Saginaw Spirit name Sheldon Ferguson as GM

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

************************

Spirit Name Ferguson General Manager

(Saginaw, MI) The Saginaw Spirit are pleased to announce the addition of Sheldon Ferguson to its staff, as the team’s General Manager. Ferguson comes to mid Michigan after serving 12 seasons on the hockey staff of the NHL’s 05-06 Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes as the right hand man to Carolina’s GM and former OHL GM Jimmy Rutherford.

“Sheldon is regarded as one of the top hockey people in the game,” said Spirit Owner Dick Garber. "We are excited about him bringing his championship experience to our program and our community.”

“We welcome a Stanley Cup Champion, a three time gold medalist and a man with strong family values to mid Michigan and to the Saginaw Spirit.” said Spirit President Craig Goslin. “I am very confident that he will surround himself with the best coaching staff that is available in the game. Sheldon and his wife Dorie will be welcome additions to our program and to our mid Michigan community.

“I would like to thank Jim Rutherford and the Carolina Hurricanes for a wonderful 12 years with the Hurricanes’ organization,” said Sheldon Ferguson. “It is with difficulty that I leave behind the great people that I worked with in Carolina, but I am looking forward with excitement to the new opportunities that are ahead working with Dick Garber, Craig Goslin and the entire Saginaw Spirit organization. My family and I are anxious to get settled in the beautiful Saginaw area and to become a part of the community. Our first order of business will be to get a committed and dedicated coaching staff in place and to get to know the players who will be the nucleus of the Saginaw Spirit for 2007-2008."

Ferguson spent two seasons as an assistant coach in the WHL, six seasons as a scout for the Quebec Nordiques and three seasons as the general manager and coach for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds.

Ferguson served two very successful seasons as the Director of Central Scouting for the entire OHL. He then was offered the distinct honor of serving as the Director of Scouting for the Canadian National Junior Team for four seasons. During those four seasons, the Canadian National Junior Team won three consecutive gold medals (1993-1995).

Under Ferguson’s direction and leadership, The Carolina Hurricanes have drafted the players that formed the nucleus of the 05-06 Stanley Cup Champions. Over the past eight seasons, as Director of Player Personnel and Director of Amateur Scouting, he guided the Hurricanes to draft Eric Staal, Erik Cole, Cam Ward and Andrew Ladd. Ferguson also drafted NHL standout defenseman and former Peterborough Pete, Chris Pronger. The past eight seasons, Ferguson has been responsible for coordinating the Hurricane’s NHL Entry Draft, guiding the team to select other top notch players while assisting to balance the chemistry of the club as the talented young draft choices mix with returning veterans.

************************************************************