'Jacks ink McArthur, LaFerriere
October 2, 2008 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.---With training camp a mere days away, the newly-minted Muskegon Lumberjacks have solidified the signings of two more top players in enhancing their roster for the rapidly-approaching 2008-09 International Hockey League season.
On this date, the Lumberjacks General Manager / Governor Tim Taylor in concert with Head Coach Bruce Ramsay, has announced that top-drawer veteran defenseman DARRYL MCARTHUR and rugged, ruffian left wing SEBASTIEN LAFERRIERE have both agreed to terms and inked one-year pacts with Muskegon for the 2008-09 IHL campaign. Adhering to club policy, terms of the respective deals were not disclosed.
MCARTHUR, 29, will be embarking on his 9th pro season and his first clad in the code of arms of the Lumberjacks. The veteran defenseman arrives on the Muskegon hockey scene with a playing portfolio of pronounced prominence and pre-eminence attained through his rich savvy born of extensive experience in the professional ranks.
The native of Oshawa, Ontario has enjoyed the preponderance of his pro career as a perennial All-Star in the Central Hockey League (CHL) where he was a standout for 6-seasons with the Austin IceBats. Last season, in 2007-08, he demonstrated a sound and solid combination of steady defensive prowess with a flair for the offensive stylings as well. In 51-games with the Texas-based aggregation, McArthur engineered 31-points in 51-games on 5-goals, 26-assists with 94-PIM. In 3-playoffs' appearances, the left-hand shooting rearguard fashioned 3(1-0-1) with 2-PIM.
The season previously, in 2006-07, is when Lumberjacks coach Ramsay and his squad at that time became most familiar with Muskegon's newest addition to its blue line brigade. That particular season, McArthur earned a starring role with the UHL Chicago Hounds where he collected 35-points in 62-games through 4-goals, 31-assists and 106-PIM. Coach "Rammer" likes his latest complement to his team's back line. "Darryl is a very solid, veteran defenseman who has achieved a great career in the Central League while also having an outstanding season in Chicago with the Hounds. He will bring some excellent qualities to the overall betterment of our hockey club; including solid leadership, offensive capabilities and the knack of playing the game with an edge. We are looking for Darryl to make a valuable contribution to our club both on and off the ice all season long."
Originally a product of the highly-heralded and lionized major junior 'A' circuit, the OHL, where he performed a total of four seasons with the Guelph Storm, McArthur's best pro campaign came back in the 2002-03 season when he amassed 38-points in 61-games on 14-goals, 24-assists along with 134-PIM with CHL Austin. McArthur has also seen service in the AHL with the 2002-03 Houston Aeros and overseas in Germany with the Leipzig Ice Lions in the 2004-05 season. He is a veteran of 420-pro career games, having registered 197-points on 47-goals, 150-assists while accumulating 771-PIM.
LAFERRIERE, 21, is approaching his second pro campaign, though under IHL tenets is still classified under rookie status. The muscular, physical 6-2, 218lb left wing is expected to inject a significant intimidation dimension into the mainstream of the 'Jacks on-ice hockey fortunes this season. A three-year product of the major junior 'A' QMJHL, the LaSalle, PQ native saw action last season in the rough and tumble LNAH circuit. Playing for the Quebec RadioX, he accrued 158-PIM in 35-games while recording 4-points on 2-goals, 2-assists.
Himself a notorious on-ice hombre during a rather rambunctious and title timber playing career, Coach Ramsay extolled the virtues of his most recent acquisition. "Sebastien is a big, strong, young intimidating player. He brings to us three valuable years of experience at the major junior 'A' level coupled with one season in the LNAH Quebec senior league which is generally considered one of the toughest leagues in the world. His size, strength will serve us well and in intimidating fashion throughout the coming season."
In 157-games in the QMJHL, LaFerriere amassed 403-minutes in penalty sentences.
The Lumberjacks two newest signees, defenseman Darryl McArthur and left wing Sebastien Laferriere will be arriving for the Lumberjacks 2008-09 IHL training camp which will commence next Monday, October 6th at the 'Jacks hockey home of Walker Arena.
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