Two more player added to the defending champions lineup
Published on September 1, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- With all of the activity around the Fury organization centering these late days of summer on the inception of minor pro hockey's and the United Hockey League's top winning team, the Muskegon Fury's 14th annual training camp rites, more forward progress is being realized by the current two-time reigning Colonial Cup Champions and the make-up of their 2005-06 team roster. This week, the Fury have announced two more player signings which will swell their roster to an even dozen with more work lying straight ahead for the club hierarchy.
Today, the Fury Club Owner and Team President Tony Lisman, in concert with Director of Hockey Operations / Head Coach Todd Nelson, have announced the contract signings of first-year goaltender KEVIN LAPOINTE and returning rookie right wing and local product NIGEL HAWRYLIW. Both players have agreed to terms on one-year contracts with details of their respective deals not disclosed as according to club policy.
When he comes to "Titletown" for his first-ever taste of the game at the professional level, LAPOINTE, 25, will be on the brink of his initial season removed from the American college scene. He will be touching down here following an outstanding four-year career at Sacred Heart University of the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) and after attending both the NHL Detroit Red Wings and the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins training camps in September. Upon his arrival, LaPointe is expected to provide excellent depth to the key, anchor goaltending position for a franchise bent on becoming the first-ever to capture custody of three consecutive coronation crowns.
The 6-0, 181lb human puck detour enjoyed another solid, superb season last season for the Fairfield, Connecticut-located university despite his school's rather modest overall record of 35(13-21-1). However, it was through his on-ice puck-stopping exploits that the Pioneers achieved a stellar, winning record in conference play at 24(13-10-1). Acting in the role of real workhorse, the native of Quebec City, PQ saw action in 27 of his team's 35-games, posting a mark of 27(10-16-1) with a 3.36 GAA and an .892 SPCT. During the course of last season as well, he was heralded as Atlantic Hockey Goaltender of the Week.
LaPointe's new coach, the Fury's Nelson is looking forward to seeing his newest goaltender in the Fury code of colors in the 2005-06 season. "With our new rookie rule in place in the UHL this year, it is important for us to have a quality, qualified rookie as an integral part of our goaltending combination. Coming off such a solid career at Sacred Heart, we feel that Kevin will fill the bill for us. He has tremendous upside and great potential to be a standout at this level as well as, eventually, at the higher levels. The fact that he will be attending both the Detroit Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins training camps before reporting to us validates his promising ability. With that kind of early season experience, it should make him a better player and, therefore, a very good addition to our club."
In LaPointe's junior year of 2003-04, he was even more active, performing in 31-games, logging a mark of 31(13-13-5) with two shutouts, an avarice 2.92 GAA and a .904 SPCT. His 1,888 minutes played that season set a new school standard while those 31-games equaled the Sacred Heart mark. On three occasions, he was lauded as Atlantic Hockey Goaltender of the Week.
The Fury's second player signing, HAWRYLIW, (Haw-ril-lee-u), 22, will be commencing his second campaign with the "Furious Ones," though, according to UHL statutes, is still recognized under the rookie status category. The local product from here, in Muskegon, enjoyed some memorable moments in the 2004-05 season in front of his hometown crowd. Serving primarily in an emergency replacement player mode, the 5-11, 200lb right wing played in 30-regular season games for the Central Division, Tarry Cup and Colonial Cup Champions. He did produce 4-points, including his first two-ever pro goals while earning a +2 rating, 2-PIM and 21-SOG.
Coach Nelson is welcoming the return of the young Hawryliw to the Championship Fury fold. "Last season, we used Nigel as more of an emergency-type player. Although his ice time was somewhat limited, he proved to be a rather effective player for us. In fact, he really has earned the opportunity to play more. Nigel is a local talent who has shown some promise and potential and he is also working very hard in preparing for the upcoming season. We know that he is looking forward to the start of the new season."
Hawryliw originally arrived on the Muskegon pro hockey scene having come up through the local Muskegon youth and junior hockey programs before starring for both Muskegon Community College in 2002-03 and Davenport U. in Grand Rapids during the 2003-04 campaign.
At Davenport, he was a veritable point-making machine, engineering 100-points in 41-games on 46-goals, 54-assists, along with 164-PIM.
With the local MCC Jayhawks, he sparked them to the ACHA College National Championship as he was hailed the Tournament Championship MVP when the nationals were hosted by the city of Muskegon at Walker Arena. In that season, Hawryliw fashioned a flashy 109-points in just 30-games on 59-goals, 50-assists, along with 76-PIM.
Nigel Hawryliw comes from some proud hockey heritage stock as father, Neil, the Arena Director of Walker Arena, enjoyed a long, prosperous pro playing career with much of it spent playing in Muskegon under the IHL banner.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from September 1, 2005
- Richmond opens pre-season ticket sale to season-seat holders - Richmond RiverDogs
- Frostbite re-sign Gustafson - Adirondack Frostbite
- Two more player added to the defending champions lineup - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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