It’s been a busy summer as the Jacksonville Icemen have signed three players and the winningest coach in ECHL history. With the additions of Garet Hunt, Mike Ratchuk and Emerson Clark, Icemen fans have a lot to be excited about. All three players bring three vital elements to the organization: a dangerous offense, grit, and a lot of ice time.
#AggressiveAttack
In nine ECHL seasons, forward Garet Hunt has scored 101 goals and tallied 150 assists. Left-winger Emerson Clark has scored an astonishing 86 times in just four seasons in the ECHL. On the blue line, the Icemen have scoring depth as Mike Ratchuk has found the back of the net 35 times in his five-year ECHL career.
#TotalToughness
Look up “tough” in the dictionary, and you’ll see a picture of Garet Hunt. The 5’-9”, 190-pound forward led the ECHL in fights for three seasons. The other Icemen left-winger, Emerson Clark, is also not afraid to drop the gloves. Last season, the 24-year-old received eight fighting majors, and in 2009, he was involved in 25 fights in the OHL. Despite not being known for his fighting, Mike Ratchuk has been involved in bouts in both the ECHL and EIHL.
#EstablishedExperience
All three players combine for a total of 18 seasons in the ECHL. Hunt spent nine seasons in the ECHL between the Stockton Thunder and Alaska Aces, and made the postseason in six of those seasons. Defenseman Mike Ratchuk has competed in five seasons in the ECHL, and has been in the Kelly Cup Playoffs each spring. Despite being a young player, Clark has some playoff experience. In 2014, he was influential in Greenville Road Warriors’ improbable run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Don’t miss out on seeing these three players and the rest of the Jacksonville Icemen as the team kicks off its inaugural season on Saturday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. against the Orlando Solar Bears. To find out more information, please call (904) 602-7825 or click HERE.