Jacks Sign Dacosta And Novak
September 15, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- With their training camp to inaugurate their 50th Anniversary Season only three weeks away, the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League continue to move forward in developing their roster for the official beginning of the 2009-10 IHL campaign.
On this date, the Lumberjacks organization has addressed the blue line in a concerted effort to augment the defensive side of the ice. Muskegon General Manager / Governor Tim Taylor, in concert with head coach Rich Kromm, have announced that two first-year defensemen have agreed to terms and will be reporting to training camp come, October 4th.
Rookie defensemen JUSTIN DACOSTA and MIKE NOVAK are the latest to become Lumberjacks as both have inked deals for the upcoming 2009-10 season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
DACOSTA, 24, will be making his IHL pro premiere following outstanding previous stints in the major junior 'A' ranks in the OHL as well as the highly-regarded Canadian collegiate ranks in the CIS conference. The stout, rock-solid 5-10, 190lb right-hand shooting rearguard has been inked to a two-way contract with IHL Muskegon through AHL Grand Rapids for the rapidly-approaching season. The Mississauga, Ontario native actually received his initiation to the professional ranks late in the 2008-09 campaign when he saw regular service in the CHL (Central Hockey League) with the Colorado Eagles. DaCosta gained invaluable early pro experience as the Eagles reached the CHL Playoffs Finals with the young defenseman acquitting himself admirably in all 10-playoff games. He had arrived on the Eagles scene after three standout seasons on the U. of New Brunswick defense where he collected 52-points in 77-games on 21-goals, 31-assists with 42-PIM.
GM Taylor expressed much satisfaction with the addition of DaCosta to his team's blue line. "We are excited about Justin and the promise that he has been showing not only throughout his major junior 'A' and Canadian college career, but also how he has made such a solid transition to the pro game in such a short period of time. He has already demonstrated how strongly he competes at this level through his physical presence and he has also shown that he possesses some excellent offensive skills which will be assets to our club this season. We are pleased to work with the Griffins in solidifying his acquisition."
Prior to his two-year stay at UNB, DaCosta enjoyed a superb four-year career in the OHL, capping it in 2005-06 with his hometown Mississauga IceDogs team. That particular season, he led his Mississauga team in scoring among defensemen with 42-points which also included a defense team-high 32-assists. His 10-goals that same season ranked as runner-up among the IceDogs "D"men.
NOVAK, becomes the latest rookie to sign on the dotted line for the Lumberjacks. The rugged, rock-ribbed rearguard is coming to Muskegon following a sterling four-year collegiate career at ECAC Division III power Oswego State of the SUNYAC conference. In the 2008-09 season, the Milton, Ontario native saw action in 24-games, registering 5-points on 1-goal, 4-assists while accumulating 52-PIM.
Perhaps, Novak's most memorable year of his collegiate career came in the 2006-07 campaign when his Oswego squad reigned supreme, being crowned the NCAA Division III National Champions. In that same season, he was acclaimed his team's winner of the Most Improved Player Award.
Coach Kromm is looking forward to seeing his new big defenseman at training camp. "Mike was recommended to us by Atlanta Thrashers head coach John Anderson who believes Mike can fill the bill in what we are looking for from our young defense group. Mike is big and strong and will give us a lot of size on the back line for us. He is a defensive-minded defenseman who keeps it simple, plays within himself and makes that good first pass."
The Lumberjacks coach Kromm formerly served as an assistant coach under Anderson when the two bench pacers guided the IHL Chicago Wolves to the Turner Cup Championship in the 1997-98 season, one season prior to Kromm's initial stint behind the Muskegon bench in 1998-99.
As far as Novak is concerned, in 85-career games at Oswego State, he recorded 14-points on 2-goals, 12-assists with 104-PIM.
Previous to his collegiate career, Novak performed a four-year tour of duty in the OPJHL with Milton and Wexford, with his total numbers being 84-games, 4-goals, 19-assists, 23-points, 154-PIM.
Today's signings of defensemen JUSTIN DACOSTA and MIKE NOVAK, bring to 16 the total number of players signed to Muskegon contracts for the 50th Anniversary Season. Previously, the Lumberjacks announced the player signings of goaltenders SEBASTIEN CENTOMO, MATT LUNDIN; defensemen MATT GENS, JASON LAWMASTER, LUBOS VELEBNY; centers TRAVIS BANGA, BRIAN BICEK, BILLY COLLINS, TODD ROBINSON; left wings ROBIN BIG SNAKE, JOHN DIPACE, MATT ROBERTSON; right wings ROBIN BOUCHARD, KEVIN DEMERS.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from September 15, 2009
- Mallards Unveil Strong Promotional/Giveaway Schedule for First Half of Season - Quad City Mallards
- Komets single game tickets go on sale September 24 - Fort Wayne Komets
- Jacks Sign Dacosta And Novak - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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