After Learning Of Ice Flyers Success In Stanley Cup Broadcast, Russell Shining For Team In Rookie Season
By Bill Vilona
Ice Flyers Correspondent
Marcus Russell was watching the Tampa Bay Lightning repeat as Stanley Cup champions in July when image of another team’s title feat piqued his interest.
The television broadcast showed the Ice Flyers’ photo with the SPHL President’s Cup, while mentioning the connection between the two hockey teams in the same state.
“They put the (team) photo of the (SPHL President’s Cup) championship and I thought, ‘Oh that is cool.’ It kinda stayed fresh in my mind,” Russell said.
Fresh enough that a few months later, Russell loaded his car, drove to Pensacola from his home in Michigan and joined the Ice Flyers for his first professional season.
It has become a rewarding experience.
Russell, 25, whose collegiate career at Michigan Tech was affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, has impacted the Ice Flyers as the team’s leading scorer, dependable player and steady locker room presence.
He has played all 32 games, producing 10 goals, 22 assists and given the Ice Flyers versatility as penalty killer and power-play forward.
“He has a great attitude, great teammate,” said Ice Flyers coach Rod Aldoff. “He just needed an opportunity. In our league (SPHL), you only play with 10 forwards, so everyone gets a lot of ice time and he has taken advantage of it. He’s really grown as a player and as a pro. It’s nice to see.”
Russell had previously learned about Pensacola and its hockey team from former Ice Flyers player, defenseman Kyle Froese, who was part of last year’s championship season. The two friends grew up together in Traverse City, Michigan, located in the state’s northern Great Lakes region.
“I knew as a kid, growing up, that Florida had a special, kind of unique hockey community,” Russell said. “We would go on vacation to Tampa to visit our grandparents and we would go to the Tampa Bay Lightning games. I was kind of blown away by the number of hockey fans.
“Coming here, same thing, it has been great. I love it.”
Russell seeks to continue enjoyment this weekend when the Ice Flyers play back-to-back home games on Friday and Saturday against the Macon Mayhem at the Pensacola Bay Center.
Friday’s game is Canine Companions Night with Russell and his Ice Flyers teammates wearing custom-made jersey with the images of “Ranger,” the team’s service-dog-in-training on the jersey. Those player jerseys will be auctioned after the game and online purchase of replica jerseys continue through Feb. 7.
On Saturday, the pup theme continues with Weiner Dog Race Night.
The last time the Ice Flyers faced Macon, they set an SPHL record for most single-game goals by a team with their 13-4 win Jan. 22 at the Bay Center. This weekend’s games follow a pair of hard-luck, one-goal road losses against the Fayetteville Marksmen.
The second loss on Sunday was a 6-5 setback in overtime, after the Ice Flyers tied the game with 49 seconds remaining in regulation play.
With the season past its halfway point, Russell has already played more games for the Ice Flyers than he did during his entire career (24 games) at Michigan Tech. The team’s season a year ago was cancelled by COVID, along with the entire levels of collegiate hockey.
“The last couple of years have obviously been a little rocky for hockey players,” Russell said. “So, it’s been kind of an adjustment just to get playing again, playing a lot of games.
“It’s a pretty physical league so I needed to make that adjustment. Those are the things I had to adapt to from the start. It’s definitely an adjustment. Playing all these games is definitely a lot of fun and I’m really enjoying it, so it’s a good adjustment.”
Russell has benefitted from being part of an accomplished hockey family. His father, Jon Russell, played for Michigan State and two seasons of minor league pro hockey after being drafted by the NHL’s former Hartford Whalers.
A young brother plays at Brown University in the well-regarded Ivy League hockey conference. Another young brother has committed to play at Michigan State.
When the three brothers were kids, Jon Russell built a hockey rink in the family backyard. The memories remain special of the family games on that rink.
“A lot of days out there with the cold toes and coming in for some warm soup for lunch,” said Marcus Russell, laughing. “We had boards and the whole thing. And it was a lot of fun.
“It is pretty wild and pretty unique for all of us to get to that level and take those steps. When we get together in the summer, we still compete. So that continues from when we were playing on the backyard rink.”
At Michigan Tech, playing time was limited for Russell. But he thrived in the classroom where he earned numerous academic awards within the conference and team standards. He was a high performing student with aspirations now of going into the medical field when hockey is done.
“I think my confidence through playing a little more this year as grown,” he said. “I think throughout the season I have definitely been building more confidence, making more plays and trying to shoot the puck more.”
He is the kind of player that Aldoff seeks for a pro opportunity, knowing the desire and effort will be consistent.
“I did some background on his junior days and I knew he had some talent,” Aldoff said. “Like a lot of guys playing in college, they just need an opportunity. A lot of guys in college, there are going to be 28 players on the team and sometimes you get buried in the pile.
“What he’s done here is come in and make the most of an opportunity which is great to see.”
