MUSKEGON, Mich. — A local junior hockey team is in the process of being sold — and the new owners just happen to be building a new arena in Long Island.
The Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League are being bought by a group Chris and Peter Ferraro – two USHL vets. They broke ground on that arena in January.
As the franchise prepares for their fourth season in the USHL, it’s been an offseason of big changes.
The team fired the whole coaching staff in March.
Now people are nervous West Michigan could be losing a franchise.
In their first three seasons in the league, the Lumberjacks averaged just over 2,000 fans a game – putting them in the bottom 1/4 of the league’s attendance numbers.
But the organization says they’ve been told they aren’t going anywhere.
“From what I’ve heard, hockey is here to stay in Muskegon,” Lumberjacks Media Relations Director Bryan Fongers said Tuesday. “Fans should not be frightened about anything being said in the media or elsewhere.”
“It’s an exciting time for the organization as we look to continue our success here in the USHL.”
The sale is still pending league approval, expected to come during a Board of Directors meeting on June 13.
The Lumberjacks start a week-long training camp on June 10.
