First Father/Son Combination to Play in IHL for Jacks

The name on the back of the jersey can sometimes mean as much to a community as the name on the front. When mentioning Muskegon professional hockey, it is a name that cannot be ignored. Kharin is written throughout the Muskegon record books. Sergei Kharin wore #16 for 5 seasons with the Muskegon Fury of the Colonial Hockey League (CoHL) and later when it became the United Hockey League (UHL). Now his son Anton dons the #16 sweater for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League (IHL).

On Friday, April 10, 2009, Muskegon hockey makes history as they add another chapter to their storied 49 years of professional hockey! Sergei will come out of retirement for one game to play on a line with his son. They will become the first father and son to skate together in the IHL!

Sergei was drafted in the 12th round of the 1989 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets and played 7 games for them. He won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1988 while playing for the Soviet Union National Team. Sergei was named the UHL Playoff MVP for the 1998-99 Colonial Cup Champion Fury. He ranks 5th on the Muskegon all-time career scoring list with 349 points from 104 goals and 245 assists in 288 games.

The junior Kharin made his professional debut on Friday, March 27, 2009 against the Kalamazoo Wings after signing with the Lumberjacks as a free agent earlier in the week. Anton was fresh from the campus of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) of the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA). Kharin helped lead RIT to the regular season conference championship this season. In 101 games at RIT, he collected 55 points from 30 goals and 25 assists. In 4 games with the Lumberjacks this season, Anton has 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points, including a goal in his first professional game.

Don't miss your chance to see Muskegon hockey history! Watch father and son, Sergei and Anton Kharin skate as professional teammates on Friday, April 10, 2009, when the Muskegon Lumberjacks take on rival Flint Generals. The puck drops at 7 pm at the L.C. Walker Arena. Tickets are $12.50 for adults ($13.50 on game day), $8.50 for seniors ($9.50 on game day), and $5 for kids. Call the L.C. Walker Arena Box Office for you tickets at 231-726-2400. April 10th is also "Show Your Heart Night" when the Lumberjacks will honor anyone with an organ donor sticker on their Michigan Drivers License with a free ticket to the game.