Fury sign new number one goaltender
August 10, 2004 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- There has been much work to do for the reigning United Hockey League Colonial Cup Champions, the Muskegon Fury as minor pro hockey's most winning franchise through its initial 12-years under the Fury banner confronts the daunting obstacle of seeking the successful defense of their third league crown in the past five calendar years. One of the top items on their Colonial Cup III off-season agenda has been the search for a new, top-flight goaltender to succeed their popular two-time team MVP and 2004 UHL Colonial Cup MVP, Sylvain Daigle.
That extensive, concerted search has reached a satisfying culmination for a Fury club that has been in the market-place for a new backstop puck-stop for the first time in some eight years. Today, Club Owner and Team President Tony Lisman, in collaboration with Director of Hockey Operations / Head Coach Todd Nelson have announced that the Fury have come to terms with goaltender BRENT BELECKI on a one-year contract, expressly to become Muskegon's new number one netminder. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
When the UHL kingpins, for two of the last three years, formally convene their 13th training camp in early October, BELECKI, 26, will be ushering-in his seventh pro season, his second in the UHL and his first-ever with the Fury. The native of Calgary, Alberta is coming to his new hockey home armed with a full, well-rounded resume of experience and considerable achievement at both the pro level and through an exemplary major junior âA' career.
The 5-10, 180lb Western Canadian is marking his return to the UHL following a three-year absence when he helped spark the since-extinct Eastern Conference Champions, the Asheville Smoke to the 2001 UHL Colonial Cup Cham-pionship Finals. For the last three seasons, he has been a sound and solid anchor in the CHL where he has performed for several contending clubs.
Last season, in the 2003-04 season, Belecki was an integral operative for three different Texas-based squads; name-ly, the Corpus Christi Rayz, Fort Worth Brahmas and Austin Ice Bats. In 43-games, he posted an overall record of 42(15-24-3) with a 3.07 GAA and an excellent SPCT of .910. While with Austin, despite a 12(4-8-0) record, he, nevertheless, compiled a superb 2.92 GAA and .921 SPCT in 13-appearances. Belecki's numbers from last season are even more impressive, especially considering that all three teams failed to qualify for the CHL playoffs and two of those (Corpus Christi 23-38-3=49 and Fort Worth 15-40-9=39) were saddled with the worst records in the league. In 2002-03 with Corpus Christi, the left-catching puck detour was the consummate, dependable workhorse, report-ing for duty in 58 of his team's 64-games. He composed a 58(29-26-3) record with an outstanding 2.77 GAA and .920 SPCT.
With his search for a top-drawer, number one goaltender reaching a solid, positive conclusion, Coach Nelson is more than pleased that the Belecki presence in the Fury lineup represents the final result. "We were out to find a new goalkeeper after Sylvain Daigle moved on. Our mission was to find a good, sound professional with plenty of experience; someone who knows how to win and lead us back to the championship. In Brent, we firmly believe that we have found such a player with those kinds of credentials on his resume. He is a first-class, character guy who works hard every day, stays late after practice, is good in the dressing room with his teammates and just basically has a tremendous team attitude." Nelson further pointed out that his newest netminder's approach and attitude will spill over in a most positive fashion within the greater Fury community. "Brent will also be a model citizen who will be strong in his spirit and commitment in the community. I think that we will see the Muskegon area truly embrace him."
As for Muskegon's most recent goaltending acquisition, he is energized and enthused about his new championship playing address and, with it, his newest challenge. "I certainly realize that there are some mighty big shoes to fill in becoming the Fury's new goaltender. However, I am definitely looking forward to this great opportunity and the challenge that it presents. Having played in Asheville, I am quite familiar with the city and the fans and look ahead to establishing myself as the Fury's top goalkeeper." Belecki's spirits are further buoyed when he checks-out the Muskegon lineup for 2004-05. "Coach Nelson is putting together a top caliber team which really adds to the excite-ment of coming to Muskegon. I want to come here and win the championship; in fact, I will be satisfied with nothing less than winning."
When Belecki returns to the UHL this season, he will be returning to the league where he achieved his best pro season. It was the 2000-01 campaign when he starred for the Colonial Cup Finalists Asheville Smoke, authoring a superb record of 55(34-17-4) and 3.05 GAA. He parlayed the outstanding season into an AHL contract deal in 2001-02 with the Utah Grizzlies. He did enjoy a two-months' stint with the Salt Lake City-based club, while in the same season, spearheading CHL San Antonio to the regular season crown and a supreme personal mark of 30(18-7-5) with a 2.38 GAA and .915 SPCT.
Belecki actually launched his pro playing career in the ECHL following an extraordinary major junior âA' career with the prestigious WHL Portland Winter Hawks team. As a teammate for four years with current Fury all-star center Todd Robinson, he capped a brilliant junior career by leading Portland to a dream season of 1997-98 when the âHawks captured the Western Division and Western Conference Championships; all culminated by the Memorial Cup Championship, emblematic of CHL Major Junior âA' hockey supremacy. Belecki registered a sterling record of 50(35-10-5) in 51-games with a 2.58 GAA and .918 SPCT as he was acclaimed both WHL Goaltender of the Year and Memorial Cup MVP. The season previously, in '96-97, he was at the forefront in another Western Division crown for Portland.
Belecki's pro career numbers read: 275-total games played with a record of 261(130-111-20).
Today's signing of goaltender BRENT BELECKI brings to 12 the number of players that the Fury have signed for the title defending season of 2004-05. Previously, Muskegon announced the signings of defensemen NOLAN BROWN, JORDON FLODELL and TYLER PALMER; centers BILLY COLLINS, JEFF NELSON and TODD ROBINSON; left wing DAVID AMBLER; right wings ROBIN BOUCHARD, RUSTYN DOLYNY, SCOTT HOLLIS and JASON LAWMASTER.
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