Fury Sign Three New Forwards

September 19, 2007 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, MI.--- Their pace has really stepped-up with the launching of training camp beginning to loom on the nearest horizon as the Muskegon Fury of the all-new International Hockey League move forward in nearing the first completion of the 2007-08 early season lineup. Today, Muskegon continued to make positive inroads in addressing and strengthening their offensive firepower for the season that lies just ahead.

On this date, the Fury Team Owner and Club President Tony Lisman, in concert with Director of Hockey Operations / Head Coach Bruce Ramsay, have announced that offensive-minded left wings RAFAL MARTYNOWSKI and JUSTIN KELLER along with rookie right wing ANDY WIESNER have agreed to contract terms with each player signing one-year deals with the Muskegon club. Adhering to club policy, terms of the respective deals were not disclosed.

MARTYNOWSKI, 23, is set to commence his third season in the pro ranks overall and his actual second full campaign, his first clad in the coat of arms of the "Furious Ones." The highly-skilled left wing from Maple, Ontario will mark his Muskegon debut in '07-08 after performing previously in the former UHL in the 2005-06 season with both the Richmond Riverdogs and the Quad City Mallards. A former first round draft choice of the Flint Generals in the 2005 UHL North American Amateur Draft, the 5-9, 185lb sharpshooter saw rather limited action last season in the CHL with the Odessa Jackalopes where he was 2(0-1-1) with 4-PIM before returning home for purposes of contemplating his future.

It was in his rookie pro season of 2005-06 when Martynowski made his most masterful, meaningful mark while under the employ of the UHL. Dividing his initial pro season between Richmond and Quad City, he connected on an impressive 20-goals along with 16-assists for 36-points in 70-games while recording 64-PIM. His output also included 7-PPG, 1-GWG, 3-FG and 2/6 marksmanship in the OTSO for a rating of 33.3%.

Coach Ramsay heard all of the reports and studied them in his due diligence before acting with pen, paper and contract in lassoing his newest left wing and he's happy he did. "We think that Rafal has the potential to be a major contributor to our offensive way of thinking this season. He scored 20-goals as a rookie pro following an excellent, high-scoring major junior 'A' career in the OHL. He was a high draft pick in the UHL and our homework shows that he possesses the talent and ability to produce some significant numbers for us. He appears to be quite committed to having an outstanding season as he has been skating and working out throughout the summer months and plans on coming to camp in a couple of weeks in top playing condition. We are looking forward to watching him develop for our club."

Prior to his pro playing premiere, Martynowski achieved considerable prominence in the OHL major junior 'A' circuit with both the Kitchener Rangers and later, the Sudbury Wolves. In the 2002-03 campaign, he registered 36-points in 61-games on 21-goals, 15-assists in helping lead Kitchener to the 2003 CHL Memorial Cup Championship, symbolic of major junior 'A' hockey supremacy. Later, as a major offensive operative for Sudbury, he enjoyed two superlative seasons. In 2003-04, he was the Wolves second leading scorer with 66(25-38-63) and 60-PIM, averaging virtually one point each game in the playoffs at 7(2-4-6). In his last junior year in 2004-05, he was Sudbury's top scoring mogul, amassing 67-points in 68-games on 31-goals, 36-assists with 65-PIM. In that same season, Martynowski tied for the team leadership in goals and assists.

In 248-games in the OHL, he collected 181-points on 84-goals, 97-assists. In 2005-06, Martynowski had an auspicious pro debut, netting his first-ever pro goal in his first-ever pro game, October 21, 2005 as a member of Richmond.

KELLER, 24, will be embarking on his fourth pro season with '07-08 representing his initial exposure to the IHL. The 6-0, 195lb left wing is coming to Muskegon with all of the flair of a velvet goal-scorer's touch as manifested throughout his playing career in both the junior and pro levels. For the past two seasons, the Sturgis, Saskatchewan native's goal-cannoneering has been on display in the SPHL where he has plied his craft with the Florida Seals and the Huntsville Havoc. In '06-07, he was on pace for a goal-a-game clip, actually leading the SPHL in goal-sniping before his team disbanded in Florida. Until that untimely juncture, he had fired 22-goals in 26-games; 26(22-15-37). Obtained late in the same season by Huntsville, Keller was 8(1-7-8) with the Alabama-based squadron. For last season's composite, he was 34(23-22-45) with 34-PIM, 6-PPG, 5-PPA, 1-SHG, 1-GWG and superb +14 rating.

Playing a full season with Florida in 2005-06, Keller struck for 26-goals, 59-points in 51-games with another excellent rating of +17. He concluded that season with a strong playoffs performance with 9(4-5-9) and +5 rating.

Keller's new coach is thrilled to have him under contract and ready to go to camp. "Justin is coming off two outstand-ing years in the SPHL where he developed into one of the most feared, best goal-scorers in the league. In fact, last season, he was on pace to score nearly 60-goals when his team folded leaving him in a lurch. He has been a premiere goal-producer at every level in which he has played. He has good size, speed and can really shoot the puck. We have lots of positive notes next to his name and we are looking forward to his arrival here with us."

Keller broke-in to the pro ranks in 2004-05 when he played in the CHL for both Lubbock and Tulsa. Prior to his coming to the professionals, he maestroed a majestic season in the SJHL in 2003-04 with the Yorkton Terriers where he cannonaded 42-goals among his 98-points in 60-games.

WIESNER, 23, will be competing in his first pro season following an outstanding four year collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The 5-11, 215lb right wing left behind a rather luminous legacy at the Wisconsin school, climaxing his career there in '06-07 with a veritable volume of attainments. Serving as Team Captain, the American-bred from Rochester, Minnesota finished as his team's second leading scorer, engineering 34-points in 28-games on 15-goals, 19-assists with 24-PIM. His 19-assists led the club while his 15-goals were second most. He also led his team in SHG with 2; his 5-PPG and 5-GWG both ranked as runner-up for Stout. His +12 rating was foremost for his team.

Wiesner was named to the WIAC First All-Star Team and the All-NCHA First Team. On three separate occasions, he was acclaimed NCHA/WIAC Player of the Week.

Ramsay is quite high on what Wiesner can do in the Fury lineup this season. "Andy had an exceptional four-year college career and comes highly-endorsed by his Wisconsin-Stout coach. He is generally considered one of the best players and best pro prospects to ever play at a school which has produced some good, solid, pro personnel. In addition, Andy brings many other very important attributes to our team. He has not only proven to be a strong scorer, but also, as team captain, he has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills. What we also really like about him is that he is very versatile, having played all three forward positions as well as defense in college."

In his junior year of 2005-06, Wiesner was a NCHA Honorable Mention selection as a defenseman with 13-points in 27-games on 7-goals, 6-assists with 24-PIM. He collected 11-points in 26-games in 2004-05 and 10-points in 19-outings his freshman year of 2003-04. For his collegiate career, he was 101(37-32-69) with 76-PIM, 13-PPG, 10-GWG and 2-SHG with +18 overall rating.

Today's signings of left wings RAFAL MARTYNOWSKI, JUSTIN KELLER and ANDY WIESNER bring to 23 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 goaltenders RYAN GRINNELL, KYLE MCNULTY, ISAAC REICH-MUTH; defensemen RYAN BARTLE, JAY HARDWICK, KYLE KOS, RUSS MOYER, PHILIPPE PLANTE, DAVE VAN DRUNEN; centers BILLY COLLINS, CHRIS MILLS, TYLER SUMMERFIELD, MIKE WATT; left wings JUSTIN ROHR, PAUL YOVANIC; right wings ROBIN BOUCHARD, DAVID SEGAL, ADAM SERGERIE, KYLE SHEEN, BILL ZALBA.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from September 19, 2007


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