Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Lumberjacks Promote Rich McKenna to Assistant General Manager

Press Release 

McKenna will remain on Muskegon’s coaching staff while handling additional duties within the organization

MUSKEGON, Michigan (March 4th) – The Muskegon Lumberjacks are pleased to announce that the organization has promoted Assistant Coach Rich McKenna to Assistant General Manager as he will be in charge of the team’s recruiting and player development following the recent departure of Jon Hull to become the new General Manager the Lincoln Stars.  In addition, McKenna will continue his normal coaching duties with the team along with serving as the Youth Hockey Director for the Muskegon Junior Jacks.

“I would personally like to thank Owners Ron and Joel Friedman, along with Chris and Peter Ferraro, for their support and guidance as I look to help continue to grow and build the Muskegon Lumberjacks organization both on and off the ice,” said McKenna.  “I would also like to thank (General Manager) John Vanbiesbrouck and (Head Coach) Todd Krygier for not only giving me the opportunity to become an assistant coach of this great organization in the first place, but also giving me their vote of confidence in my new roles and responsibilities.  I look forward to hitting the ground running with my new opportunities and am excited to be raising my family here in Muskegon for years to come.”

McKenna, the Greenwood Lake, New York native, is currently in his first season with the Lumberjacks’ organization after being hired as an assistant coach over the past summer.  McKenna brings fourth five years of assistant coaching experience at the collegiate level that began during the 2008-09 season at his alma matter of Castleton State College in Castleton, Vermont followed by a pair of two-year stints at Division Three Wesleyan University and the University of Connecticut specializing in recruiting and player development.

“As a former college hockey player and coach, Rich (McKenna) has a passion for teaching the game, a solid experience in player evaluation, and a very strong organizational, planning, and communication tool box that will not only help our USHL athletes, but all hockey players that skate with our growing Junior Jacks program,” said Lumberjacks General Manager John Vanbiesbrouck.

McKenna played four years collegiately from 2003-07 that began with two seasons at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York followed by two seasons at Castleton State College.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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