Bouchard, Robinson to Sign with Lumberjacks
July 8, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- As they get set to embark on their golden anniversary season, the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League, will launch their history-making campaign fully armed with two of the greatest players to ever perform in the storied 50-year history of the rich, tradition-steeped franchise.
On this date, the Lumberjacks General Manager / Governor Tim Taylor has announced that perennial All-Stars, ROBIN BOUCHARD and TODD ROBINSON have agreed to terms and inked new contract deals for the upcoming 2009-10 IHL season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the pact were not disclosed.
BOUCHARD, 35, will be approaching his 16th pro season overall and his 13th donning the color combination and coordination of Muskegon at Walker Arena. Armed with the mighty, unprecedented achievements of five league championships as well as attaining extraordinary fame and acclaim as one of the minor pro hockey's all-time goal-scoring wizards, the native of Jonquiere, PQ will broach his latest season with the âJacks standing on the precipice of all-time pro hockey immortality.
Recognized as the most feared, revered premiere cannoneer in Muskegon and league annals, "Rockin' Robin has cannonaded an awesome and then-some 645-career goals and stands only 38-goals away from attaining the all-time top title as the greatest goal-scoring colossus in minor pro hockey history with the magic number being 683-goals. Muskegon's rocket-rifling right wing has amassed an astronomical 1,306-points in 1,005 career games on those 645-goals and 661-assists. Throughout the first 15-years of his star-studded pro hockey existence, the Muskegon icon has averaged a prolific 43-goals and 87-points per season.
As a finely-fermented wine, Bouchard seems to get better and better with age as reflected in his most recent campaign of 2008-09. After actually beginning the season in the CHL with Rio Grande Valley, "The Gun-Sling King" made a magnificent return to his adopted home at the 26-games mark of the year and promptly proceeded to propel a prodigious 42-goals in 46-games, totaling 67-points to finish a lofty 12th in IHL league-wide scoring and #2 in goal productivity. Only Steve Rymsha's 43-goals were superior and the latter accomplished his feat in 75-games. Moreover, Bouchard's 15-PPG tied for circuit second most while his 42/197 and .213 SPCT paced the loop and his 4/10 OTSO mark ranked #3 in the league. Not to be overshadowed was his overall, all-around effort and total performance as Muskegon's famous #32 earned a stellar +13 rating which listed him third best for last season's Turner Cup Finalists. Speaking of the post-season, always regarded as one of the true touch-in-the-clutch playoff performers of this and his era, the flamboyant francophone capped the past campaign by finishing 4th in IHL playoff scoring with 11(5-6-11). Bouchard begins the 2009-10 season in almost complete and total domination of the club's all-time record book in virtually every major offensive category.
Today's first major signings of the summer for the Lumberjacks are of powerful impact as they bring back, perhaps, the best 1-2 offensive punch in the league, and for that matter, in all of minor pro hockey. Much of Bouchard's inexorable ascent to the goal-scoring summit has been through the talented playmaking skills of center TODD ROBINSON. Robinson, 31, will be setting sail on his 11th pro season and his ninth resplendent in Muskegon's coat of arms. Like his linemate Bouchard, the 5-8, 175lb Trail, B.C. native will be aiming at a personal major milestone as he commences the campaign 74-points away from pro career 1,000. His 926-points have been garnered in only 669-games with the sleek, satin, silk center averaging a prolific 92.6 points per season.
After returning from a one-year stint playing overseas, Robinson, in 2008-09, captured his second league scoring crown as well as second league MVP award with both prestigious honors being earned in each of the last two seasons in which he has played in the league. Last season, in 67-games, "T. Rob" engineered a prolific 112-points on 23-goals and league-high, Muskegon club record 89-assists. Included in his mammoth numbers were 4-GWG, 3-PPG, 2-SHG and +12 rating which ranked as fourth best for the âJacks. The pre-eminent prince of points playmaking pivot percolated a league best 32-PP/Assists as well as two 5-point games, four 4-assists performances, one 8-game point streak and two 7-game point skeins. The Lumberjacks Team Captain sustained his scoring scourge and sorcery in the playoffs, again, topping the IHL in point-productivity with 15-points in 11-games on 3-goals, 12-assists with his 12-helpers also the best of the rest. If Bouchard is #1 in virtually every major Muskegon scoring record, then Robinson is right there, right behind at #2.
GM Taylor could not mask his elation with his initial two signings to begin the 50th Anniversary roster building. "What better way to officially launch our 50th Anniversary Season then with the returns of the two greatest players of our era of Muskegon pro hockey! To have Todd Robinson and Robin Bouchard back with us is as it should be here. They have scored together, they have won championships together here with us. They are the faces of our franchise and of this community. And, as we begin our 50th year, we look forward to their milestone moments and even more memorable moments as Todd and Robin lead us back to championship contention as they have done so many times before."
The joint portfolios of each prominent populist are bulging with unparalleled, dynamic documentation. The lustrous luminaries show 8-league championships; (Bouchard 5, Robinson 3); 4-league scoring titles; (Robinson 2, Bouchard 2); nine 100-point seasons; (Robinson 5, Bouchard 4).
Individually, "Bouch Almighty" has authored five 50-goal seasons and ten 40-goal campaigns. He holds the Muskegon club record for goals in one season with 59 (2005-06) and PPG in one season (34), also in '05-06. The "Bouchardian" numbers smack of the ammo arsenal of an awesome armada. He has led Muskegon in scoring 5-times; in goals 8-times, with 7 of those coming in the past 9-seasons. He has been named First Team All-Star 4-times, Second Team All-Star 2-times and has led the league in PPG an unprecedented 9-times.
Perhaps, however, his greatest individual achievement was the shattering of an 83-year old pro hockey record when, in 2004, he essayed a brilliant 17-games goal-scoring streak in which he blazed 21-goals. The Muskegon icon has been named Muskegon's Most Popular Player 10-consecutive years from 1996-2006.
As for the "Robinsonian" record, he has maestroed five 100-point seasons, capturing two league scoring titles and two league MVP awards. He also holds single season club records in points 123 (2006-07) and assists (89) 2008-09. "T. Rob" has captured three league playoffs scoring crowns (2002, 2005, 2009) and one league playoff MVP award in 2002 when he scored the electrifying GWG and Cup-clinching goal at 4:16 of OT in Game #6 of the Finals against Elmira at Walker Arena.
The litany continues with Robinson claiming three Muskegon Team MVP honors, four Muskegon scoring titles while topping the team in assists 5-times. He holds both club standards for most SHG in one season with 9 (2006-07) and most career SHG with 27.
For their pro careers: Bouchard 1,005-games; 645-goals, 661-assists, 1,306-points; Robinson 669-games; 261-goals, 665-assists, 926-points.
For their respective Muskegon careers: Bouchard is #1 all-time in GP: 755; GOALS: 500; POINTS: 986; PIM: 1,697; PPG: 213; GWG: 73. He is second all-time in assists with 486.
For Robinson; GP: 496 (4th); GOALS: 201 (2nd); ASSISTS: 524 (1st); POINTS: 725 (2nd); GWG: 27 (2nd); PPG: 49 (2nd); SHG: 27 (1st).
Bouchard has averaged 1.30 points per game in both his total pro career and his Muskegon time. Robinson has averaged 1.38 points per game in his full career and an even better 1.47 points per game in his Muskegon tenure.
The signings of ROBIN BOUCHARD and TODD ROBINSON represent the initial two players who are set for the 50th Anniversary Season of pro hockey in Muskegon.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from July 8, 2009
- Icehawks Strengthen Defense with Re-Signing Tetrault - Port Huron Icehawks
- Mallards Name Jim Riggs as Executive Vice President - Quad City Mallards
- IceMen Agree To Working Agreement With Ft. Wayne Komets - Evansville IceMen
- Bouchard, Robinson to Sign with Lumberjacks - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Colin Chaulk Signs for 7th Komet Season - Fort Wayne Komets
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