Bruce Ramsey named new Fury coach
August 30, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- With their 15th training camp slightly more than one month away, the United Hockey League's all-time top winning team, the Muskegon Fury, have moved swiftly and sharply in their concerted efforts to appoint their new head coach for the 2006-07 UHL season.
On this date, the Fury Club Owner and Team President Tony Lisman has announced that BRUCE RAMSAY has been named the Fury's new Director of Hockey Operations / Head Coach, effective immediately. Adhering to club policy, terms of new coach's contract were not disclosed. RAMSAY assumes his new position after Todd Nelson stepped down following three years at the Muskegon helm to accept the assistant coach position with the AHL Chicago Wolves.
Team President Lisman expressed great enthusiasm with his Fury club's latest coaching appointment while at the same time welcoming his new man back to Muskegon, again. "We have known Bruce for a long time, from his days as a member of the opposition and our classic battles between the Fury and Thunder Bay to his final days as a key player when he closed out his outstanding pro career here with the Fury with our second Colonial Cup Championship in 2002. Later, he assisted Todd in our fourth championship of 2005 and, again, did a tremendous job. He is very bright and very hard-working; a first class individual in every way and is especially well-motivated to guide and be successful with our team. In short, he is absolutely the perfect fit for our Fury team, and for that matter, the entire Fury organization." Lisman sees the Ramsay resume of championships as one that mirrors his own Fury franchise and foresees future and further growth on both fronts. "Bruce's five Colonial Cup Championships and his career grand total of nine titles clearly represent the embodiment of what Muskegon hockey is all about---winning! Throughout our history, the Fury have earned the reputation for championship hockey at its best in landing top-flight coaches. The combination of Bruce Ramsay and the Muskegon Fury certainly would seem synonymous when it comes to winning championships."
In becoming the Fury franchise ninth coach, Ramsay, 37, brings with him a UHL record-equaling five Colonial Cup Championships with the latter two coming while a member in exemplary standing of the Muskegon organization. In the 2001-02 season, his lone full season with the Fury, the Dryden, Ontario native capped his extraordinary 12-year playing career with his fourth crown and Muskegon's Colonial Cup II. Then, as playoffs' assistant coach, he helped lead the Fury to their second consecutive Colonial Cup crown and the franchise's overall, UHL league record Colonial Cup IV in 2004-05. In the most recent campaign of 2005-06, he, once again, stepped behind the Fury bench to assist his mentor and predecessor, Todd Nelson in the Fury's post-season action.
The newest member of the Fury family is utterly thrilled to assume the helm of the league's premiere winning team. "I am very excited for this tremendous opportunity that has been presented. The Muskegon Fury is a first class organiza-tion through and through. It is an organization which operates with the highest ideals, the highest standards and the highest expectations. The Fury are in the business of top contending hockey and winning championships. Our intent-ions are to follow the lead and the legacy and the footprints set forth and left behind by Todd Nelson while at the same time, make our imprint in winning more championships here in Muskegon. The plan is to win and keep winning! There might be a slightly different way of achieving such success but the goals remain the same." Ramsay also appears to have a confident grasp on his new "digs" and the immediate business at hand. "I have much familiarity with the Fury organization and how the overall franchise does operate. Despite this late date, we should be in the position to make this a very smooth transition as I really look forward to coaching this team for this coming year and many years to come."
This will be Ramsay's second head coaching assignment in the UHL, having guided the fortunes of the Port Huron Beacons for two seasons, in 2002-03 and 2003-04. Named as a late season replacement in '02-03, Ramsay resurrected a somewhat dormant Port Huron team with a brilliant record of 23(14-6-3) through the final 23-games and a lusty .674 winning percentile, attaining a coveted playoff berth. The ensuing season saw him spur the Beacons to a 76(38-31-7) mark as his team reached the UHL Conference Finals barely missing on a berth in the league Championship Finals. The Fury's newest bench pacer actually launched his pro coaching career in 2002-03 when he was tabbed as the first-ever General Manager / Coach of the ACHL St. Pete / Winston-Salem Parrots, directing them to a 37(18-12-7) record and .581 winning percentage.
Ramsay's resume is rich in experiences, achievements and ultimate championships. During his 12-year pro playing career, he was a member of Colonial Cup Championship teams in Thunder Bay on three separate occasions; 1991-92, 1993-94 and 1994-95, the latter one defeating the Fury in the Finals, before his latter two title timber trips earned with the Fury. Even coming up to his ultimate destination of the pro ranks, championships seemed to follow Muskegon's newest manager of men. Ramsay also captured four championships at the mighty junior 'A' level, giving him an amazing total of nine championships, seemingly unprecedented and unparalleled for one of such a less-than-lengthy career.
Known for his notoriety as one of the most rugged, ruffian, rock-ribbed consummate warriors in UHL history, Ramsay retired as the most penalized player in league history, a distinction he still holds today, at 2,265-PIM. Ironically, during that era, he was inarguably recognized and widely acknowledged as one of the Fury's all-time great nemesis when donning the much hated and despised archrival Thunder Bay uniform as the Muskegon-Thunder Bay battles are still considered some of the all-time classics in league annals.
An indefatigable, relentless yeoman, the Western Ontario product used his tools of the trade to galvanizing advantage in realizing a three-year stint in the IHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins from 1996 to 1999.
The total epitome of team-oriented, team-driven and inspired player, Ramsay twice earned his team's "Selfless Player of the Year Award." The first time he attained such distinction with the 1999-00 UHL Fort Wayne Komets and the second one a year later as a key contributor of the CHL Wichita Thunder in 2000-01.
The Fury's new coach is a man of both letters and numbers, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and minor in Physical Education from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Bruce and his wife, Jennifer are the parents of two children: Natalie and Reed.
BRUCE RAMSAY'S appointment as the Fury's new head coach is effective immediately.
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