Michael Santorelli (born December 14, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played with Genève-Servette HC of the National League A and in the National Hockey League with the Nashville Predators, Florida Panthers, Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Anaheim Ducks.
Santorelli was drafted by Predators in the sixth round, 178th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He began his professional career with Nashville's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. An AHL All-Star in 2009, Santorelli tied a Skills Competition record by going four for four in the accuracy competition. After two seasons of splitting time between Nashville and Milwaukee, he was traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2011. He had his best season as a professional in his first season with Florida, scoring 20 goals and 41 points. After struggling in his next season-and-a-half, Santorelli was claimed on waivers by the Winnipeg Jets. Following the completion of his contract, he signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks. Santorelli continued his journeyman status with stints in Toronto and Anaheim, as well as a brief return to Nashville in the following years.
Prior to his professional career, Santorelli played college hockey with the Northern Michigan University Wildcats. While there, he was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team in 2005, the All-CCHA First Team in 2007 and won multiple team awards.
Playing career
Amateur
Santorelli began his junior A ice hockey career playing for the Langley Hornets in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). Following his first year, where he scored 24 goals and 52 points, Santorelli was traded to the Vernon Vipers in exchange for cash. Playing for Vernon, Santorelli scored 43 goals and 96 point in 60 games. He played in the BCHL All-Star Game and was named the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP). His play earned him a scholarship to play college hockey for Northern Michigan University (NMU). During the off-season, Santorelli was selected 178th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators.
In his first season with the NMU Wildcats, Santorelli led the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) in freshman goal scoring with 16, while finishing third on the team with 30 points. For his performance, Santorelli was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team. In the 2005 CCHA Tournament, the Wildcats defeated Western Michigan in the first round, but were eliminated by Alaska-Fairbanks in the second round. Santorelli did not score in the three-game first round series, but recorded a power play assist in the elimination game. In his sophomore season, Santorelli increased his point total to 33, though he scored one fewer goal. Finishing fourth in the Conference, NMU earned a first round bye for the 2006 CCHA Tournament. The Wildcats defeated Nebraska–Omaha in the quarterfinals, but lost their next game to top-seeded Miami University. By virtue of losing in the semi-finals, NMU qualified for the consolation game, where they were defeated by the University of Michigan. For his part Santorelli recorded a goal and two assists in the tournament.
As a junior, Santorelli had a breakout season, scoring 30 goals and 47 points. He led the Conference in goals and also led the Wildcats in points and plus-minus rating, with +6. At the end of the year, he was named to the All-American West Second Team and the All-CCHA First Team. NMU also awarded him the Gary Emmons Most Valuable Player Award, the Bill Joyce Best Forward Award and the Steve Bozek Plus-Minus Award. Despite Santorelli's strong season, the Wildcats finished in tenth place in the CCHA. At the 2007 CCHA Tournament, NMU faced seventh-placed Ohio State University in a best-of-three first round series. Facing elimination after a 6–2 loss, the Wildcats blew a two-goal first period lead, eventually going into overtime. Three minutes and 15 into the extra session, Santorelli set-up Dusty Collins for the game winning goal, forcing a third and deciding game. NMU won the third game and advanced to the quarterfinals, where they then lost to the University of Michigan. Santorelli finished tournament play with two goals and one assist in five games.