Local Sports Journal

The Muskegon Lumberjacks have announced they are losing a second player due to the 2013 IIHF Under 20 World Championship.

Muskegon Lumberjack Frederik Tiffels

Frederik Tiffels, a native of Cologne, Germany will have heading home for a camp that begins Dec. 15. On Tuesday, the Lumberjacks announced defenseman Rasmus Bengtsson had been named to the preliminary roster for his native Sweden.

The tournament is Dec. 26 until Jan. 5.

“I feel proud and honored to represent my country, and it will be nice to go home to see my friends and family,” said Tiffels.  “It will be good to see my teammates that I played with last summer, and I think that we will put up a good showing in this tournament.”

Winning the 2012 Division One World Junior Championship with a 5-0 record, the German team was granted a spot to this year’s 36th World Junior Championship.

“Like Rasmus (Bengtsson), it’s very exciting to see Frederik (Tiffels) represent the Muskegon Lumberjacks organization and USHL on the biggest of stages,” said Lumberjack coach Jim McKenzie.  “We wish Frederik the best of luck in Russia, and we know that he will compete at the highest level to make his family and friends (in Germany) proud.”

Tiffels is no stranger to playing for his country. He spent some time this past summer playing with the Under-20 German National Team. In previous years, he played for the Under-18, Under-17, and Under-16 German National Teams in select tournaments.

“Frederik (Tiffels) is a world class individual that will represent his native country of Germany and the Muskegon Lumberjacks organization proudly,” said Lumberjacks owner, CEO, and general manager Josh Mervis.  “It is an exciting time for Frederik to go and showcase his talents on the biggest of stages and also shows how the Lumberjacks are committed to developing world class talent for bigger opportunities like the World Junior Championship.”

This season, Tiffels has 12 assists in 21 games played with the Lumberjacks. He is ranked in the top 25 of NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings of North American prospects in the USHL.