Generals sign three with Michigan ties

The Flint Generals have signed three players for the 2006-07 season. All three have Michigan ties and will play prominent roles with the team.

Goaltender Jason Muzzatti joins the Generals after spending eight seasons playing in Europe, the last five in Italy where he was the goaltender for the Italian Olympic Team. Muzzatti, a native of Toronto, Ontario, played his college hockey at Michigan State from 1987-91. He was a first round draft pick of the Calgary Flames in 1988 and played 62 games in the NHL with four teams. Last season, he posted a .916 save percentage and a 2.68 goals against average while playing for Bolzano in Italy.

Forward Richard Keyes, a native of Kalamazoo, returns to the UHL with the Generals after playing last season for San Diego in the ECHL. Keyes played at Michigan State from 1994-97 before beginning his professional career. He has previously played for Fort Wayne and Kalamazoo in the UHL along with teams in the AHL, IHL and ECHL. Keyes had 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points in 38 games last season.

Shaun Fisher, a defenseman from Detroit, will also make his Flint debut this season. Fisher played for the Plymouth Whalers in the OHL, recording 66 points in 59 games his last season (1999-2000), before beginning his professional career. He has spent four of his five seasons of professional hockey in the ECHL and one season, 2004-05, with Kalamazoo. While with Kalamazoo, he set career highs in goals, assists, points and penalty minutes when he had 33 points on 11 goals and 22 assists with 70 penalty minutes.

“All three of these men are exceptional athletes and will be instrumental in the success of the Generals.” said Generals' GM Al Sims. “We are very excited about having all three players and the experience and talent they bring to the team.”

“I want a team that will put Flint back on top in the UHL,” stated head coach Kevin Kerr. “We should be able to reach our goals this season with the signing of players like Muzzatti, Keyes and Fisher.”