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Fury Sign Two New Defensemen

August 8, 2007 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, MI.--- With the team stepping up the pace as they prepare for the 2007-08 season and the debut of the all-new International Hockey League, the Muskegon Fury are continuing their efforts of formulating their lineup in their quest with zest of striving for another championship caliber campaign. Today, the Fury club addressed its back line in solidifying their defense with two important acquisitions in the form of newcomers to the Muskegon pro hockey landscape.

On this date, Fury Team Owner and Club President Tony Lisman, in collaboration with Director of Hockey Operations / Head Coach Bruce Ramsay, have announced that defensemen JAY HARDWICK and RUSS MOYER have agreed to terms and signed one-year pacts to play for Muskegon in the upcoming 2007-08 campaign. Adhering to club policy, terms of the respective contracts were not disclosed.

HARDWICK, 27, will be embarking on his fourth pro season overall and his first with the Fury and in the "new IHL." The 5-11, 190lb member of the blue line brigade will make his Muskegon pro playing premiere following three sound and solid seasons in the Central Hockey League (CHL) with the Corpus Christi Rayz. An American-bred hailing from Warroad, Minnesota, he enjoyed his best season ever as a pro and with the Corpus Christi club in the 2006-07 campaign. The right-hand shooting Hardwick assumed the key leadership role on the Rayz defense which ranked a lofty second in the CHL for fewest GA at 169 for a GAA of a thrifty 2.64. In 57-games, he was his team's best premium plus player by far with a superlative +20 rating. The second best for the CC Rayz was +12. For the season, he collected 12-points in those 57-games on 3-goals, 9-assists with 79-PIM. Following the regular season, he was 12(0-1-1) with 6-PIM in the playoffs post-season.

MOYER, turning 25 this Thursday, August 9th, will also arrive in the Fury camp with a proud and polished portfolio of significant achievements born from an outstanding four-year major junior 'A' career with the OHL Ottawa 67's next leading to an equally superlative four-year Canadian collegiate career with Acadia University of the prestigious CIS. The 6-0, 190lb native of North Bay, Ontario fashioned his best season in his final year with the Axemen in 2006-07. As Acadia's second top-scoring defenseman, he collected 18-points in 28-games on 4-goals, 14-assists while adding 41-PIM. He ranked third on his team in assists with his totals including 1-GWG which was an overtime GWG for the Maritime province school in Nova Scotia.

Commencing his second campaign behind the Muskegon bench, Coach Ramsay is thrilled to have two such outstand-ing stalwarts in the Fury stable to fortify the defense. "Jay Hardwick is a solid, stay-at-home-defenseman who will be a very effective player and will continue to keep the Fury's tradition alive of being a very strong defensive team. In addition, he brings to us the valuable experience of pro leadership which should translate in Jay being good in the locker room and a standout team man. The attributes he brings to Muskegon will make us a better overall team as well."

"As far as Russ Moyer is concerned, he is expected to be one of the best rookies in the IHL for the upcoming season. He, too, is a solid defenseman who possesses good offensive talents and instincts. He has excellent speed and we look for him to create and contribute offensively for us this new season."

Hardwick brings considerable experience to his new team's home. In three seasons at Corpus Christi, he was 171(5-18-23) with 151-PIM.

Previous to his arrival in the professional ranks, he performed as a four-year mainstay and fixture on the blue line for the U. of Minnesota-Duluth of the highly-prestigious WCHA circuit. With the UMD squad from the 2000-01 through the 2003-04, Hardwick saw service in 129-games; 129(4-13-17) with 71-PIM.

Hardwick also played in the USHL with the Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks in 1998-99 and the Lincoln Stars in 1999-00. His trademark has been exemplary consistency wherever he has gone and wherever he has played.

As for Moyer, through his four years at Acadia U., he saw action in 109-games, essaying 48-points on 12-goals, 36-assists with 137-PIM.

From 1999-00 through 2002-03, he was a true force and factor on the back end for the Ottawa 67's of the major junior 'A' OHL. In his final two seasons with the latter club, he totaled 115(12-53-65) with 115-PIM. He was particularly effective in '02-03 when he engineered 35-points in 47-games on 5-goals, 30-assists. Later in that same season in the OHL playoffs, he was a real sparkplug for the Ottawans playing in all 23-post season contests and authoring 13-points on 2-goals, 11-assists, accruing 20-PIM.

Today's signings of defensemen JAY HARDWICK and RUSS MOYER bring to seven the total number of players currently under contract to the Fury for the upcoming 2007-08 IHL season. Previously, Muskegon unveiled the player signings of defensemen DAVE VAN DRUNEN and PHILIPPE PLANTE; center BILLY COLLINS; right wings ROBIN BOUCHARD and ADAM SERGERIE.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from August 8, 2007


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