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Veteran scorer Radja heads back to Elmira

Veteran scorer Radja heads back to Elmira

Thursday, August 4th

ELMIRA, N.Y. - The Elmira Jackals, ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and AHL's Rochester Americans, announced the team has signed forward Mike Radja for the 2016-17 season.

Radja returns to Elmira following a four-year stint overseas. The 31-year-old forward spent last season with the Belfast Giants in the EIHL. He led the team with 30 goals and finished at a point-per-game rate with 54 points while earning the honor as the team's Best Forward. Radja spent the previous three seasons in the Asia League between the Nippon Paper Cranes and Gangwon High1 recording 160 points (72g-88a) in 107 games. He helped the Paper Cranes win the 2013-14 Asia League Championship and was named to the Asia League First Team while playing for current Jackals head coach Dave Leger.

Prior to his tenure in the Asia League, Radja put up prolific numbers for the Jackals during the 2011-12 campaign. While serving as an alternative captain, he scored 31 goals and finished with 52 points in 46 games. Radja led the team in goals and propelled the Jackals to a first place finish in the Eastern Conference during the regular season. The team MVP added eight points (3g-5a) in 10 Kelly Cup Playoffs games. Radja's other ECHL stint came in 2008-09 when he posted 13 points (7g-6a) in eight games with the Fresno Falcons.

In addition to his time with Elmira during the 2011-12 season, Radja appeared in 23 AHL games with the Houston Aeros, Peoria Rivermen and the Binghamton Senators logging seven points (2g-5a). In total, Radja has skated in 130 AHL games with Houston, Peoria, Binghamton, Bridgeport, Syracuse and Rockford totaling 57 points (25g-32a). He also appeared in six Calder Cup playoff games posting one assist.

Aside from his North American career, Radja spent time in the DEL, the top German league, and the Liiga, which is the top Finnish league. He added 19 points (11g-8a) in 49 games for the Augsburger Panther of the DEL and posted nine points (6g-3a) in 25 games for TPS of the Liiga.

Prior to turning pro, Radja appeared in 149 NCAA games over four years at the University of New Hampshire. He notched 117 points (54g-63a) while earning NCAA First Team All-American and NCAA Hockey East First Team All-Star accolades as a senior.