Anthony Battaglia (ice hockey)

Anthony Battaglia (born August 15, 1979) is an American professional ice hockey player, who retired in February 2014.

Early life
Battaglia was born in Chicago. His grandfather, Sam Battaglia, was a mobster and member of the Chicago Outfit. After one season of junior hockey playing for the Soo Indians, he played college ice hockey for the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team. He spent four years at WMU and played in 139 games and scored 47 points in the process.

Career
After college, Battaglia signed the Florida Everblades in the ECHL for the 2002–03 season. He played almost 50 games for the Everblades but managed just 13 points. He also played at the higher AHL level for the Lowell Lock Monsters on nine occasions but failed to score a single point.

For the 2003–04 season, Battaglia would sign for another ECHL organization, the Mississippi Sea Wolves. Battaglia settled well, and in his first season made 67 regular season appearances, scoring 37 points. He was also featured in the post-season and was one of the Sea Wolves' most reliable players, with 6 points in five games. He remained in Mississippi for the 2004–05 season. In 75 games, Battaglia scored 60 points. Battaglia also played with his brother Bates Battaglia, who signed with the Sea Wolves during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. The Sea Wolves suspended operations in the middle of the off-season because of Hurricane Katrina.

Battaglia remained in the ECHL but split the 2005–06 season between the Utah Grizzlies and the Augusta Lynx. Despite the lack of consistency, Battaglia managed to maintain his level of play, and in 72 games for the two teams, scored 54 points. Battaglia would again move teams in the off-season, signing for the Columbia Inferno. He scored 45 points in 47 games, leading to a mid-season move in March 2007 to the Manchester Phoenix. He scored 13 points in the 13 games he was featured in before the season ended. Battaglia returned to North America and re-signed for the Inferno, and once again became an important player for the organization. In March 2008, Battaglia was part of a five-player swap, which sent him again to the Augusta Lynx. On September 4, 2008, his move to the Mississippi Sea Wolves was confirmed. For the 2009–10 season, Battaglia played with the Amarillo Gorillas of the Central Hockey League.

On August 24, 2010, Battaglia signed with the Mississippi RiverKings, to remain in the Central Hockey League. After playing in 16 games with the RiverKings to start the 2010–11 season, Battaglia was released and signed with fellow CHL team the Tulsa Oilers on December 24, 2010. For the 2011–12 season, Battaglia moved to the Federal Hockey League, playing for the New Jersey Outlaws. He followed the franchise to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for the 2012–13, playing with team until it folded on January 21, 2013. He then joined the Huntsville Havoc of the Southern Professional Hockey League. Battaglia played in the Federal Hockey League for the Dayton Demonz. He ended his career with the Mississippi Surge of the Southern Professional Hockey League and retired on February 18, 2014.

After retiring from hockey, Battaglia has operated a bar and worked as a fireman in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Personal life
Anthony and his brother Bates competed in and won The Amazing Race 22.