News release
2 October 2004
The Elmira Jackals, proud member of the United Hockey League, announced today six additions to their 2004 Training Camp roster, including the signings of goaltenders Nathan Grobins, Kevin Kurk, and defenseman Curtis Menzul.
Grobins (GROW-bins), a Houston, British Columbia native, played between the pipes primarily for Wichita of the CHL last season. He put up impressive numbers with the Thunder, posting a 28-14-2 record in 46 games, earning a 2.49 goals against average and a 0.914 save percentage. The 511 214 lbs goaltender also helped Wichita into the post season, playing in all nine of their playoff games.
Kurk, comes to the Jackals as a rookie goaltender looking to make his professional debut. At 64 190 lbs the Orchard Park, New York native is an intimidating presence in goal, who played four years for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of the ECAC. His best statistical season came as a sophomore in 2001-02 when he posted a 2.91 goals against average and a 0.906 save percentage for the Engineers.
Menzul, a Winnepeg, Manitoba native, last played for four different teams in the ECHL during the 2002-03 season. The 63 215 lbs defenseman appeared in games for Greenville, Toledo, Mississippi and Baton Rouge two years ago. Menzul has played in the UHL prior to arriving in camp with the Jackals; he scored 39 points (8 goals, 31 assists) and added 156 penalty minutes in 73 games for the Asheville Smoke in 2001-02.
The Jackals also announced the signing of three players to try-out agreements for this years training camp. Elmira has added defenseman Georgijs Pujacs (poo-zhaks) and forwards Jerimiah Klann (kl-AHN) and Chris Koehler.
Pujacs, a 6 200 lbs Riga, Latvia native, selected by the Boston Bruins in the 9th round (#264 overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, played last season for HC rebro in Sweden. Klann, from Peacedale, Rhode Island, played part of last year for the Greenville Growwl in the ECHL, and has trained in the off-season with Jackals forward Jamie Thompson. Koehler, the younger brother of Jackals forward Greg Koehler, played Junior A hockey in Ontario in 2003-04 and the young forward is looking to make his professional debut with Elmira.
This brings the Jackals training camp roster to 25 players, with 4 of those members still attend AHL training camps. **A full Jackals Training Camp roster will be released when available.