263 games for Syracuse, contributing 50 goals, 60 assists and 532 penalty minutes.

"It's part of the business, I guess. The time was coming. I think both parties saw it was time to go in a different direction,'' Angelidis said. "No one's leaving on bad terms with anybody. There was a lot of respect in the organization with me and them.

"I'm definitely going to be sad leaving Syracuse. I loved that city, a lot of great memories. I definitely felt like I was loved by them, and I'm going to miss the city.''

Angelidis spent six years in the Lightning system. Before Tampa Bay moved its farm team from Norfolk to Syracuse, he captained the Admirals to the Calder Cup in 2011-12. The next year, Tampa Bay's first with the Crunch, he led the Syracuse squad that reached the Calder Cup finals.

He set examples with his gritty demeanor and fierce all-around play, proving himself as one of the rare players in franchise history who could will his team toward victory. He had an unbelievable tolerance for pain, rarely missing time because of injury. He was also a go-to player for community appearances and started his own fund-raiser for money to fight pediatric cancer.

Angelidis had his best minor-league year two seasons ago, contributing 20 goals, 18 assists and 138 PIM for the Crunch. But that uptick was slowed last year by a lingering knee injury that required surgery when the season ended. He posted seven goals and eight assists in 2015-16.

Overall, he played just 14 career games with Tampa Bay. BriseBois said one of his regrets is that the organization couldn't get Angelidis more games up top. BriseBois said whenever Angelidis was playing well enough to merit a callup, the Lightning didn't have an opening at that time.

"I felt like I could be a fourth-line guy in the NHL,'' Angelidis said. "It's all timing. It's all opportunity. That's hockey.''

But Angelidis understood the Lightning's reasoning in deciding there's no room for him now. He said the decision to part ways was mutual.

"I think they've got their roster in position,'' Angelidis said. "I don't think they have too many openings up front.''

BriseBois credited Angelidis for helping anyone who asked and making everyone around him better. He said many of Tampa Bay's current young players owe him a debt for their improvement.

"It's certainly isn't easy to part ways with Mike,'' BriseBois said. "He's been such a tremendous leader for our organization. He was a tremendous resource for myself, as well as the coaches, over the years. I totally enjoyed my time with him. At the same time, I know this is probably what's best for him.''

Angelidis said he plans to stay in North American and not seek a job overseas.

"It's always scary when you're a veteran,'' Angelidis said of being a free agent. "I'm just ready to prove myself, give me a little fire, show what I can do. It's a little bit of a motivation when you have to go out and turn heads. Maybe (it's) some new energy, some new life. I'm excited to get going.''

Angelidis said he hopes Crunch fans will remember him as a player who always gave maximum effort.

"I cared. I cared about the city. I played with passion,'' he said. "I'd like the fans to know when I put the gear on, I gave everything I had. I wore my heart on my sleeve. I competed.''

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