USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

USHL Board of Governors Approve Transfer of Lumberjacks Ownership

Published on July 15, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, Michigan - In accordance with the United States Hockey League, the Muskegon Lumberjacks have announced that the league's Board of Governors has officially approved the transfer of ownership from Lou and Josh Mervis to Ronald and Joel Friedman along with Chris and Peter Ferraro.

Blue Ox LLC has officially been acquired by Ronald J. Friedman who takes over the majority ownership of the Lumberjacks organization. Ronald is currently a partner in the law firm of SilvermanAcampora, LLP based out of Jericho, New York and is also the Managing Director of the Long Island Gulls, one the East Coast's premier youth hockey organizations. Ronald is also joined by his brother, Joel Friedman, who is also a co-founder with him in Clearview Capital Management, an investment and advisory group based out of New York.

The new ownership group also involves two former USHL standouts that each played 15 years of professional hockey and six seasons in the National Hockey League in Chris and Peter Ferraro. The Post Jefferson, New York natives both played three seasons in the USHL together for the Dubuque Fighting Saints and Waterloo Black Hawks from 1990 to 1992 before playing collegiately for the University of Maine for two seasons helping the Black Bears clinch the National Championship in 1993.

Chris and Peter also got the chance to represent their country in two IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in 1992 and 1993 along with one World Championship in 2003 and were members on the 1994 U.S. Olympic team. They also co-founded Ferraro Brothers Hockey in Jericho, New York, a multi-platform company dedicated to encouraging, supporting, and sustaining youth hockey awareness, safety, and education through training on and off the ice along with charity and community events.

"Our group is thrilled at the warm welcome that we have received from the USHL and are proud to be a part of this league," said Ronald J. Friedman. "We look forward to many years of success at historic L.C. Walker Arena, a premier sports and entertainment facility in West Michigan, as we continue to build a team on and off the ice that the community of Muskegon can be proud to call their own."

The Lumberjacks also announce that they have added former NHL goaltender for 19 seasons in John Vanbiesbrouck as the team's General Manager/Director of Hockey Operations. During his career, Vanbiesbrouck compiled 374 victories making him the winningest American-born goaltender. John was also honored with the Vezina Trophy in 1986 as the league's top net minder and was elected into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in October of 2007.

John also represented his country in the 1982 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship along with four IIHF World Championships and was also a member of the 1998 U.S. Olympic team.

Earlier this summer, the Lumberjacks completed their coaching staff for the upcoming 2013-14 season with the hiring of Todd Krygier as the head coach along with Rich McKenna and Trevor Nill as the assistant coaches. Muskegon will be participating in their fourth season in the USHL beginning in September.

Season ticket packages for the 2013-14 season are still on sale for the low price of $225 for adults and $150 for children ages 3-12 for the 30 home games provided next season. For more information, fans can visit the Lumberjacks website at www.muskegonlumberjacks.com or by calling (231) 724-JACK (5225).

The proud home of all Muskegon Lumberjacks home games is the L.C. Walker Arena in downtown Muskegon located just minutes from the beautiful Lake Michigan Shoreline.

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United States Hockey League Stories from July 15, 2013


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