For our first edition we check in on Canadian Imports Cam Kuzyk and Lanny Ramage.

Back in 2006 the Ice Dogs acquired an AIHL teams dream (in regards to imports) when they picked up Cam Kuzyk who not only had an impressive resume playing for the University of Alberta Golden Bears and in the CHL but had already lined himself up a job in his profession as a physiotherapist.

Kuuz (pronounced Kooze) “was a character guy on and off the ice” recalls Todd Stephenson. “It was pretty funny as he was struggling to score at the start of the season and the first goal he did score was in a shootout and didn’t count, he turned it all around pretty quick though” adds Stephenson. Kuzyk did turn things around finishing in the top ten scoring with 9 goals and 27 assists for 36 points in 26 games.

Take points out of the equation and his work ethic and change room presence alone was an incredible attribute to the team.

After the Ice Dogs Cam and his lovely wife Danielle returned back home to Edmonton, Canada and have recently had a beautiful baby boy named Caden Kuzyk. Who knows maybe a future international future recruit in the making?

Lanny Ramage was another import who came to Australia the following year in 2007 with a stunning resume. Setting records in the Western Hockey League for the Portland Winterhawks in his junior career he then went onto Acadia University under scholarship. It was at Acadia that Lanny met Jimmy Gagnon and T.J. Eason which resulted in all three travelling to Australia to play for the Dogs.

“Lanny was really quick in the net and could make that second and third save on a play that most goalies struggle with” remembers current goaltender Jim Herbert. Unfortunately Ramage left the Dogs with three weeks remaining in the season to finish off his last semester in Acadia.

In the 2008-2009 season Ramage played for the Rapid City Rush in the CHL recording a save percentage of 0.898 and GAA of 3.50 in 25 games.

The Ice Dogs would like to thank both Cam Kuzyk and Lanny Ramage for making an impact in the organisation and wish them all the best for the future!