Local Sports Journal

The Muskegon Lumberjacks have added a familiar face to its coaching staff for the upcoming season.

The United States Hockey League club has announced former Muskegon Fury and Lumberjack forward Todd Robinson has been named an assistant coach for the club.

Robinson played for the Fury from 2000-07 and the Lumberjacks from 2008-2010. He will join Rich McKenna to form the team’s assistant coach tandem for the 2014-15 season.

Also, Trevor Nill, who served as an assistant coach last season, has resigned to pursue employment opportunities with the Bachelor of Science degree he earned in Biomechanical Engineering at Michigan State University.

In his 9 seasons with the Muskegon, Robinson, a native of Trail, British Columbia, recorded 931 points (245 goals and 686 assists) to go along with a plus-137 rating in 653 games played and was a part of three Colonial Cup Championship teams while playing for the Fury in 2002, 2004, and 2005.  Overall, Robinson played 15 years of professional hockey with 13 different organizations spanning over seven different leagues. He compiled a stat line of 1,546 points (402 goals and 1,144 assists) to go along with a plus-133 rating in 1,125 career games played.

During his professional career, Robinson also gained valuable coaching experience serving as a player/assistant coach for 8 years that includes five with the Muskegon Fury and Lumberjacks; two with the Evansville Icemen of the Central Hockey League (CHL) and East Coast Hockey League (ECHL); and one with the Tulsa Oilers of the CHL.

“I am very excited to be back and get involved in the Muskegon organization as my family and I have proudly called this area our home for the last 14 years,” Robinson said.  “This is a great opportunity for me both on and off the ice as I will offer my advice and assist in any way that I can in helping the team get better while continuing to help spread the USHL brand to our great fans within the community.  I am eager for the upcoming season to get started.”

“Todd (Robinson) constructed a great junior career turning into one of the most prolific scorers in the junior ranks that eventually carried over into an outstanding 15-year professional career while gaining invaluable coaching experience along the way,” Lumberjacks head coach Todd Krygier said.  “I felt that his background, experience, and knowledge of the game would add a significant boost to the Lumberjacks organization in terms of making our team excel to the next level while continuing to help our players develop.”

Todd currently resides in Roosevelt Park, Michigan with his wife, Alexis, and two daughters in Cambell, 8, and Harper, 4.