Fury Signs Center Jeff Nelson
Published on August 21, 2003 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- It is still full speed ahead for the Muskegon Fury of the United Hockey League as the 12th year franchise on the shores of West Michigan continue to patiently and productively plot their roster for the upcoming 2003-04 UHL season.
To that end, perhaps, saving one of their best summer announcements for last, and for that matter, one of their best of all-time, the Fury organization and Club Owner and Team President Tony Lisman, in concert with Director of Hockey Operations / Head Coach Todd Nelson, has announced today that star, standout center JEFF NELSON has agreed to terms and inked a one-year pact with Muskegon, effective for the 2003-04 UHL season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
When the Fury formally convene their training camp in early October, NELSON, 30, will be set to embark on his 12th pro season; though it will be both his initial season in the UHL and with Muskegon. The silk, smooth, satin centerman will be making his Fury playing premiere just as older brother Todd debuts in 2003-04 as his mentor and Muskegon head coach. As he touches down on the Muskegon pro hockey landscape, Jeff Nelson will be utterly armed with a truly impeccable portfolio of prominent, prolific, point-producing performances, predominantly achieved through a brilliant pro career in both the AHL and the IHL.
Last season, the 2002-03 campaign was yet another of the many banner seasons composed by J. Nelson. Under NHL contract with the San Jose Sharks, the 6-0, 190lb pivot was the AHL Cleveland Barons second top-point meister, amassing 60-points on 12-goals and a team-best 48-assists while playing in all 80-games. His 3-GWG and 12-multi-point games each shared the club leadership and his 34-power play points; (2-32-34) led Cleveland in the latter category as well.
A former second round choice, 36th overall, in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals, Nelson's composite profile is one of a majestic, electrifying, top-flight scoring ace of seven seasons in the AHL and another 3-years in the IHL with 52-games of experience as well in the NHL; with Washington 1994-95 and 1995-96 and the Nashville Predators in 1998-99. He is a veteran of 804 games and 700-career points on 804 (240-460-700) through his first 11-pro seasons for a per season average of 22-goals, 42-assists, 64-points.
His elder brother Todd, as the Fury coach, expressed elation with the uniting of the Nelson brothers act for 2003-04. "Jeff's arrival here in Muskegon represents a great acquisition for our club as we have become a much better team today. We are setting the tone for the upcoming season in our efforts to make this one of the most successful seasons for Fury hockey. Along with his many skills and talents, Jeff also brings many more important qualities vital to the overall success of our team; such as a real wealth of character, polish, poise and style. He is a very intelligent player, a masterful passer and playmaker and his knowledge of the game and the moments in the game can be best described as superb." Knowing little brother better than most and better than anybody, T. Nelson concluded. "Jeff will fit right in here and work especially well with the players we have now. The great Fury fans will really like the way he plays the game."
As for the man of the hour, star center, Jeff, has Muskegon on his mind and an exciting Fury future for the new season. "I am very excited to come to a first-class organization the status of the Fury. It is a genuine thrill to look forward to the idea of playing with a team that always has been successful and an organization which every year aims high for the championship. The standards are the best here and that's the way I like it!" The newest member of the Fury lineup also finds the family angle rather special. "To play in Muskegon represents a tremendous opportunity for both my family and myself and to be playing for my brother in his first-ever head coaching position is something I am really energized over and eager to do."
This will actually be the fourth time that the Nelson brothers have been re-united with their career hockey act. The previous three times they played as roster teammates beginning in Major Junior âA' with their hometown team, the Prince Albert Raiders, (1988-89 & 1989-90); the AHL Portland Pirates (1993-94 & 1994-95); and most recently, the IHL Grand Rapids Griffins (1996-97).
For Jeff Nelson, the left-hand shooting flashy forward, his personal listing of individual career accomplishments is extraordinary. In the 2001-02 campaign, in his lone European escapade, playing in Germany, he finished among the leaders with (13-14-27). In the 2000-01 season, his fifth and final season with Portland, he was third in team scoring with 80(18-37-55). In 1999-00, he ranked second in goals 24 and points (54). In 1998-99, his second year with IHL Milwaukee, he was third in Admirals scoring with 70(20-31-51), also appearing in 9-games that same season with NHL Nashville. The 1997-98 year found "J. Nel" finishing second in the Milwaukee point-prowess parade with 52(20-34-54).
Playing with defenseman brother Todd in 1996-97 with Grand Rapids, Jeff ranked a lofty 10th IHL league-wide and runner-up in Griffins team scoring with 82(34-55-89), earning a coveted berth on the IHL All-Star Team. Perhaps, though, his most prodigious seasons came consecutively in 1993-94 and 1994-95 with Portland where, again, as a teammate of Todd's, he distinguished himself as the AHL's most pre-eminent centerman. He was crowned his club's scoring kingpin each campaign, registering 83-points in just 64-games on 33-goals, 50-assists in '93-94, finishing among the top 10 league scoring elite. While the following year, he and Todd shared a magical AHL Calder Cup Championship together with Jeff enjoying his best season to date, amassing an amazing 107-points in 80-games on 34-goals, 73-assists to finish fourth in league scoring. J. Nelson climaxed the campaign with a crescendo being acclaimed the team winner of the Player's Player Award. It was the second such time in which he had been so honored, capturing the same laurels later on in the 2000-01 season, also with Portland.
Jeff Nelson has been a natural from the very start; seemingly born to score. In fact, during his remarkable four-year career in the WHL with Prince Albert, three times he led his Raiders in point-productivity, twice eclipsing the prestigious 100-points plateau while earning 97-points in the one other season. Three times he was named to the WHL All-Star Team and two times being anointed Canadian Major Junior Scholastic Player of the Year. Moreover, Nelson was acclaimed Team MVP and Rookie of the Year. In the 1990-91 season, he established an all-time WHL scoring record by authoring a phenomenal 56-games point-producing streak.
Breaking down Jeff Nelson's all-time career scoring numbers: In the WHL Major Junior âA' with Prince Albert 279 (152-265-417). His 7-years in the AHL with Baltimore, Portland and Cleveland 488 (150-308-458). His 3-years in the IHL with Grand Rapids and Milwaukee 204 (74-120-194). NHL totals with Washington and Nashville 52 (3-8-11). His all-time pro career totals: 804 (240-460-700).
Today's major signing of center JEFF NELSON brings to 18 the number of players currently under contract for the 2003-04 season with 12 of those recognized as returnees from the 2002-03 UHL playoffs post-season aggregation. Previously, Muskegon announced the player signings of goaltender SYLVAIN DAIGLE; defensemen JUSTIN BERRY; SCOTT FEASBY; B.J. HECKENDORN; JASON JAWORSKI; TREVOR JOHNSON; JASON LAWMASTER; PETR SUCHANEK; centers DAVID NOEL-BERNIER; KORY KARLANDER; TODD ROBINSON; left wings BRANT BLACKNED; ANDREW LUCIUK; BILLY PUGLIESE; right wings ROBIN BOUCHARD; JOEL BRESCIANI; SCOTT HOLLIS.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from August 21, 2003
- Fury Signs Center Jeff Nelson - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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