MUSKEGON, Michigan (December 20th)
– The Muskegon Lumberjacks have announced the hiring of former Indiana
Ice Head Coach and General Manager Ron Gay to be an Assistant Coach for
the organization.
Gay,
the South Buffalo, New York native, lived in Lansing, Michigan for 13
years and served some of his time while in the state’s capital as the
Hockey Director for the Capital Centre Pride Hockey Club and being the
Head Coach for their AAA Under-18 program.
“It is
always nice to come back to Michigan and work with the best junior
program in the state,” said Gay. “The USHL is a great league to be a
part of, and when the Lumberjacks approached me about coaching in their
organization, I could not pass up on the opportunity.”
“Ron
(Gay) is an experienced guy that has exceptional knowledge of the league
and loves to coach and develop young talent,” said Lumberjacks Head
Coach Jim McKenzie. “It is great to have him back coaching in the USHL
and is a great addition to the organization on and off the ice.”
Gay has also coached Lumberjacks of past and present that includes current Lumberjacks Forward Mason Jobst
(Speedway, Indiana) and former Lumberjack and current Michigan State
freshman Defenseman Travis Walsh and has been a big influence in the
Michigan State Spartan hockey community on and off the ice.
“I
have watched Ron Gay coach Travis (Walsh) and go through the Pee Wee,
Bantam, and Midget ranks, and he is the best minor hockey coach I have
ever seen,” said Lumberjacks Senior Advisor Ron Mason. “Ron (Gay) is an
excellent teacher and understands the game well. He is a tremendous
addition to the program that will be a great complement to Jim
(McKenzie).”
In the
offseason, Gay also helps out many NHL players train for the upcoming
hockey season that also served some time the USHL at some point in their
junior careers. Gay has trained players with the likes of Justin Abdelkader, Jeff Petry, Torey Krug, and Matt Greene.
“It is
a pleasure to have Ron Gay be a part of the Muskegon Lumberjacks
organization because he is an excellent teacher of the game that will
help mold our players into outstanding citizens on and off the ice,”
said Lumberjacks Owner, CEO, and General Manager Josh Mervis. “Ron (Gay)
is an unbelievable skills coach that has helped Lumberjacks players of
past and present. He is the perfect complement to Head Coach Jim
McKenzie and the rest of the Lumberjacks organization.”
Gay
served two years in the Indiana Ice organization starting off as the
team’s skills development coach while being the head coach for the
Indiana Jr. Ice Under-18 Team. Gay was promoted to Assistant Coach of
the USHL Indiana Ice last January before becoming the Head Coach and
General Manager of the team in May. Gay stepped down from the Ice in
early December.
(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)
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