Lawmaster Returning to Muskegon

August 6, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, MI.--- Muskegon has been building mountains of momentum as the dog days of summer are soon to become the hale and hearty days of the fall, and with it, the coming of the gala 50th Anniversary Season for profession-al hockey in Muskegon. Attuned to the immediate job at hand in the form of player roster construction, the Lumber-jacks have completed another significant gain in that important department.

On this date, Lumberjacks General Manager / Governor Tim Taylor has announced that rock-ribbed defenseman JASON LAWMASTER has agreed to terms and signed a Muskegon contract for the upcoming 2009-10 IHL hockey season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Commencing his 11th pro season, LAWMASTER, 30, is set to embark on his second tour of duty in the Muskegon coat of arms and his fourth campaign overall with the Lakeshore franchise. The 6-1, 205lb right-hand shooting rear-guard marks his return to Muskegon after a three-years' absence which saw him see service in both the UHL, and more recently, in the CHL (Central Hockey League). Perhaps, though, he has enjoyed his most pro career success here in Muskegon where he starred for three full seasons and helped spark and spur the team to its last two league champ-ionships with both of those coming in consecutive fashion in 2003-04 and 2004-05.

For the past three years, the Westland, MI native has been seeing the circuit, spending the 2008-09 season in the CHL with the Tulsa Oilers and Arizona Sundogs, the 2007-08 CHL kingpins. In 55-combined games with Tulsa and Arizona, Lawmaster recorded 21-points on 7-goals, 14-assists while accumulating 141-PIM. In 2007-08, he plied his craft with the Mississippi RiverKings, also of the CHL, collecting 26-points in 63-games on 6-goals, 20-assists with 139-PIM. In his first season away from Muskegon in 2006-07, he divided action with the UHL Bloomington Prairie Thunder and Kalamazoo Wings, combining 25-points in 59-games on 11-goals, 14-assists with 154-PIM.

‘Jacks GM Taylor welcomes Lawmaster back to Muskegon and is looking forward to having him back as a "Jack." "We are especially excited to have Jason returning to our lineup. He offers our club some unique as well as important qualities paramount to making the Lumberjacks very successful. He is a strong physical presence who is also very versatile. On top of that, he is a proven winner and he is one tough customer. He wants to be here, he wants to win, again, here; thus, he is exactly what we want here."

In his previous three-year stint in Muskegon, Lawmaster was a major contributing talent on two consecutive league championship teams. The first coming in his first Muskegon season of 2003-04 when the club set an all-time UHL record by sweeping all three playoff series with a perfect personified 11(11-0-0) record. He hoisted high to the sky a second consecutive crown the following season in 2004-05.

Individually speaking, the pride of Detroit's West Side achieved a veritable plethora of plaudits and honors with the home team as reflected in capturing several team-wide awards including the "Mr. Hustle Award" in 2005-06; the Best Plus Player Award in 2003-04 when he earned a masterful +23 rating; and the "Best Check Deliverer Award" which he claimed twice in succession in 2003-04 and 2004-05.

As far as his Muskegon statistical profile is concerned, Lawmaster's best offensive output was produced in 2004-05 when he fashioned career highs of 76-games, 19-goals, 34-assists, 53-points. He also accrued 238-PIM and generated an excellent +11 rating. His best playoff post-season came in 2005-06 when he registered 7-points in 12-games on 3-goals, 4-assists with 33-PIM.

He led Muskegon in PIM in 2003-04 with 208 and begins the new season still ranked fourth on the franchise all-time PIM list with 670. His 83-PIM in the playoffs rank ninth in club history.

For his Muskegon career, "The Lawman" has flashed his badge to the tune 194-games; 36-goals; 69-assists; 105-points; 670-PIM and a superb +41 rating. His Muskegon career playoff numbers read: 29-games; 6-goals, 7-assists, 13-points; 83-PIM.

For his entire pro career, the Lawmaster ledger shows 613-games; 102-goals; 195-assists; 297-points; 2,080-PIM.

Today's signing of defenseman JASON LAWMASTER, brings to seven, the number of players under Muskegon contract for the 50th Anniversary Season. Previously, the Lumberjacks announced the signings of goaltender SEBASTIEN CENTOMO; defenseman MATT GENS; centers TRAVIS BANGA, TODD ROBINSON; left wing ROBIN BIG SNAKE; right wing ROBIN BOUCHARD.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from August 6, 2009


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.

OurSports Central