Press Releases
Viktor Norringer is Officially a Lumberjack
MUSKEGON, MI—After selecting Viktor Norringer in the first round of the USHL Phase II Draft in May, the Muskegon Lumberjacks have announced that the Swedish-born forward is officially reporting to Trinity Health Arena for the 2025-26 season.
“To secure his commitment is huge for our group next year, and we are excited to watch Viktor in a Muskegon Lumberjacks uniform.” said Lumberjacks President Steve Lowe.
Norringer is a 2024 fourth-round selection (#127) of the Nashville Predators, and talked about the decision process between him, the Preds, and his agent to come to Muskegon. “The next step for my development on the ice is to get used to the smaller rink. I talked with my agent and Nashville, and they suggested that this would be really good for me and my development.”
This offseason has seen plenty of high-end talent announce their plans to play for the Lumberjacks next season. Norringer joins Jake Stuart (2006) and Melvin Novotny (2007) as first-year Lumberjacks looking to bring their game to the next level. The trio joins an already talented group at Trinity Health Arena that looks to go back-to-back as Clark Cup Champions.
“We are very excited that he trusts our organization with his development.” said Lumberjacks Head Coach Colten St. Clair. “Viktor brings size and pure goal-scoring ability with the tools to one day play in the NHL. I’m very excited to be able to help him with his day-to-day process so he can be the best at what he does,” St. Clair finished.
One day after being drafted by the Lumberjacks, Norringer announced his commitment to play NCAA College Hockey at Boston University in the Hockey East Association. The route from Muskegon to College and then the NHL has become a clear path to help players achieve their dreams of playing professional hockey.
Norringer stands 6’3" and weighs a hair under 200 pounds. His large frame, paired with an NHL-caliber shot, provides the tools to dominate the game on the score sheet and in the dirty areas of the ice.
The Lumberjacks are thrilled to welcome Viktor to the Lakeshore and can’t wait to see him in the Black and Gold this season. Welcome to Muskegon, Viktor!
Norringer and the Lumberjacks take to the ice for the 2025-26 season as part of the organization’s 15th anniversary. Come out and support the team on the quest for back-to-back Clark Cup Titles. Season tickets are available by calling 231-799-7000. For more information on season tickets, visit HERE.
St. Clair Named Seventh Head Coach in Lumberjacks History
MUSKEGON, MI – Monday Afternoon, the Muskegon Lumberjacks announced Colten St. Clair as the seventh head coach in franchise history. St. Clair joined the organization in February as an Associate Head Coach, helping the team to its first Clark Cup Title.
A native of Gilbert, AZ, St. Clair joined the Muskegon coaching staff with 16 games left in the 2024-25 season and saw the team finish 12-3-1-0 through the stretch. In the post-season, St. Clair and the Jacks went 11-2-1 on the way to the Clark Cup title.
“We are very excited to announce Colten as our next head coach. We are very confident he will continue with our development model, empowering players to become better players and men while balancing the level of competition we are accustomed to,” said Lumberjacks President, Steve Lowe.
Previously in the USHL, St. Clair spent three seasons playing with the Fargo Force between 2008 and 2011. His time in Fargo included three runs to the Clark Cup Playoffs and a pair of appearances in the Finals in 2009 and 2010.
As a coach, St. Clair returned to the USHL in 2021-22 as an Associate Head Coach for the Sioux City Musketeers, helping them to a Clark Cup Championship. Following his two years in Sioux City, he moved to Minnesota, becoming the head coach for the MN Wilderness of the NAHL.
The 2024-25 season saw St. Clair on two different benches in the USHL. Four games into the campaign, St. Clair took over the head coaching role for the Omaha Lancers and led the team to a 6-10-2-0 record in 18 games before parting ways with the organization. Overall, Omaha finished with a 7-48-6-1 record. In February, he joined the Muskegon staff, winning his second Clark Cup title as an Associate Head Coach.
When asked about his new role with the Lumberjacks, Coach St. Clair said “I’m incredibly grateful to Pete Herms, Steve Lowe, Jimmy McGroarty, and the entire Muskegon Lumberjacks organization for believing in me to lead this team as the next head coach.
I would also like to thank Parker Burgess for showing me the way about what makes Muskegon so special. It’s an honor to be entrusted with carrying forward the winning culture that has been built here, one driven by passion, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Together, we will continue to develop leaders of men, fostering a team-first mentality and being relentless in our pursuit of growth – both on and off the ice.”
St. Clair finished, “Our success isn’t just measured in victories, but in the strength of the culture built here, and the standards we set. I am honored and excited to work with the organization and players that I care deeply about.”
St. Clair’s duties as head coach start immediately with Main Camps I & II approaching in the next few weeks.
History of Muskegon Lumberjacks Head Coaches:
2010-2012: Kevin Patrick (41-63-9-7, .408)
2012-2013: Jim McKenzie (31-23-3-7, .563)
2013-2016: Todd Krygier (92-72-8-6, .556)
2016-2018: John LaFontaine (70-43-4-3, .613)
2018-2022: Mike Hamilton (140-87-14-6, .600)
2022-2025: Parker Burgess (92-62-7-5, .565)
2025-Present: Colten St. Clair
Four Lumberjacks Named in NHL Central Scouting Central Rankings
NEW YORK, NY – Tuesday morning, the NHL Central Scouting Department released its final rankings for the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft. Among those listed are four Lumberjacks featuring three skaters and a goaltender. The NHL Draft will take place June 27-28 in Los Angeles, CA.
#35 – Ivan Ryabkin
Maybe the most polarizing prospect in the draft, Ryabkin set scoring records last season in the MHL (Russia) before joining the Lumberjacks in January of this year. His production hasn’t slowed, finishing the regular season with 30 points in 27 games played.
What’s more impressive is Ryabkin's ability to affect the game without the puck. At 5’11, 201 pounds, Ryabkin uses his size to dominate the game. Whether it be in net-front position battles or a heavy hit in open ice he finds a way to assert his dominance.
#36 – Vaclav Nestrasil
Just one spot behind his teammate, Nestrasil has watched his draft stock rise throughout the season. Originally graded a “W” for watchlist in the preliminary rankings back in October Nestrasil was upgraded to a second round projection in the midterm rankings at #46.
Now, in the post-season, Nestrasil has seen his name jump another ten spots to #36 and is showing why teams should consider him a first-round talent. Standing 6’5, Nestrasil is one of the tallest players in the draft, yet also one of the smoothest in the offensive zone. His 42 points (19g, 23a) in the regular season ranked 5th on the Lumberjacks.
Last night in game 1 of the Clark Cup Playoffs, Nestrasil made an impact with the game-winning goal with just over a minute to play in regulation.
#188 – Luka Radivojevic
We’re not really sure what to say about this one. Radivojevic joined the Lumberjacks early in the season after coming to Muskegon from the SHL (Sweden). Since his arrival, he has been a large part of the team’s success on the back end of the ice while also recording 22 points in 38 games as a defenseman.
A mid-season break from USHL competition, Radivojevic played in the 2025 World Junior Championships for his home country, Slovakia, where he was named a top 3 player in the tournament for his team.
Simply put, if a team waits to take Radivojevic at #188 (6th round), they will be about five rounds too late.
#32 (Goalies) – Samuel Doyon-Cataquiz
Selected by the Lumberjacks in the 2023 USHL draft, Doyon-Cataquiz has spent the past few seasons playing prep school hockey on the East Coast. This season with the Bishop Kearney Selects 18U AAA team, he recorded a 28-14-0 record with a .913 save percentage and 2.29 goals against average.
After what’s been an exciting year for goalies in Muskegon, Doyon-Cataquiz is preparing to make the jump to the USHL next season and can do so with an NHL logo next to his name on the line chart.