IceMen Sign RW John Ronan
Published on September 7, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN.--- As the month of September arrives, the hockey season, IceMen style in Evansville cannot be too far behind now as the franchise gets ready, gets set to move into the brand new state-of-the-art Ford Center, downtown Evansville for the 2011-12 CHL pro hockey season.
For second-year General Manager/Head Coach Rich Kromm, it is full speed ahead for player roster development and improvement as the countdown is fully underway for the official beginning of the team's second AA/CHL training camp.
Make it 22 and counting for the hometown team in Southwestern Indiana with today's signing of veteran right wing JOHN RONAN to a one-year contract for the 2011-12 IceMen CHL campaign. Adhering to club policy, terms of the pact were not disclosed.
RONAN (ROH-nin), 28, is approaching his eighth pro season overall, his third in the CHL and his initial endeavor operating under the IceMen code of colors. The 5-11, 215lb right-hand shooting sparkplug descends upon his new territory with resume riches replete of recent seasons' goal-scoring prowess both in the regular season as well as the playoff post-season. In fact, the past two years have represented the best two seasons of his experienced career.
Last season, in 2010-11, in his first-ever venture outside of North America, the South Boston, MA product starred for Holland's Geleen Smoke Eaters where he was his squad's second best goal-cannonneer and point premiere producer, crafting 52-points in 34-games on 25-goals, 27-assists for a points per game average of a prolific 1.53. Ronan achieved much of his success last season excelling on the starboard flank with Brad Smulders operating as his center. Both players will be reunited come training camp time in Evansville as Smulders earlier this summer completed his own contract deal with the IceMen.
In the previous season of 2009-10, the newest member of the IceMen igloo forces was magnificent, topping the IHL Flint Generals with his career-high 30-goals during the regular season and 7-strikes stoked in the playoffs post season. Ronan's goal cannonading that season produced a 7-game goal-scoring streak in which he sizzled 8-strikes as well as an impressive 13-games' point-scoring skein which generated a colossal 19-points. His 64-total points in the same season ranked him #3 best on the Flint scoring list.
Having watched Ronan play against his clubs over the past years, IceMen GM/Coach Kromm is looking forward to having "Big John" on his side for a nice change. "We are excited about reaching a contract agreement with John Ronan. We remember him all too well from his 30-goal season in Flint, being especially effective against us when we were in Muskegon. John has the outstanding reputation of being a reliable and responsible forward who has the ability and recent record that should give us some good offensive numbers in the upcoming season."
To amplify and verify the coach's statement, "JR" has accomplished the stellar feat of being a premium, positive, plus player through 5 of his first 7-pro seasons. Evansville's newest pro hockey resident will be making his second appearance in the CHL, having performed his talents for the Rocky Mountain Rage (2006-07) and the Austin Ice Bats (2006-07, 2007-08). Moreover, Ronan has seen two tours of service in the ECHL with the Alaska Aces and Florida Everblades.
Prior to the inception of his pro status, he enjoyed a full four-year career at perennial national powerhouse U. of Maine where the Black Bears fashioned a brilliant mark of 165(102-41-22) for a .686 win percentage.
In his last two pro seasons, Ronan has rifled 55-goals in 103-games, totaling 116-points in that span. Over the past 4-years, Ronan has wired 104-goals and 216-total points. His all-time pro career numbers read: 349-games; 121-goals, 139-assists; 260-points. His career playoff facts: 23-games; 9-goals, 6-assists, 15-points.
Today's signing of right wing JOHN RONAN increases the IceMen roster to 22-players under contract with 8 of those representing incumbents from last season's maiden voyage AA/CHL season. Presently, Evansville has signed: 2-goaltenders: BRIAN GILLIS; PIER-OLIVIER PELLETIER; 8-defensemen; MATT GENS, ADAM KNOPP, JORDAN LITTLE, STEVE MAKWAY, JAKE OBERMEYER, PHILIPPE PLANTE, ATTE RAJAJARVI, NICK SCHNEIDER; 4-left wings; JOSH BEAULIEU, MARK CODY, MATT PIERCE, MKE SGROI; 4-centers; BRIAN BICEK, NICKLAS LINDBERG, TODD ROBINSON, BRAD SMULDERS; 4-right wings; DUSTIN JOHNSON, SEAN O'CONNOR, JOHN RONAN, MATT SCHMERMUND.
Central Hockey League Stories from September 7, 2011
- Rush Ink Three More for 2011-12 - Rapid City Rush
- Mallards' Coach Bell to Hold Youth Clinics - Quad City Mallards
- Killer Bees Sign Billingsley for 2011-12 - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Dayton Gems Reconnect with Familiar Face & Introduce New Netminder - Dayton Gems
- IceMen Sign RW John Ronan - Evansville IceMen
- Oilers Sign Four New Forwards - Tulsa Oilers
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