Sports stats

Fury select eight players in UHL Amateur Draft

March 23, 2004 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, MI.--- The second-place Muskegon Fury of the Western Conference and the United Hockey League were at the focal point of the UHL's annual North American Amateur Draft conducted today with all eleven member clubs participating.

Armed with four number one picks, the Fury chose a total of eight players in the six rounds' of the selection process. In all, Muskegon selected four centers and four defensemen, including two centers followed by two defensemen in their busy opening round of activity.

With the second overall choice, obtained before the start of the current campaign from Adirondack, the Fury braintrust chose top-flight center ERIC HIMELFARB from the Kingston Frontenacs of the highly-prestigious OHL Major Junior ‘A' circuit. Himelfarb, 21, is a 5-9, 170lb right-hand shooting pivot from Toronto, Ontario. A five-year OHL stalwart, he finished the 2003-04 regular season a lofty 4th in the league scoring race with a prolific 107-points in 67-games on 37-goals, 70-assists with 80-PIM and +8 rating. Himelfarb has sustained his scoring scourge in the playoffs, having engineered 5-points in just 3-games on 3-goals, 2-assists. Having also starred with both the Sarnia Sting and the Barrie Colts as well, Himelfarb, for his junior career has amassed 387-points in 312-games on 148-goals, 239-assists, 387-points along with 302-PIM. He has fashioned 30-goals seasons in each of his last 4-campaigns. In June 2001, he was the 6th round choice of the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL Entry Draft.

Also having Rockford's top pick and the number three selection overall, the Fury tabbed a second straight center when announcing the name of KEVIN MARSH from the national Canadian college perennial powerhouse U. of Alberta. The 5-11, 190lb fifth year member of the Golden Bears has been a major catalyst in leading his team to a remarkable undefeated record thus far this season at an amazing 41(39-0-2). Playing in 38 of those 41-games, the Ardrossan, Alberta native has registered 49-points on 20-goals, 29-assists with 20-PIM. Through five seasons with U. of A., the swift center has collected 217-points in 180-games on 95-goals, 122-assists. Prior to his extraordinary collegiate career, Marsh played four years in the WHL with Calgary, Kelowna and Red Deer, being drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the 8th round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

The Fury's number came up, again, with choice number eight in the first round, a pick acquired from Kalamazoo in the Andrew Luciuk deal which occurred before the inception of the campaign. With this choice, Muskegon opted for defenseman TOM GALVIN from Notre Dame of the CCHA. An American-bred from Miller Park, N.Y., the 5-10, 190lb member of the "Fighting Irish" has been in the lineup for all 38-games this season, essaying 1-goal, 18-assists, 19-points with 40-PIM. For his 4-year college career, Galvin has played 142-games, with 8-goals, 50-assists 58-points.

With their own choice, 10th overall in the opening round, the Fury made defenseman ERIC PEDERSEN from Merrimack College of the Hockey East Conference, their 4th pick. The team captain for the Warriors, the 5-11,205lb native of Saugus, MA., had 1-goal, 10-assists, 11-points and 16-PIM this season. For his Merrimack 4-year career, he was 126(5-18-23).

The Fury utilized their next four choices for the balance of the draft accordingly: in the second round and with the 21st pick overall, they chose another defenseman, NOLAN BROWN from Mercyhurst of the Atlantic Hockey Conference. A four year standout with the Lakers, Brown, 6-1,210lb from Climax, Sask., also captained his squad, going 33(2-4-6) with 1-GWG this season. For his career, 136(4-24-28).

Muskegon did not have a pick in the third round, having traded it to Port Huron at the start of the season for left wing David Ambler. Once the fourth round rolled around, the Fury decided on center BILLY COLLINS from Wayne State U., of the CHA. The 6-2, 200lb Enderby, B.C. native was WSU's third leading scorer this season with 31(11-6-17), 52-PIM and a team-high 87-SOG. He also added 3-PPG. In three years with the Warriors, Collins was 104(31-22-53) with 113-PIM, 6-PPG, 6-SHG and 5-GWG.

For the fifth round, the Fury's choice was the second Notre Dame defenseman on their master draft board in Brett Lebda. The Irish top-scoring blue line anchor was his team's third leading scorer overall with 38(6-18-24) with 2-PPG, 42-PIM and a +8 rating. His 131-SOG were second most for the CCHA member club. Lebda, 22, is 5-11, 194lb and hails from Buffalo Grove, IL. His 4-year career totals read 151(26-60-86) with 9-PPG. He attended highschool at Ann Arbor Pioneer in Ann Arbor, MI.

Completing the draft in the 6th and final round, the Fury called the name of hard-shooting, high-scoring center JOE TALLARI from the U. of Niagara of the CHA. The 6-0, 195lb, 23-year old from Thunder Bay, Ontario is the Purple Eagles second leading scorer this season with 37(15-17-32) with 26-PIM, 4-PPG, 3-GWG, +2 rating and a team-high 156-SOG. For his 4-year career, he is 143(59-65-120) with 107-PIM, 16-PPG and 10-GWG.

With the draft complete, the Fury will be permitted to sign two of their eight picks while protecting two others. The availability of today's draft choices will be subject to their current respective teams' status in the context of post-season playoff competition.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 23, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Muskegon Lumberjacks Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central