MUSKEGON LUMBERJACKS
TREVOR NILL NAMED ASSISTANT COACH OF MUSKEGON LUMBERJACKS BY MICHAEL CAPLES
The Muskegon Lumberjacks added a familiar last name to their coaching staff on July 9. Trevor Nill, the son of former Red Wings’ assistant GM Jim Nill, was named the Lumberjacks’ new assistant coach. Nill, a four-year letter-winner at Michigan State University, completes the new coaching roster for the USHL club. “It’s very exciting to have my first coaching gig be with such a class organization in the Muskegon Lumberjacks,” Nill said via a release from the team. “It was a no-brainer in my mind when I was approached about the job,” said Nill. “Growing up, I always wished for a USHL team in Michigan, and now that I’m getting the chance to coach in that league while in my home state, it’s an unbelievable feeling. It will also be great to work with two hockey geniuses in (new Muskegon GM John) Vanbiesbrouck and Coach (Todd) Krygier.”
Nill, who played for the Spartans from 2008-12, was recognized for what he did off the ice as much as what he did on it. He was the recipient of the Mike and Marian Ilitch Humanitarian Award from the CCHA at the conclusion of the 2010-11 season, and he was also recognized as a Hockey Humanitarian Academic All-Big Ten selection. “I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Trevor (Nill) over the years, and he is a great fit for our team as he adds a different dimension that can’t be found anywhere else,” said Lumberjacks Head Coach Todd Krygier. “Trevor is a smart kid that played for one of the top hockey programs in the country (in Michigan State) and is enthusiastic about the game of hockey. His experience and knowledge of the game at the collegiate level will provide a great teaching tool for our players to get to where they want to be within the next one to three years.”
Photo by Dave Reginek/DRW
MUSKEGON LUMBERJACKS ANNOUNCE PRELIMINARY 28-MAN PROTECTED LIST The Muskegon Lumberjacks announced their preliminary 28-man protected list on July 11, with the USHL club welcoming back eight members from last year’s squad. The 28 players will compete for roster spots at the club’s training camp in late August.
RETURNING FROM LAST YEAR’S TEAM: FORWARDS CAMERON DARCY: South Boston, Massachusetts CONNOR HURLEY: Eagan, Minnesota (Buffalo Sabres draft pick/University of Notre Dame commit) CULLEN HURLEY: Eagan, Minnesota FREDERIK TIFFELS: Cologne, Germany (Western Michigan University commit) MASON JOBST: Speedway, Indiana MATT MENDELSON: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania DEFENSEMAN MIKE PRESTON: Carmel, Indiana GOALTENDER JORDAN UHELSKI: Flint, Michigan
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE ROSTER: FORWARDS BRIAN BACHNAK: Brownstown, Michigan (Riverview High School) C.J. SMITH: Richfield, Minnesota (Austin Bruins/ University of Massachusetts-Lowell commit) CODY KUSTER: Ludington, Michigan (Shattuck St. Mary’s) GRANT JOZEFEK: Chester, New Jersey (North Jersey Avalanche/West Mendham High School)
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MiHockeyMag
HARALDS EGLE: Liepaje, Latvia (Portland Junior Pirates/University of Vermont commit) MATHESON IACOPELLI: Brownstown, Michigan (Belle Tire) ROBBIE DEMONTIS: Kleinburg, Ontario (The Hill Academy) SAM BERG: Beamsville, Ontario (Hamilton Red Wings) TREVOR MORBECK: Jackson, Wisconsin (Oshawa Generals) DEFENSEMEN ADAM LARKIN: Clarkston, Michigan (Honeybaked Midget Major) CARSON GATT: Farmington Hills, Michigan (Detroit Catholic Central High School/ Michigan State University commit) CHAZ SWITZER: Muskegon, Michigan (Compuware) CONNOR FRANTTI: Spring Grove, Illinois (Culver Academy Prep) JAKE MCCARTHY: Dedham, Massachusetts (St. Sebastian’s) JANIK MOSER: Mannheim, Germany (Mannheim Adler) SEAN LANG: Apple Valley, Minnesota (Coulee Region Chill) TOMMY PANICO: Wall, New Jersey (Team Comcast/ University of Massachusetts-Lowell commit) TRISTAN ROSTAGNO: Pawaukee, Wisconsin (Arrowhead High School/Michigan Tech University commit) GOALTENDERS ALEX BLANKENBURG – Washington, Michigan (Port Huron Fighting Falcons) ERIC SCHIERHORN – Anchorage, Alaska (Russell Stover/U.S. NTDP)
MiHockeyNow.com
The Lumberjacks also announced that they traded the rights of Alexx Privitera to the Dubuque Fighting Saints for a conditional first-round pick in the 2014 USHL Phase One Draft. The club also acquired the rights to defenseman Janik Moser in exchange for an eighth-round pick in the 2014 USHL Phase Two Draft.
JOHN VANBIESBROUCK NAMED LUMBERJACKS’ GM; USHL APPROVES TEAM SALE The Muskegon Lumberjacks and the United States Hockey League had a pair of announcements on July 15 regarding the team’s leadership core. West Michigan’s USHL club has officially named former NHL goaltender and Detroit native John Vanbiesbrouck as their new general manager and director of hockey operations, and confirmed their new ownership group. Vanbiesbrouck, 49, recorded more wins (374) than any other American-born goaltender during his 20year NHL career. The Detroit native won the 1986 Vezina Trophy, and appeared in three All-Star Games during a career that saw him record a 2.98 goalsagainst average and 40 shutouts. The Lumberjacks confirmed that they have been sold to Ronald and Joel Friedman, along with former NHL players Chris and Peter Ferraro.
July 22, 2013 V.23 : I.20