Rookie Round-Up: Jared Fiegl

The Rookie Round-Up gives ECHL fans the chance to get to know a rookie who has signed with an ECHL team for the 2018-19 season.  This week, the ECHL spoke with Jared Fiegl of the Orlando Solar Bears. He won the Cornell Hockey Ironman Award two seasons in a row (2016-17, 2017-18). After his senior season, during which he served as an alternate captain, Fiegl was presented the Cornell Hockey Association award, given annually to the player whose contributions to the team don't show up in the box score, but rather are in the form of energy, heart and hustle. He was also given the Wendall and Francelia Earle Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. The annual award is presented to the member in each class who has achieved the highest cumulative grade point average.

Name: Jared Fiegl

Age: 22

Hometown: Parker, CO

ECHL Team: Orlando Solar Bears

2017-18 Team: Cornell University (28 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 8 Pts)

ECHL: What should Orlando Solar Bears fans know about you?

Jared Fiegl: As a teammate, I just love doing whatever it takes to make sure the guy next to me can get his job done. I just like to support guys on and off the ice. Beyond that, I'm a hard-nosed kind of player, I like to get in the dirty and grimy areas, and I’m competitive as heck. Off the ice, I'm more of a laid back, take in the scene kind of guy. When I'm on the ice, I play like I'm mean but I'm really a soft guy off the ice.

ECHL: So what made you decide to sign in Orlando?

JF: I couldn't think of a better organization to start off in professional hockey. From everything I've heard, it's a great organization to play in, so it was a no brainer. Of course, it's obviously beautiful there too. Colorado, Michigan and New York winters are pretty bad, so that made the decision a little bit easier.

ECHL: What are you most looking forward to in your first professional season of hockey?

JF: I'm looking forward to just getting it going. I've been playing college hockey for four years so I don't really have an idea what it's going to be like to put together that many games in a season, or elevate the level of play to the next level. So I'm excited to just get out there, play some hockey, and be around new teammates and a new organization.

ECHL: Do you know any of your new teammates in Orlando?

JF: I've played against a couple of them in the ECAC, but beyond that I don't really know anyone.

ECHL: What's one thing that ECHL fans might be surprised to learn about you?

JF: I play the guitar. I'm not Jimi Hendrix or anything, but I like it, it's just for fun. I took a class my senior year of high school and since then, I’ve just played whenever I get the opportunity to. Also, I'm kind of a nerd in case you couldn't tell. I care a lot about academics. I studied Communication with a Business minor at Cornell. School has always been something I cared about in general. Getting a degree was one of the big goals of mine.

ECHL: What is the most memorable moment of your hockey career so far?

JF: Winning the 2014 IIHF World U-18 Championship in Finland was a very memorable moment. Everyone tells you when you go in a national program that's the thing you want to do, but to finally achieve that goal was really sweet.

ECHL: Is there anyone that you would say you model your game after?

JF: I've always loved to watch Ryan Callahan. He's a hard-nosed gritty guy and he gets into people’s faces, but he's smart. I love the way he plays - I try to emulate his style. I actually played with Alex Tuch. It was kind of funny playing with him and then being like, ‘That's the kind of guy I want to emulate.’ He’s very good at a lot of things though, so I would also say him.

ECHL: How have you been spending your summer?

JF: I've been spending the summer out in Chicago. I moved in with my girlfriend - it's been a really great summer. I’ve got a great new trainer out here. Chicago summer is a whole new world and it's been a lot of fun. It’s been a lot of golf, a lot of hockey and just hanging out, so it’s been a great summer.

ECHL: Any last words you want the Solar Bears and ECHL fans to know about you as you head into your first full professional season?

JF: I can hardly wait! I've been waiting since last season ended is to find out where I'm going and now that I finally know, I'm more than excited and ready to get after it.