Muskegon Lumberjacks (1992–2010)

This article is about the Muskegon Lumberjack franchise from 1992-2010. For the original franchise of same name, see: Muskegon Lumberjacks (1984–1992). For current United States Hockey League franchise of same name, see: Muskegon Lumberjacks. For the current incarnation of team see: Evansville IceMen.
Muskegon Lumberjacks
City Muskegon, Michigan
League International Hockey League
Founded 1992
Operated 1992–2010
Home arena L. C. Walker Arena
Colors               
Black, Gold, White
Owner(s) Jeff and Stacey Patulski
General manager Tim Taylor
Head coach Rich Kromm
Media WLAW (92.5)
Affiliates Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL (higher)
Battle Creek Revolution, AAHL (lower)[1]
Franchise history
1992–2008 Muskegon Fury
2008–2010 Muskegon Lumberjacks
2010–2016 Evansville IceMen
Championships
Regular season titles two (1999, 2005)
Division Championships four (1996, 1999, 2005, 2007)
Colonial Cups four (1999, 2002, 2004, 2005)

The Muskegon Lumberjacks was an International Hockey League ice hockey team located in Muskegon, Michigan. After the 2010 season the team folded, and the Evansville IceMen Owner Ron Geary purchased the franchise rights of the former Muskegon Lumberjacks, from the International Hockey League and moved the franchise rights to Evansville, Indiana.

Muskegon Fury (1992-2008)

The Muskegon Fury was an International Hockey League ice hockey team located in Muskegon, Michigan. The team's colors wereTeal, Purple, Black. The Fury were established in 1992 after the original Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League's previous incarnation relocated to Cleveland, Ohio. Hockey had been in Muskegon for 32 consecutive seasons to that point and Tony Lisman, Owner/President of the Fury, would not let that tradition end. Lisman kept his vow to keep hockey in Muskegon by establishing the Fury in the Colonial Hockey League, and has been very successful in doing so throughout the league's name changes.

The Fury lost to the Danbury Trashers in the 2005-2006 playoffs in their bid for a third consecutive Colonial Cup championship.

On August 30, 2006, Bruce Ramsay was named the Fury head coach for the 2006-2007 season, replacing Todd Nelson, who had accepted the assistant coaching position for the Chicago Wolves a few days earlier. Nelson served as an assistant coach for the NHL Atlanta Thrashers before becoming the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings's AHL affiliate the Grand Rapids Griffins for the 2015-2016 season. Ramsay resigned after the 2008-2009 season to become the head coach of the Tulsa Oilers in the Central Hockey League. Ramsay was replaced for the 2009-2010 season by Rich Kromm.

Erin Whitten [2] one of the few female hockey players to play professionally, played for the Fury during the 1995-1996 season, before being traded to the Flint Generals.[3]

Return of the Lumberjacks

On September 12, 2008, new owners Stacey Patulskey, Jeff Patulskey and Tim Taylor changed the teams name from the Muskegon Fury to the Lumberjacks to reflect back on what many remember as the glory days of hockey in Muskegon.

The Lumberjacks are affiliated with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. The Battle Creek Revolution of the All American Hockey League serves as the Lumberjacks farm team affiliate.[1]

On February 8, 2010 it was announced that the Lumberjacks franchise would fold following the 2009-10 season.[4] On June 23, 2010 the International Hockey League announced that Ron Geary had finalized the transaction to purchase the Muskegon Lumberjacks' IHL franchise from the IHL and move it to Evansville, Indiana as the Evansville IceMen at the conclusion of the 2009-10 IHL season.[5] The USHL would then award an expansion team to Muskegon taking on the name Muskegon Lumberjacks.[4]

Championships

Year League Trophy
2004–2005 UHL Colonial Cup
2003–2004 UHL Colonial Cup
2001–2002 UHL Colonial Cup
1998–1999 UHL Colonial Cup

NOTE: The league's name has changed over the years from the Colonial Hockey League (until 1997), United Hockey League (1997–2007), and the International Hockey League (2007–2010).

References

  1. 1 2 BC Announces Affiliation Agreement with Muskegon
  2. ↑
  3. ↑
  4. 1 2 http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/02/its_official_lumberjacks_hocke.html
  5. ↑ http://www.mlive.com/lumberjacks/index.ssf/2010/06/former_muskegon_hockey_owner_r.html
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