MUSKEGON, MI- The Muskegon Lumberjacks have acquired forward Austin Albrecht from the Sioux Falls Stampede in exchange for Marcus Russell, a 3rd-round, phase-two pick, and a player to be named later.

Albrecht, a Flemington, New Jersey native, has tallied five goals and 35 points this season for the Stampede. He played under head coach John LaFontaine for two years in Wichita Falls (NAHL), and was a 60-point scorer last year.

Albrecht was effective in the playoffs last season, helping the Wildcats to the Robertson Cup final by racking up 12 points in nine games.

Albrecht is committed to play collegiately at UMass Amherst. He joins fellow Amherst commits Anthony and Marc Del Gaizo in Muskegon. Like the Del Gaizo’s, Albrecht played for the New Jersey Rockets.

This will be Albrecht’s final season of junior hockey; the 1996-birthyear will age out after this season.

“Austin is your prototypical power forward,” said LaFontaine. “He’s very strong on his skates, has good speed and agility, is hard to knock off the puck and will take it to the net. He has a scoring touch, but has been more of a playmaker this season. He adds depth at the power forward position for us.”

Russell played in 20 games this season for the Lumberjacks, and notched five assists.

Albrecht is expected to join the team ahead of this weekend’s series at Youngstown. Both Friday and Saturday’s games are scheduled for 7:05pm. Both games will be broadcast live on 92.5 Nash Icon.

The Jacks’ magic number to clinch the playoffs is 19.