Jackals Add Two To 2007-08 Roster
Published on July 18, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release
ELMIRA, NY - The Elmira Jackals, proud member of the ECHL's North Division, announced today the signings of Luke Stauffacher and Matt Syroczynski for the 2007-2008 season. They join returning Jackals 2006-2007 leading scorer Frank Littlejohn as the first three players signed for Elmira's first ECHL campaign.
Jackals Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations Steve Martinson is using his knowledge of UHL players to Elmira's advantage as they prepare for life in the ECHL. Martinson recruited two young UHL alums who bring to the ice both offensive firepower and the type of physical presence that Martinson-coached teams are known for. With the additions of Stauffacher and Syroczynski, Elmira now has two 42-goal scorers and all three announced players had over 100 penalty minutes last year.
"I are really anticipating a great season," said Coach Martinson. "By adding Littlejohn, Stauffacher and Syroczynski to the group of guys coming in from Rockford, I will have the toughest, most physical group of goal scorers that I have ever assembled."
Luke Stauffacher, (pronounced STAWF-ah-ker), enjoyed a phenomenal breakout season with the Quad City Mallards (UHL) in 2006-07, setting career highs in virtually every statistical category and helping the Mallards into the UHL Playoffs. The 5'8", 170 winger led his team in goals and finished tied with new teammate Frank Littlejohn for fourth in the UHL with 42 goals. Stauffacher added 29 assists to finish the year ranked 12th in the UHL with 71 points in 76 games and was one of only two Mallards to play in every regular season game.
"We are very excited to add Luke to our roster because he is a goal scorer, but is also very good defensively," said Martinson. "We saw him a lot last year when Quad City and Rockford squared off. He always played hard against us and never backed down against our physical team. With the group of big, physical goals scorers we're bringing in, Luke will not have to stand up to our opponent's biggest players, yet he will especially be a menace to other team's smaller guys."
The 26-year old native of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin became the first player in UHL history finish within the top-five in the League in goals (tied for fourth with 42) and major penalties (fourth with 21). Stauffacher set the UHL's 2006-07 Individual Game Highs for Points (6) and Plus/Minus (+6) in the same game; scoring two goals and four assists against the Flint Generals on December 30th, 2006. Following that performance he earned his first of two UHL Player of the Week Awards by scoring nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) in four games during the week of December 25th-31st; his second award came in the week of January 8th-14th where he posted seven points (5 goals, 2 assists) in four games.
Along with his explosive offensive season, Stauffacher demonstrated his commitment to being a solid two-way player, posting an impressive +21 rating and scoring 4 short-handed goals. He also recorded three hat tricks, eight multiple goal games and 13 power play goals. No stranger to the ECHL, Stauffacher returns to the league where he made his professional debut with the Peoria Rivermen in 2004-05 after the conclusion of his senior season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. In 69 career ECHL games, Stauffacher scored 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) and 132 PIMs split between Peoria, Charlotte and Trenton.
"The appeal of Elmira, first and foremost is Coach Martinson," said Stauffacher. "He has proven that his teams are always successful, that he wins championships and he gets guys called up to the AHL. I am very excited to be back in the ECHL, it is an extremely professional league with great affiliations with the next level. I am excited to join Elmira as they move to the ECHL. I have heard great things about the city and the Jackals strong following from past players and I look forward to helping Elmira make a successful transition into the ECHL."
Stauffacher played four years of Division I college hockey for the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs of the WCHA. He appeared in 154 career NCAA games, scoring 74 points (36 goals, 38 assists) and 184 penalty minutes. At Duluth he made the WCHA All-Academic Team three times, and he was an alternate team captain for his junior and senior seasons, including in 2003-04 when UMD advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four. He also played four seasons of junior hockey for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, winning the USHL Championship in 1999-2000.
Matt Syroczynski, (pronounced SEAR-zin-ski), also enjoyed a breakthrough year in his first season as a professional. Known throughout his junior and college career for his size, the 6'5", 225 lbs left wing erupted in his rookie season to score 20 goals and post 41 points (21 assists) in 73 games played with the Fort Wayne Komets (UHL).
Syroczynski earned the UHL Rookie of the Month Award for January 2007 when he posted 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) with a hat trick and a +2 rating in 13 games played. He also received Fort Wayne's Most Improved Player honor amongst the Komets season-ending awards.
"Matt really developed as a rookie last year, scoring the bulk of his twenty goals in the second half of the season," said Martinson. "He is a guy who stepped up his game against my physical Rockford team last year. Matt has great hands around the net and he has not come close to reaching his peak yet. I think he will continue to grow and develop into an authoritative power forward and he will fit in very well with our team systems."
The 24-year old native of Hamburg, NY is very familiar with the Steve Martinson style; Fort Wayne and Rockford finished neck-and-neck in the UHL's Western Conference Standings and faced each other in the Colonial Cup Semifinals. But another appealing item is that after growing up in the suburbs of Buffalo, Syroczynski is now playing for a team less than 150 miles from his hometown.
"Coach Martinson was the biggest reason for me signing with Elmira," said Syroczynski. "Everywhere he goes, he wins and obviously I want to be on a team that is competitive. I have heard great things about Elmira and it doesn't hurt that it is a lot closer to home, so that my family will have easier access to games. I am very excited about the upcoming season and being in Elmira, I just wish the season was weeks away instead of months."
Syroczynski played four years of Division I college hockey split between the University of Vermont Catamounts (Hockey East) and the Clarkson University Golden Knights (ECAC). Combined between the two schools he played in 113 career NCAA games, scoring 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) and recording 204 PIMs. In the year between his time at Clarkson and Vermont, Syroczynski played junior hockey for the Buffalo Lightning of the OPJHL and the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL.
"We are really excited about the 2007-08 Jackals team," said General Manager Robbie S. Nichols. "Steve [Coach Martinson] is doing a great job in recruiting and he is putting together a talented squad that we fully expect to be a contender in the ECHL."
After completing the 2006-07 season the Jackals are currently under going preparations for the 2007-2008 season, their inaugural campaign in the ECHL and their 8th season of operations beginning on October 19, 2007 at First Arena against the Wheeling Nailers.
Season tickets for the 2007-2008 Elmira Jackals ECHL season are currently on sale at the First Arena Box Office. For more information please call the First Arena & Elmira Jackals at 607-734-PUCK.
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ECHL Stories from July 18, 2007
- RoadRunners Add Defensive Pair - Phoenix RoadRunners
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- Jackals Add Two To 2007-08 Roster - Elmira Jackals
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- Gladiators Sign Defenseman Stamoulis - Atlanta Gladiators
- Three Former Stingrays Sign NHL Contracts - South Carolina Stingrays
- Sea Wolves Announce 2007-08 Ice Girls - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Veteran Verbeek, Thunder Agree to Terms - Stockton Thunder
- Falcons Add Two Rookies To The Fold - Fresno Falcons
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