Jon Insana signs new Fury contract
Published on September 14, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- Having been rather active in addressing the offensive side of their championship caliber squadron through previous summer off-season player signings, the two-time reigning Colonial Cup Champions of the United Hockey League, the Muskegon Fury have switched gears to a more defensive form of action as they continue roster re-loading for the upcoming 2005-06 UHL campaign and another bid for another league crown.
With that approach at the top of their current agenda, the Fury Club Owner and Team President Tony Lisman, in conjunction with Director of Hockey Operations / Head Coach Todd Nelson, have announced on this date that their top-flight, top-drawer defenseman JON INSANA has assented to terms and affixed his signature to the business bottom line of a new one-year contract deal with the defending Central Division, Tarry Cup and Colonial Cup titlists for the upcoming 2005-06 UHL season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
INSANA, 25, will be reporting to the Muskegon training camp early next month expressly to commence his fourth pro season and his second in the UHL with both the Fury and the UHL. The speedy, turbo-charged, highly-skilled member of the Muskegon blue line brigade returns to the "Furious Ones" following a first Fury season that can be best charac-terized and described as extraordinary. Through his enriched and enhanced brand of hockey, Insana emerged as one of major luminaries in his team's grand sweep of all that is in the league trophy case in the 2004-05 season as Muskegon became the first team in the league's history to capture four Colonial Cup grand prizes.
In that 2004-05 season, the 6-1, 202lb right-hand shooting blue line mainstay saw the vast majority of his game competition in the UHL with the Fury, while also earning a brief but vital opportunity to ply his craft in the AHL with Muskegon's affiliate in Grand Rapids. In 64-games with "Team Title," Insana recorded 21-points on 9-goals, 12-assists, accruing 84-PIM and a sound and solid +9 rating. Included in his regular season offensive output were 2-PPG, 3-FG and 2-GWG with 113-SOG. In addition, in his limited term of service with the Griffins, he was 8(0-1-1) with 2-PIM.
The former standout at Michigan State University of the highly-heralded CCHA was especially superlative in Muskegon's march to Colonial Cup IV and the team's third such sovereignty in the last four years in post-season 2005. The Mount Clemens, Michigan native attained a brilliant, UHL league-best +20 rating in just 15-playoff games, engineering 7-total points overall on 3-goals, 4-assists, along with 16-PIM and 35-SOG. Insana tied for the league-lead in playoff goals scored by a defenseman and his 7-points tied him for fifth UHL-best among the back-liners. His +20 rating was eight better than league runner-up and fellow teammate and defensive partner Dave Van Drunen (+12). Two of his trio of total goals were actually delivered as the first two goals of the Game #5 championship night triumph at Fort Wayne back on May 22nd in the ultimate 4-2 Fury victory and a 4-games to one series success which resulted in the club's fourth crown over the past six calendar years. It represented Insana's first-ever pro championship crown.
His coach, T. Nelson, could not mask his elation with the return to Muskegon of the Michigan born and bred hockey talent. "Certainly, we are quite excited to have Jon back in the Fury fold for another season. Last season, his perform-ance was so solid that he earned an opportunity to see some AHL action in Grand Rapids with the Griffins. When he came back to us for the playoffs, Jon was simply outstanding in helping spark us to the second straight championship. In fact, he nearly became the winner of the league's playoff MVP award for his outstanding play as his +20 rating reflected. We are thrilled to have a player of his caliber back to be one of the anchors of our defense in our bid to keep the championship here in the Muskegon area."
Prior to his Muskegon arrival, Insana played his initial two pro seasons in the ECHL which also featured two other short AHL stints. In the 2003-04 campaign, he saw his second season of service with the Florida Everblades, helping lead them to a tie for second-place in the Eastern Conference Southern Division standings with a record of 72(37-25-10) for 84-points. His Florida team that season advanced all the way to the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals. In 58-games, he was 58(6-24-30) with 38-PIM. As a mobile and agile defenseman, he was particularly prominent on the power play for the Everblades, registering 11-points on 2-goals, 9-assists.
In his rookie pro debut season of 2002-03, he divided the year between Florida and the Trenton Titans as well as receiving another AHL trial with Manchester.
In a somewhat ironic twist of fate, Insana was originally drafted by the Fury in the March 2002 UHL North American Amateur Draft in the fifth round. Before his pro career commenced, he starred for four years at Michigan State where he was a teammate of the Fury's current captain Rustyn Dolyny. At MSU, he captured the Dr. John Downs Best Defenseman Award in the 2001-02 season and in 2000-01, he was named to the NCAA West Regional All-Tourna-ment Team.
Today's signing of JON INSANA brings to 14 the number of players currently under contract for the 2005-06 season. Previously, Muskegon announced the signings of goaltenders KEVIN LAPOINTE, CLAYTON POOL; defensemen DAVE VAN DRUNEN, CLAY WILSON; centers BILLY COLLINS, TODD ROBINSON; left wings KEN FELS, DAVID WRIGLEY; right wings ROBIN BOUCHARD, RUSTYN DOLYNY, NIGEL HAWRYLIW, JASON LAWMASTER, BILL ZALBA.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from September 14, 2005
- Komets add five to preseason roster - Fort Wayne Komets
- Mallards Announce Exhibition Schedule - Quad City Mallards
- Mallards and State Farm to host seat inspection - Quad City Mallards
- Jon Insana signs new Fury contract - Muskegon Lumberjacks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
