Christian Wolanin Serves as Muskegon’s Celebrity Coach During “Play with Purpose” Charity Hockey Game

September 16, 2022 – United States Hockey League (USHL) – Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release

MUSKEGON, MIch. – Former Muskegon Lumberjacks great and current National Hockey League defenseman Christian Wolanin will serve as the Lumberjacks’ celebrity coach on Saturday during the fifth annual “Play with Purpose” charity hockey game in Plymouth, Michigan.

The Lumberjacks will face the Team USA Under-18 squad in the game, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. on the Mitchel Kiefer Memorial Rink at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth.

Wolanin will be on the Lumberjacks’ bench during the game.

Wolanin played for the Lumberjacks during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, producing 19 goals and 43 assists. He was the Jacks’ career point leader for defensemen until last season, when his record was broken by Jacob Guevin.

He recently signed a two-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks and will soon be reporting to training camp. He has spent parts of five seasons in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings and Buffalo Sabres.

Lumberjacks Coach Mike Hamilton said he recently reached out to Wolanin to fill the honorary role at the charity game, and said the former Lumberjack was happy to help.

Hamilton saw Wolanin play with the Jacks before he became coach, when his son, Trevor Hamilton, played with Muskegon.

“He’s still playing pro hockey, he was a captain here, and he was certainly one of the best defensemen to ever play here with the Lumberjacks,” Hamilton said.

The Lumberjacks honor Wolanin every year by naming one of their two training camp practice teams after him. The other is named after former Lumberjack and current Carolina Hurricanes star Andre Svechnikov.

“It will be great for our players to meet him and know who he is,” Hamilton said.

The “Play with Purpose” game is dedicated to raising funds to help end distracted driving in Michigan. The timing of the game commemorates the sixth anniversary of the tragic death of Mitchel Kiefer, a Michigan State University student and former high school hockey player who was killed in a car accident on I-96 caused by a distracted driver.

A portion of proceeds from Saturday’s game will go to StopDistractions.org and other organizations that work to inform the public about the dangers of distracted driving.

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