Lumberjacks acquire Steven Merl, trade Ryan Larkin

By @MichaelCaples –

The Muskegon Lumberjacks made some roster moves yesterday, including adding another Michigan native to their team.

The USHL club announced two trades, one of which brings Bloomfield native Steven Merl back into the Mitten State.

Merl, a Bloomfield native and Belle Tire product, was acquired by the Lumberjacks from the Madison Capitols in exchange for forward Haralds Egle. Merl was a third-round pick of the Capitols (a new USHL franchise) in the 2014 USHL Phase Two Draft.

He spent two seasons with the Belle Tire club, recording 13 goals and 24 assists in 74 games. Before that time, he played for the Cleveland Barons youth organization.

The Lumberjacks also sent affiliate goaltender Ryan Larkin to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in exchange for a 2015 draft pick. Larkin, a Clarkston native, is a Honeybaked product and a Miami RedHawks commit.

In addition to the trades, the Lumberjacks also released forward Mike Maiden from the active roster. The Garden City native will play for the Keystone Ice Miners of the North American Hockey League this year.