IceMen Sign Two More Players for 2011-12 Season
Published on July 26, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN.--- Activity continues to abound around the summer off-season agenda for the Evansville IceMen of the Central Hockey League; especially with the eagerly anticipated move into the new state-of-the-art Downtown Evansville Arena. Team roster building continues to be listed quite prominently as a top priority as the 2011-12 CHL pro hockey season approaches.
With his own marching orders firmly in hand, the IceMen General Manager/Coach Rich Kromm has announced on this date the contract signings of two more player personnel to increase the club's current roster to 13-players with more on the way. The latest to affix their respective signatures to the Evansville dotted line are defenseman NICK SCHNEIDER and rookie right wing DUSTIN JOHNSON. Both players have inked one-year pacts effective with the 2011-12 CHL season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the two contracts were not disclosed.
SCHNEIDER, 26, will be commencing his third pro season and his second full campaign under the employ of the IceMen. The diminutive, diligent 5-9, 175lb right-hand shooting blue line rampart made his debut with the premiering AA/CHL IceMen rendition last campaign, emerging as a hard-working, unrelenting member of the Evansville defense corps. In 64-games, he registered 18-points on 3-goals, 15-assists with 35-PIM and +2 rating. The American-bred product of Maplewood, Minnesota contributed to the cause 1-PPG, 1-PPA, 1-SHG and 3-SHA. The 3-SHA ranked as fourth most in the CHL overall and second most among all league defensemen.
GM/Coach Kromm knows what his defenseman can do and is looking for even more from him in this upcoming campaign. "In returning Nick Schneider to the IceMen, we are getting a player who was a plus player all of last season for our club. Nick competes extremely hard every game, every night and always plays the game with lots of heart and character. In addition, he moves the puck well as he continues to gain more and more experience. With more experience, we expect Nick to make an even better contribution in this coming season."
Originally, Schneider came to Evansville in the summer of 2010 as one of nine players who were successfully transferred from the IHL Muskegon Lumberjacks roster to the new IceMen squad. In 2009-10 with the Huber Trophy Champions Lumberjacks, he collected 5-points in 40-games on 1-goal, 4-assists with 10-PIM and an excellent +16 rating. Schneider actually launched that particular campaign in the AAHL with the Battle Creek Revolution where he averaged over a point a game on 11(5-8-13). Beset with injuries on the blue line, Muskegon summoned him from the Battle Creek club, earning a full-fledged position with the league regular season kingpins.
Prior to his pro career, he enjoyed a highly-productive collegiate career in the AHA with the U. of Connecticut from 2005-2009, playing in 138-games for the Huskies.
JOHNSON, 21, will be broaching his initial season in the professional ranks, armed with the reputation for goal-cannoneering prowess. The 6-2, 200lb right wing is a product of the Western Canadian junior 'A' circuit, the BCHL (British Columbia Hockey League) where his goal scoring exploits became evident and prevalent. In 2010-11, starring for the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL, he cannonaded a prolific, team-best 9-goals in 10-playoff games, totaling 12-points in all. In the two preceding seasons, the native of Penticton, BC topped his Merritt Centennials BCHL squadron in goal scoring artistry. In 2009-10, both his 35-goals and 67-points in 52-games were team-foremost while in 2008-09, his 23-snipes were best and his 35-total points ranked team runner-up.
Coach Kromm expounded on the promise and potential of his new right wing. "Dustin is a young guy who has always carried with him the ability to score. He is a proven goal-scorer who has a big shot and good size. Throughout his junior 'A' career, and for that matter, wherever he has played he has possessed the knack of scoring goals. He will now be given a great chance to do this at the pro level."
In addition to his experience in both Victoria and Merritt, Johnson also saw action in the same BCHL with the Nanaimo Clippers in 2007-08 when he authored 7-points in 22-games on 4-goals, 3-assists. In his last 110-games in the BCHL, he has connected on 67-goals and 114-total points.
Today's signings of defenseman NICK SCHNEIDER and right wing DUSTIN JOHNSON increase the Evansville roster to 13-players which represent 13-more players signed to contracts than one year ago at this time. Also signed on the IceMen roster are goaltender BRIAN GILLIS; defensemen MATT GENS; ADAM KNOPP; JORDAN LITTLE, STEVE MAKWAY, JAKE OBERMEYER, PHILIPPE PLANTE; left wings MARK CODY; MATT PIERCE; centers BRIAN BICEK, TODD ROBINSON.
Central Hockey League Stories from July 26, 2011
- Killer Bees Ink Two More Rookies - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- IceMen Sign Two More Players for 2011-12 Season - Evansville IceMen
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