Rookies Schmermund and Rajajarvi Sign with IceMen
August 29, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN.--- With their move now complete into the new offices located downtown directly across from their new home of the state-of-the-art Ford Center, the Evansville IceMen of the Central Hockey League have added two more new faces to their training camp roster to bring their official lineup total to 21-players with some further additions still anticipated.
On this date, General Manager / Head Coach Rich Kromm has announced that first-year pros MATT SCHMERMUND and ATTE RAJAJARVI have acceded to contract terms and have inked one-year pacts with the IceMen for the upcoming 2011-12 CHL pro hockey season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contract deals were not disclosed.
SCHMERMUND (SCHMURR-mund), 23, will be embarking on his initial pro season after two outstand-ing Canadian collegiate hockey seasons at Ryerson University of the CIS Conference preceded by a solid major junior `A' three-year stint in Portland of the WHL and Camrose of the AJHL junior `A' circuit.
The swift-skating 6-0, 185lb right wing was Ryerson U., goal-scoring and point-scoring champion in each of the past two years. Last season, in 2010-11, he generated 24-points in 28-games through 12-goals, 12-assists while adding 14-PIM. In the previous campaign of 2009-10, the Western Canadian native of Calahoo, Alberta averaged over a point a game with 29-points in 27-games on 15-goals, 14-assists along with 28-PIM.
Before those two star-studded seasons in the college ranks, Schmermund played for Coach Kromm when the latter was at the helm of the Portland Winter Hawks in the WHL. Evansville's bench pilot knows what the IceMen's newest player can do and what to expect from him. "Matt has tremendous speed and is an extremely hard-working player. He will play a physical brand of hockey for us. Coming off much success at Ryerson following an excellent major junior `A' career, Matt should be ready to make the leap to the pro level."
Having enjoyed a sound and solid career in the junior ranks with both Portland and the Camrose Kodiaks, Schmermund brings an impressive 252-games of major junior `A' as well as junior `A' experience to the IceMen camp.
RAJAJARVI (rah-jah-JAR-vee), 21, will launch his rookie campaign in Evansville following six years of outstanding junior hockey achievements in his native Finland. The 5-10, 187lb left-hand shooting defense-man saw action with KooKoo U20 of the Junior `A' 1-Division where in 13-games, he recorded 2-assists and 55-PIM in helping spark his squad to the Junior `A' 1-Division Bronze Medal award. In the 2009-10 season, performing his craft with HC KSNK of the Finland3 circuit, he was 13 (1-1-2) with 28-PIM. He was also a member of the 2007-08 KooKoo U18 team that captured the Junior `B' 2 Division championship, averaging over a point a game on 26-points in 17-games on 10-goals, 16-assists with 52-PIM.
A native of Kouvola, Finland, Rajajarv,i on two separate occasions, has seen service for the Finnish National Team in the form of the U18 Pohjola club and the Finnish U16 Pohjola team.
GM/Coach Kromm weighed in on his latest player acquisition. "Atte is a smooth-skating, skilled offensive-minded defenseman who is just beginning his pro career. We are looking forward to seeing what he can do at training camp."
Today's signings of right wing MATT SCHMERMUND and defenseman ATTE RAJAJARVI increases the IceMen roster total to 21-players; including two goaltenders, 8-defensemen and 11-forwards with 8-players listed as returnees from last season's debuting AA/CHL club. The IceMen signed players are: goaltenders BRIAN GILLIS, PIER-OLIVIER PELLETIER; defensemen MATT GENS, ADAM KNOPP, JORDAN LITTLE STEVE MAKWAY, JAKE OBERMEYER, PHILIPPE PLANTE, NICK SCHNEIDER; left wings JOSH BEAULIEU, MARK CODY, MATT PIERCE, MIKE SGROI; centers BRIAN BICEK, NICKLAS LINDBERG, TODD ROBINSON, BRAD SMULDERS; right wings DUSTIN JOHNSON, SEAN O'CONNOR.
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