Icehawks Trade With Flint Generals

Published on February 18, 2009 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Port Huron Icehawks News Release


PORT HURON, MI - Stan Drulia, head coach and general manager of the Port Huron Icehawks announced that the Icehawks have completed a trade with International Hockey League rival Flint and sent veteran left wing Jeff Zehr to the Generals in exchange for veteran left wing Steve Rymsha.

Rymsha (6-4, 227) has lit up the scoreboard for Flint this season with 62 points (32g, 30a) in 49 games. He leads the IHL in goals (32) and is currently ranked fourth in league scoring.

An eight year veteran, he has spent time in the East Coast Hockey League, Europe and the Central Hockey League. The 29-year old native of St. Catharines, Ontario began the 2007-08 season with Esbjerg IK in Denmark and put up 35 points (18g, 17a) in 44 games, before joining the Arizona Sundogs near the tail end of their season and helping them to a Central Hockey League championship with 13 points (2g, 11a) in just six regular season contests and 10 points (8g, 2a) in 17 playoff games.

"This was very a tough decision for our entire organization," Drulia said. "Zehr brought a lot to the table but we feel that this trade for Rymsha provides us with more of the offense that we need at this time. Anytime you have the opportunity to add the leading goal scorer in the IHL, I feel you must do it. In doing so, you must be willing to give up a good player."

He continued, "Rymsha can play in any situation and provides us more depth in our lineup both offensively and defensively. He won the CHL championship last year and will be able to provide us with leadership as we make a run at the Turner Cup."

Zehr played for the Generals in the 2006-07 season and was traded to Port Huron at the start of the 2007-08 campaign. He has tallied 43 points (16g, 27a) in 49 games with the Icehawks this season and put up a career high 66 points (33g, 33a) during the 2007-08 season. He is in his ninth professional season.

Rymsha's career stats: http://www.eurohockey.net/players/show_player.cgi?serial=62911 and http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=33876.

The trade is the second the Icehawks have completed with the Generals this season. They also sent rookie defenseman Paul Holder to Flint for future considerations at the end of January.

Rymsha will make his Icehawks debut tonight when they host the Bloomington PrairieThunder at McMorran Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m. The Icehawks complete the week with games at Bloomington on Thursday and Saturday.

Tickets for all Icehawks home games are available now at the Icehawks office, McMorran Arena box office, all Ticketmaster locations and www.ticketmaster.com. For more information call 810-966-3800 or visit www.porthuronicehawks.com.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 18, 2009


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