Former UHL D-Man of the Year Lands in Lubbock
August 10, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release
LUBBOCK, TX: August 10, 2006 - The Central Hockey League's (CHL) Lubbock Cotton Kings bolstered their blueline with the signing of defenseman Troy Neumeier to a two-year contract beginning the 2006/2007 season.
"Troy's career speaks for itself," said Cotton Kings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Chris Dashney. "I have been looking for a battle tested veteran defenseman to come in Lubbock and help solidify our blueline. He is a proven player that will play a very significant role against opposing players."
Neumeier (new-myer) comes to Lubbock with 16 years of pro experience with the past five seasons spent with the Fort Wayne Komets of the United Hockey League. Last season, Neumeier served as a player/assistant coach and was one of two Komets to appear in all 76 games, contributing a pair of goals and 13 assists for 15 points. He was honored as the UHL's "Defenseman of the Year" after the 04/05 season after leading the league with an astonishing +47 plus/minus rating. Neumeier was a First Team All-Star in the UHL that season with 7 goals and 16 assists for 23 points. He leaves the Komets as their all-time UHL franchise leader in games played with 338. In his five seasons with the Komets, Neumeier registered 18 goals and 52 assists for 70 points, along with a +90 plus/minus rating, and was part of the 02/03 UHL Colonial Cup title winning team in 02/03.
The 6'2" 195-pound blueliner turned pro in 90/91 with the Milwaukee Admirals, who served as the top International Hockey League (IHL) affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. He spent his first four pro seasons in the Canucks system, spending time in Milwaukee (90/91 - 91/92), the American Hockey League's (AHL) Hamilton Canucks (92/93 - 93/94) and the ECHL's Columbus Chill. The 35 year-old then spent parts of two seasons (94/95 - 95/96) in the Detroit Red Wings system with the AHL's Adirondack Red Wings and the ECHL's Toledo Storm before heading to the Edmonton Oilers system with the AHL's Cape Breton Eagles (95/96) and the Hamilton Bulldogs (96/97) for parts of two seasons. Neumeier's AHL/IHL totals include 11 goals and 58 assists for 69 points in 374 games spanning four seasons. In 97/98, Neumeier ventured across the Atlantic to England to suit up with the Manchester Storm of the British Superleague (BISL). He was with the Storm for four seasons (97/98 - 00/01) and combined for 16 goals and 54 assists for 70 points in 182 games, while leading them to a Superleague title in 98/99 and a Benson & Hedges Cup title in 99/00. He returned to North America in 01/02 with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies for a short stint before joining Fort Wayne later that season. Neumeier's overall pro totals include 46 goals and 172 helpers for 218 points in 924 games, marking him among the all-time active leaders in games played in all of minor pro hockey.
The Langenburg, Saskatchewan native played Major Juniors with several NHL players including Dallas Stars forward Mike Modano while with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 87/88 - 90/91. In the four seasons with the Raiders, he accumulated 22 goals and 76 assists for 98 points in 274 games. His solid play led to the Vancouver Canucks drafting him in the 10th round of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.
The addition of Neumeier gives the Kings 11 players announced for the 06/07 season. He joins goaltender Brett Koscielny, defensemen Chris Barth, Stacey Bauman, Jason Beatty and forwards Jimmy Callahan, Andrew Luciuk, Paul McBrien, Jaydyn Murray, Corey Rutt and Brian Sutherland on the 06/07 roster. With 924 pro games played, Neumeier surpasses the mark of 280 classifying him as a "veteran". He is the second veteran (joining Luciuk) under contract for the Kings, who are allowed a maximum of four veterans on the roster.
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