The bad news from Jacks fans' standpoint is that they'll have to wait a bit longer than the anticipated time of the release of the team's announcement of its roster for the 2011-12 season.
The good news from everyone's standpoint is that this means the Jacks' staff have a lot of very tough decisions to make. It's a good problem to have.
Over the next 10 days, there could still be significant change in the Jacks' protected list, which Head Coach Kevin Patrick and Co. pared down to 42 players since the team's annual tryout camp.
The Jacks are going to take every minute they need leading up to the USHL's July 1 deadline for teams to submit their 25-man active roster and 14-man affiliate list. After all, a year ago the Jacks lost Gavin Hartzog to Patrick's last employer, the University of Wisconsin, after his outstanding play during tryout camp. After that, Patrick and Co. had a spot to fill after letting players go whom they might have otherwise kept, had they known about Hartzog's ultimate decision.
So the short version of the story is to stay tuned, as we'll keep you informed on the process as it moves along.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Drumroll, please
For the past seven days, aspiring Muskegon Lumberjacks have exhausted their fuel supply in an attempt to make the team's 2011-12 squad.
Parents, former coaches, friends and many others have waited with baited breath to see who will wear the Lumberjacks' crest this fall.
Perhaps the hardest job is that of the Jacks' brass, as Head Coach Kevin Patrick and company have had some agonizing decisions to make.
In some way, every potential Jack showed us a lot this weekend during the All-Star games. Omar Mullan, who led Belle Tire in scoring a year ago but was a late draft pick of Muskegon's, dropped the gloves on multiple occasions to show his grit. Players who traversed the Atlantic Ocean wowed the crowds at the L.C. Walker Arena in front of fans who, for the most part, had never seen the prized prospects on the ice.
So what did we learn? Well, the only thing I found out for certain is that I won't be landing a gig as a PA guy any time soon. Let's just say it's not for me.
The bigger question is this - what will we learn. Soon, the Jacks will release the list of those who made the team. I know you've all waited a long time to find out who will skate for the Jacks this fall, but you'll have to wait just a little bit longer. Stay tuned. You can rest assured it's going to be one heck of a list, that's all I can guarantee you.
Parents, former coaches, friends and many others have waited with baited breath to see who will wear the Lumberjacks' crest this fall.
Perhaps the hardest job is that of the Jacks' brass, as Head Coach Kevin Patrick and company have had some agonizing decisions to make.
In some way, every potential Jack showed us a lot this weekend during the All-Star games. Omar Mullan, who led Belle Tire in scoring a year ago but was a late draft pick of Muskegon's, dropped the gloves on multiple occasions to show his grit. Players who traversed the Atlantic Ocean wowed the crowds at the L.C. Walker Arena in front of fans who, for the most part, had never seen the prized prospects on the ice.
So what did we learn? Well, the only thing I found out for certain is that I won't be landing a gig as a PA guy any time soon. Let's just say it's not for me.
The bigger question is this - what will we learn. Soon, the Jacks will release the list of those who made the team. I know you've all waited a long time to find out who will skate for the Jacks this fall, but you'll have to wait just a little bit longer. Stay tuned. You can rest assured it's going to be one heck of a list, that's all I can guarantee you.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Last chance for invitees
Starting with the Teal-White game I'm enjoying from Section 106, this morning marks the last chance for participants in Lumberjacks Invite Camp to earn another invite - this time to Main Camp, which opens tomorrow afternoon.
I have to admit I'm not envious of the nearly 40 skaters who are charged with the task of laying it all on the ice for this 9 a.m. start today. However, it also presents a golden opportunity. If you can rise and shine with vigor - just like Holland native Alex Johnson just did; nice wrist shot, young man - you're going to draw some attention from the ever-discerning eyes of Jacks coaches Kevin Patrick and Dave Noel-Bernier.
I've been massively impressed with the talent level during Invite Camp, which only makes me more anxious for Main Camp. It's been a very fun week thus far, as I've gotten to catch up with several returning Jacks players. When I walked down the office hallway on Monday morning, only to bump into Carter Foguth and Travis Belohrad, that was pretty cool. I've missed the boys, and I can't wait to see them get after it tomorrow.
Main Camp will conclude with two All-Star games, the rosters for which will be decided after Saturday morning's slate of three games. All of camp is free and open to the public, but the times to punch into your calendar are Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. That's when the last young men standing will battle for their hockey lives in the All-Star games.
So after you've gotten a Taste of Muskegon (visit our booth in front of the L.C. Walker Arena), join us Saturday night. You won't want to miss it!
I have to admit I'm not envious of the nearly 40 skaters who are charged with the task of laying it all on the ice for this 9 a.m. start today. However, it also presents a golden opportunity. If you can rise and shine with vigor - just like Holland native Alex Johnson just did; nice wrist shot, young man - you're going to draw some attention from the ever-discerning eyes of Jacks coaches Kevin Patrick and Dave Noel-Bernier.
I've been massively impressed with the talent level during Invite Camp, which only makes me more anxious for Main Camp. It's been a very fun week thus far, as I've gotten to catch up with several returning Jacks players. When I walked down the office hallway on Monday morning, only to bump into Carter Foguth and Travis Belohrad, that was pretty cool. I've missed the boys, and I can't wait to see them get after it tomorrow.
Main Camp will conclude with two All-Star games, the rosters for which will be decided after Saturday morning's slate of three games. All of camp is free and open to the public, but the times to punch into your calendar are Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. That's when the last young men standing will battle for their hockey lives in the All-Star games.
So after you've gotten a Taste of Muskegon (visit our booth in front of the L.C. Walker Arena), join us Saturday night. You won't want to miss it!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Welcome to Day 2
Now that dozens of promising skaters have experienced their personal baptism by fire, the journey toward Lumberjacks Main Camp continues today.
Yesterday, more than 100 Invite Camp attendees wasted no time as six rapidly assembled teams squared off in games.
This morning, new Jacks assistant coach Steve Palmer, along with the Jacks' two new intern coaches, Colin Martel and Jukka Konstas, are conducting practices reminiscent of those players would undergo on a daily basis this fall with the Jacks. Also in attendance is former Lumberjacks assistant captain Micki Mihailovich, who made the team out of open camp a year ago. He's on the ice with the Jacks' coaching staff, helping out and exhibiting the sort of pride he took in wearing the Jacks' crest a year ago. Read all about Micki and his participation in camp, as Muskegon Chronicle sports writer Ron Rop wrote an excellent story about Mick.
After an hour-long practice this morning, each team will prepare for battle once again this afternoon. Invite Camp wraps up with another trio of games tomorrow, after which those who best caught the eyes of the Jacks' brass will be carried over into Main Camp. Then, as they kids say, it will be on like Donkey Kong.
It's been a while (or so it feels) since I last watched live hockey in person. Ergo, I can't wait for Main Camp. In the meantime, however, I am very impressed with the caliber of play I've seen during Invite Camp. I arrived late (early August) last season, so I didn't have the pleasure of watching this spectacle of talent. It's pretty inspiring to see all these young men chasing the dream they've had since they first strapped on skates.
And who knows? There could be another Micki Mihailovich among them. We could only be so lucky.
Yesterday, more than 100 Invite Camp attendees wasted no time as six rapidly assembled teams squared off in games.
This morning, new Jacks assistant coach Steve Palmer, along with the Jacks' two new intern coaches, Colin Martel and Jukka Konstas, are conducting practices reminiscent of those players would undergo on a daily basis this fall with the Jacks. Also in attendance is former Lumberjacks assistant captain Micki Mihailovich, who made the team out of open camp a year ago. He's on the ice with the Jacks' coaching staff, helping out and exhibiting the sort of pride he took in wearing the Jacks' crest a year ago. Read all about Micki and his participation in camp, as Muskegon Chronicle sports writer Ron Rop wrote an excellent story about Mick.
After an hour-long practice this morning, each team will prepare for battle once again this afternoon. Invite Camp wraps up with another trio of games tomorrow, after which those who best caught the eyes of the Jacks' brass will be carried over into Main Camp. Then, as they kids say, it will be on like Donkey Kong.
It's been a while (or so it feels) since I last watched live hockey in person. Ergo, I can't wait for Main Camp. In the meantime, however, I am very impressed with the caliber of play I've seen during Invite Camp. I arrived late (early August) last season, so I didn't have the pleasure of watching this spectacle of talent. It's pretty inspiring to see all these young men chasing the dream they've had since they first strapped on skates.
And who knows? There could be another Micki Mihailovich among them. We could only be so lucky.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Back in the saddle again
It's official. I'm going to have Aerosmith stuck in my head all morning. But it's a nice change-up from Taio Cruz's "Dynamite," which had been bouncing around in my noggin since my beautiful bride and I danced our tails off to it at our wedding reception Friday night.
It's great to be back, and I hope all of you who have set "the date" with your significant other will see the best day of your life go as smoothly as mine did. I'm a lucky guy. As we say in the industry, I firmly believe I ran into one when I met my girl.
So that's a little bit about my big day. How about the big days on the horizon here at the L.C. Walker Arena as Muskegon Lumberjacks Tryout Camp gets under way? Over the next seven days, about 200 hungry, hungry hockey players will vie for a spot on the Jacks' 2011-12 roster. For many of these burgeoning stars, this will be the greatest week of their life thus far. It will make for a very electric week at the friendly confines.
If you can, come join us as we watch these youngsters battle for their hockey future. It's free, by the way. How can you beat that?
The entire schedule for Invite Camp, which goes through Wednesday, is up on the website. Main Camp follows on Thursday through Sunday. The camp wraps up with two All-Star games, which are Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.
It's very exciting to jump from the most emotionally overwhelming week of my life to living vicariously through all the players who will put it all on the ice over the next seven days. Come join me. Shake my hand, say "Congratulations" and let's watch some future stars together.
It's great to be back, and I hope all of you who have set "the date" with your significant other will see the best day of your life go as smoothly as mine did. I'm a lucky guy. As we say in the industry, I firmly believe I ran into one when I met my girl.
So that's a little bit about my big day. How about the big days on the horizon here at the L.C. Walker Arena as Muskegon Lumberjacks Tryout Camp gets under way? Over the next seven days, about 200 hungry, hungry hockey players will vie for a spot on the Jacks' 2011-12 roster. For many of these burgeoning stars, this will be the greatest week of their life thus far. It will make for a very electric week at the friendly confines.
If you can, come join us as we watch these youngsters battle for their hockey future. It's free, by the way. How can you beat that?
The entire schedule for Invite Camp, which goes through Wednesday, is up on the website. Main Camp follows on Thursday through Sunday. The camp wraps up with two All-Star games, which are Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.
It's very exciting to jump from the most emotionally overwhelming week of my life to living vicariously through all the players who will put it all on the ice over the next seven days. Come join me. Shake my hand, say "Congratulations" and let's watch some future stars together.
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