Local Sports Journal

The Muskegon Lumberjacks have filled their assistant coach vacancy with the hiring of former Indiana Ice head coach and general manager Ron Gay.

Gay is a native of South Buffalo, N.Y. He has served in many capacities throughout hockey, including a 13-year stint in Lansing, where he was the hockey director for the Capital Centre Pride Hockey Club and head coach of its 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.”

“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 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.

He replaces Steve Palmer, who resigned earlier this month to pursue other opportunities.