Lumberjacks Sign Center Damian Surma
December 8, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON MI.--- Following their earlier player transaction that saw the Lumberjacks deal center Travis Banga to the Bloomington Prairie Thunder in exchange for defenseman Russ Smith, the International Hockey League's #1 ranked team swung right back into action in yet a separate deal; this time to expressly to augment their overall secondary scoring balance.
On this date, Muskegon General Manager / Governor Tim Taylor has announced that the Lumberjacks have agreed to terms with center DAMIAN SURMA on a standard players contract for the remainder of the current 2009-10 IHL season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contractual agreement were not disclosed.
SURMA,28, is a 9-year pro who brings with him a resume rich in both individual and team-oriented achievements as a prolific point-producing pivot. The stout 5-9, 200lb product of Lincoln Park, MI commenced this current campaign with his first-ever endeavor in the CHL (Central Hockey League) where he performed for 8-games with the Wichita Thunder. In those 8-games with the last place team, he was 8(0-2-2) with 2-PIM.
Previous to this season, the left-hand shooting center had been globetrotting overseas, plying his craft in Italy the past three seasons, exempting 41-games in the ECHL with the Stockton Thunder where he was a teammate of the Lumberjacks right wing David Rohlfs in 2008-09. In Stockton, he recorded 22-points in 41-games on 11-goals, 11-assists with 30-PIM before adding 14(3-5-8) with 8-PIM in the post-season playoffs.
Surma may be best remembered as a prominent member of the Muskegon opposition in the halcyon days of the old UHL; primarily in the 2005-06 season. Dividing that particular campaign with, initially, the Missouri River Otters, and later the Kalamazoo Wings, he engineered 63-points in 71-games on 26-goals, 37-assists along with 55-PIM. He emerged as a supreme catalyst in Kalamazoo's ultimate ascent to its first league championship since 1980 which effectively ended the two-year reign of Muskegon as UHL league kings. In 13-playoffs games, he collected 9-points on 4-goals, 5-assists with 18-PIM.
GM Taylor lauded the arrival of the Lumberjacks newest centerman. "We have been looking to upgrade our secondary scoring and Damian certainly appears to represent a major step in that direction. All of the reports which we have received have been quite positive. He will bring to us considerable experience, good, solid offensive numbers and championship know-how. Through his vast experience and career achievements, he plays the game with confidence and with versatility as he has the ability to play both center and on the wing."
Surma's credentials are impressive. Originally selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 6th round, 174th overall in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, he turned pro following an extraordinary major junior 'A' career in the OHL with the perennial power-house Plymouth Whalers. In 241-games there, he connected on 105-goals, 120-assists for 225-points.
His pro career has taken him to the AHL with the Lowell Lock Monsters (2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04) as well as a pair of stints in the NHL with his drafting Carolina club. Muskegon's newest addition also attained two exemplary seasons in the ECHL with the always-formidable Florida Everblades where in 2004-05 he composed 60-points in 72-games including 32-goals.
The Surma playoff experience is vast and significant as well. In the pro ranks, he has seen action in 66-games; 66(19-20-39) and in the OHL 60-games; 60(23-23-46).
Damian Surma will wear #16 and make his Lumberjacks debut this Friday night, December 11th when Muskegon travels to Port Huron to be hosted by the Icehawks.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from December 8, 2009
- Lumberjacks Sign Center Damian Surma - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Icehawks Face Two Big Opponents This Week In Four Games - Port Huron Icehawks
- Lumberjacks Deal Banga To Bloomington For Russ Smith - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Icehawks To Celebrate The Holidays With Festive Promotions - Port Huron Icehawks
- Mallards Sign Goaltender Kaufmann - Quad City Mallards
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