Lumberjacks ready to contend for USHL championship

By Matt Mackinder –

How’s this for instant bonding?

During a recent United States Hockey League preseason game, Muskegon Lumberjacks’ rookie Nick Seeler was checked from behind by a Youngstown Phantoms player. Fellow rookie Ryan Lomberg immediately came to Seeler’s defense and took care of the situation.

According to Lomberg, situations like that one that start out negatively, but get resolved, can have a way of showing the potential a hockey team can perhaps muster over the course of the long season.

“Chemistry is everything,” Lomberg said. “It’s not just about being close off the ice, either. It’s especially on the ice. If someone gets hit, you feel it. You immediately want to stick up for them. When they’re upset, you’re upset. Chemistry is one of the most important pieces for a championship team.”

As a second-year team in the USHL that experienced the post-season a year ago, the Lumberjacks have a deep team this year and one head coach Kevin Patrick had a difficult time selecting after the team’s main camp this past summer.

“The depth in our camp was better than it was a year ago,” Patrick said. “It made for some tough decisions. Who will be the next Ryan Misiak or Matt Berry (two players who moved to the Division I college ranks this year) remains to be seen, but there are a lot of players in our organization who are ready to step to the forefront.”

A slew of players from last season are now playing Division I college hockey and a handful of Muskegon players already have college commitments for next season, including Dakota Klecha (Ferris State), Christian Pomarico (Army), Jordan Masters (New Hampshire), Kevin Schulze (Wisconsin), Lomberg (Maine) and Seeler (Nebraska-Omaha). Several more players should make their future college teams known over the course of the year.

Patrick, a former assistant coach under Mike Eaves at Wisconsin, is more than elated to see his charges move up the hockey ladder.

“We’re very proud of our commitments (and) that’s the business we’re in — helping our players reach their full potential,” Patrick said. “They’ve got to stay focused on the task at hand. What they do now here in Muskegon will determine their success in the future. Players who play in Muskegon have a great opportunity to be seen by college and pro scouts alike. Our location and accessibility is excellent in terms of exposure.”

“That’s the really unique thing about playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks — we have the relationships with great programs that allow our players to move up and down,” Lumberjacks’ owner Josh Mervis said. “If you are from the great state of Michigan, there’s only one place to play in the USHL — with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. You can get here younger. We’ll always be one of the younger teams in the league, because we move guys up faster.”

Michigan State recruit Matt DeBlouw, who missed most of last year with a lacerated spleen suffered when he connected on a clean hit against the U.S. NTDP in Muskegon’s third game of the year, is one of those young skaters having just turned 18 in mid-September, and is ready to go and hit the ground running at L.C. Walker Arena.

“I just feel at peace coming into this season,” DeBlouw said. “Our team is gelling so well. We’ve got vets who know what they’re doing and the incoming group is a great one. They’re working hard and fitting in. I’m excited for the newcomers to look to me for help and I’m ready to have some fun this season.”

Lomberg is one player that Muskegon fans will take to very quickly, especially with his recent comments discussing his decision to head south of his Canadian homeland border to play in the USHL.

“I believe that one day, the USHL and college hockey will be clear-cut better than the OHL (Ontario Hockey League), especially with Canadian players coming over,” Muskegon’s top pick in last May’s USHL draft said. “I’m proud to be part of that movement.

“Plain and simply, Muskegon was the best place for me to develop and hopefully I can reach the dream someday of playing in the NHL. If you’re willing to work for it, they give you everything a player could need to be a premier player and stand out as a true freshman on the collegiate level and beyond.”

Masters is another player who will go all-out this year in Muskegon and he figures to improve on his point totals of last season with his choice to attend UNH all set.

“It’s a good feeling to not have to worry about where I’m going to college,” Masters said. “After that? Of course, playing in the NHL is the dream.”

Another dream for the roster of the ‘Jacks is to bring a Clark Cup to Muskegon. Is it a possibility? Of course. Is it realistic? Why not?

“All I can think about now is hoisting the Clark Cup with my teammates in Muskegon,” Seeler said.

And you can bet that if that happens, Seeler will bask in the celebration with Lomberg not too far away.