Chad Costello

Chad has signed a pro contract with the Muskegon Fury!

Fury Sign Costello, Bartholomay and Olynyk for 2008-09
MUSKEGON – The Muskegon Fury today announce the signing of former USHL scoring champion forward Chad Costello as well as the re-signing of defenseman Adam Bartholomay and forward Mike Olynyk for the 2008-09 season.
Costello (5-foot-9, 174 lbs) joins the Fury for his first full professional season after making his professional debut last season with the Texas Wildcatters of the ECHL. Costello, 22, began last season with Northeastern University, scoring 13 points (3g, 10a) in 27 games before leaving to join Texas, where he was scoreless in two games. Costello scored a team-high 22 points in 32 games in his freshman year of 2006-07 at Northeastern.
Before joining Northeastern, Costello set team records and led the USHL in scoring in 2005-06 with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, scoring 76 points (31g, 45a) in 59 games while being whistled for just 15 penalty minutes. His goal, assist and point totals were all single-season team records for the RoughRiders, who won the USHL’s East Division championship that season as well.
“Chad is a young, talented forward that left school early to pursue pro hockey,” Fury coach Bruce Ramsay said. “I believe he has the potential to be one of the best rookies in this league. His numbers don’t lie. I expect him to be a big contributor on the first or second line.”
Bartholomay (5-foot-11, 205 lbs.) returns to the Fury for his second season, though he retains his rookie status since he has only played 52 professional games. After a brief stint with the Florida Everblades in the ECHL to begin the 2007-08 season, Bartholomay joined the Fury on December 8, 2007, and scored his first Fury goal the next night in Kalamazoo. A versatile player, Bartholomay played defense but also filled in at forward on occasion. He tied a Fury rookie record for defensemen with 14 goals in 42 games, being named the IHL’s Defenseman of the Week one time as well. Before the start of his pro career, Bartholomay, 25, played for two full seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he scored 37 points (19g, 18a) in 63 games.
“Bartholomay is a quick, mobile player that has the unique ability to play all positions,” Ramsay said. “He had a good season last year that ended early due to injury. He will be a valuable player for us.”
Also returning to the Fury is the veteran Olynyk, 26. Olynyk (6-foot, 200 lbs) was acquired by Muskegon in the International Hockey League’s Waiver Draft on April 15, 2008, joining the Fury for their playoff series vs. the Fort Wayne Komets. The hard-nosed forward played the last two regular seasons with the Port Huron franchise. Olynyk had his best professional season in 2006-07 with the Flags, when he scored 24 points (14g, 10a) while amassing 192 penalty minutes in 70 games. In his rookie season of 2002-03, he helped the Austin Ice Bats to the President’s Cup Finals in the Central Hockey League, where the team lost to Memphis. Before turning pro, Olynyk played four years of junior hockey in the BCHL. His best junior season was in 2001-02 with the Langley Hornets, when he totaled 46 points (18g, 28a) and 146 penalty minutes in 60 games.
“Mike is a veteran who brings us a lot of energy and can play all forward positions,” Ramsay said. “He’s gritty, tough, kills penalties and is a good face off man. With his experience, he fits in nicely and knows what it takes to win. He definitely will be one of the players arriving in the best shape entering training camp.”
The Fury now have 16 players signed for the 2008-09 season. Muskegon opens the season at home against the Port Huron Icehawks on October 18.

cool. glad to see former NAHLers moving on. Gives the league more credibility.

I understand college isn't for everyone,but that had to be a tough decision for costello, to give up a good education to play in the echl. As the great Jackie Parker says," I tell my players i know exactly when they should leave school to persue a hockey career. When they can step right in and play in the NHL".

tnado,
When a freshmen leads the team in scoring, that is a good sign he needs to move on. besides, despite popular opinion, college is not the end all for everyone. Especially if he was there JUST for hockey. I'd rather see his spot (and any of the athletic factory NCAA schools players) occupied by a serious student-athlete actually in pursuit of an education. I have always believed that the NCAA should follow the lead of hockey in all other sports.

Instead of "signing" 8th graders, they should wait till the kids graduate and turn 18 before the signing. Then at that point, the kid signs a contract. He agrees to play, and in return is promised 5 years to complete his education. I don't care if the kid ever actually gets in a game. he practices, and does as the coach directs, he has a free ticket to graduation. If he is not the player he was recruited to be, or if he gets hurt, too bad, still has his free ride. In return, ALL players that sign, are locked into that school for the duration of his elgibility. He wins the Heisman his sophmore year. Excellent, still has two more years left. This idea would eliminate all the baloney students.

What if a kid just is not ready to decide at 18? I'd like to see a "Juniors" kind of system for Basketball, Football, & Baseball. Gives the kid a bit more maturity, and a better understanding of the potiental. Another way to combat the early to the pros baloney. When a kid is 18, and not in school, he is eligible for the pro drafts. This way, the pro leagues have a chance to get the really talented kids, or leave them along untill after school. Baseball does this to some degree, as does hockey. A single level "minor league" for football, and not the Arena thingee, would be good for the game, and give younger players not in school a place to shine. Call it NFL2, play all games on Thursday Nights and create 30 new markets. Each NFL team owns a NFL2 team.

Sure beats throwing money down the drain for a kid with little to no interest in school.

SH,

As i said earlier i don't believe college is for everyone. I certainly don't believe that being the teams leading scorer your freshman year is a good sign to move on(btw his stats his freshman and soph yrs are good, but certainly not good enough to even warrant any interest from an nhl team).


We'll probably never know why kids like Costello leave school because there are so many different variables. One example is Chris Bourque who left bu after hisfreshman year. When your dad is Ray Bourque do you really need a college education to fall back on if you're hockey career goes down the tubes.

I know 2 kids in particular that passed on full boats. One to bu,and one to Merrimack. They were promised the world by advisors and chl teams, Both were nhl 2nd round draft picks about 4 years apart. Neither one of them will ever play an nhl game. I have a feeling that somewhere down the road they may be kicking themselves for passing up that degree

tnado,
College is not for everyone. It is more then parties, hockey, and goofing off. A lot of kids really do not have a clue about the kind of work it takes to be a successfull student. Why do kids enroll, and then take a hike? Reality sets in that this is going to be a tough road. Especially at a program that actually requires the student athletes to be students.

I say good for Chad!!

Old Hippy wrote:

I say good for Chad!!

Ditto!!