IceMen Ink Lundin, Little to Deals for '10-11 Season
August 25, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN.--- Fresh off of last week's announcement of the arrival of Rich Kromm as their General Manager and Head Coach, the Evansville IceMen of the Central Hockey League "Super League" have proceeded rapidly in signing their initial two players for the upcoming 2010-11 pro hockey campaign.
On this date, GM / Coach Kromm has announced that two members of last season's IHL Huber Trophy Champions Muskegon Lumberjacks aggregation nation have re-united; only this time under the banner of the newly-minted Evansville IceMen. Goaltender MATT LUNDIN and defenseman JORDAN LITTLE have assented to terms and inked pacts with the Evansville entry. Little's contract deal is for two years while Lundin's agreement is of a one-year duration.
LUNDIN, 24, will be embarking on his second pro season, having enjoyed a stellar rookie campaign in 2009-10 with the Muskegon club. The 6-1, 185lb American-bred from Apple Valley, MN was acclaimed the Muskegon Lumberjacks Team Rookie of the Year last season when he finished a lofty fifth in IHL league-wide goaltending prowess with a superb 2.81 GAA in 34-games. His overall season record of 31(21-9-1) and .693 winning percentage led all rookie goalkeepers as did his 21-victories and .910 SPCT. The IceMen's newest human puck detour was especially effective in the IHL's OTSO competition last season, posting a league-best 5-victories in 6-total decisions with an OTSO/SPCT of .762; 16/21, which rated him #3 in the circuit in that department.
Lundin (LUNN-DEEN) continued his precocious play in the post-season playoffs, seeing service in 3-games, compiling a 3(1-2) mark with a GAA of 3.69 and SPCT of .906.
GM / Coach Kromm expressed much satisfaction in the signing of the IceMen's new netminder. "We are quite happy to have Matt signed and ready to go for the new season. Last season as a rookie, he enjoyed a truly outstanding season with the Lumberjacks. This year, he is being presented the opportunity of becoming the number one goaltender. He is very competitive, hard-working and he has demonstrated much promise and lots of upside."
Originally, Lundin came to Muskegon in October 2009 following a decorated career at both the collegiate as well as the USHL Junior `A' circuit. He made is first mark at both the U. of Maine and Mercyhurst College. In three of his four collegiate campaigns, he attained winning records with a GAA under 3.00 and SPCT significantly surpassing the coveted .900 plateau.
As for LITTLE, 28, this will be his seventh pro season. He, too, comes to Evansville as a top-flight defenseman from the Muskegon title timber team of last season under the Kromm stewardship. Obtained in a mid-season deal with the Flint Generals, the native of Winnipeg, Manitoba performed his craft on the Lumberjacks' blue line through 40-games, accumulating 7-points on 2-goals, 5-assists with 49-PIM, 1-PPG and 53-SOG. Continuing to be an integral, instrumental presence on the Lumberjacks defense in the playoffs, the left-hand shooting rugged rearguard authored an electrifying SHG in the post season series opposing Flint.
Kromm is elated to have his strong backline ace back with him for the next two seasons. "Certainly, we are very excited about having `Jordy' back in the fold with us here in Evansville. He is a top-notch, experienced defenseman who possesses plenty of leadership skills. He is as steady as they come on the blue line and has the ability to contribute on the offensive side as well."
In 2009-10, Little actually launched the season in the CHL with the Wichita Thunder, though he was Flint's top pick in the summer 2009 dispersal draft of Kalamazoo Wings players following the K-Wings departure from the IHL to join the ECHL. Prior to last season, he played two seasons in the IHL with aforementioned Kalamazoo. In 2008-09, in 72-games, he collected 15-points on 5-goals, 10-assists along with a team-high 149-PIM. His +15 rating led the Kalamazooans that season.
Little played collegiately at the U. of Manitoba before entering the pro ranks.
Today's signings of goaltender MATT LUNDIN and defenseman JORDAN LITTLE represent the first two player signings by the IceMen as they prepare for their inaugural season in the new CHL "Super League."
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