The Helsinki Roosters have announced the return of Italian American and Team Italy running back Mike Gentili for the remainder of the 2021 Maple League season in Finland.
Gentili played two games with Helsinki during the 2020 season rushing for 166 yards and a touchdown.
The Roosters are currently in second place in the Maple League with a 4-1 record.
The 32-year-old, 5’10”, 215 pound Gentili, a native of Leominster, Massachusetts, played one game with the Lazio Ducks in Italy this season after spending most of the year with Spain’s Osos Rivas, helping them reach the Spanish semifinals.
In 2020, after the end of the season in Finland, he signed with the Örebro Black Knights in Sweden’s Superserien where in two games he rushed for 148 yards and helped Örebro reach the semifinals.
He spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons with the Lazio Ducks in Italy’s Div. I, rushing for a total of 1,087 yards in 14 regular-season games. He was important in helping Team Italy defeat Austria this past fall to advance to Europe’s Final Four. He finished his college career with a two-year stint at Bridgewater State University (NCAA Div. III) where he rushed for 912 yards. He also played at the University of New Hampshire (NCAA Div. I) and Curry College (NCAA Div. III).
Mike Gentili was a factor when Italy defeated Team Switzerland Photo: Giulio Busi
Gentili had signed a contract for the 2020 season with the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns playing in the German Football League, but since that was canceled, Gentili was free to sign with Helsinki and Örebro.
