Fury seize share of overall league leadership
February 15, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
TEAM TITLE TALES: Having their engines tuned to the finest of purrs, the reigning Colonial Cup Champions of the United Hockey League, the Muskegon Fury completed yet another masterful week of winning hockey. Under the auspices of second-year head coach Todd Nelson, the mighty men of Muskegon pro hockey armor compiled an unsullied 4-games' week performance in which they generated 7 of a possible 8-points, climaxing the week's work-load with 3-victories in 3-short days on the weekend. With that 4(3-0-1) mark for the 4-games in 5-days segment, Muskegon elevated its overall record to a supreme 55(34-15-6) totaling 74-points and a 5-points advantage over second-place Kalamazoo 55(33-19-3)69-points for the top spot in the Central Division. Moreover, though, the "Furious Ones" have surged into a share of the overall UHL league-leadership with Western-Division front-running Rockford 55(34-15-6)74 with both teams having the same, identical records. Concerning the Fury's own Central Division first-place stately status, in addition to their 5-points lead over Kalamazoo, they have opened up an 18-points' grip on third-place Flint 54(23-21-10)56. While Kalamazoo recently completed a 4-game home stand with a 4(3-1-0) mark, the Generals have languished lately, posting a 17(3-11-3) mark in the last 17-games. Regarding the UHL's overall standings, a scant 2-points separate the top 4-teams with just 6-points distinguishing the top 6-clubs. To amplify, the Fury and Rockford both have garnered 74-points. Then its Fort Wayne 53(34-15-4)72; Adirondack 53(33-14-6)72; Kalamazoo 55(33-19-3)69; Danbury 55(32-19-4)68. As for the Fury, they will enjoy a brief respite this week before resuming league action with a pair of crucial weekend home encounters at Walker Arena. Friday night, the Fury will guest Quad City on "School Night" and "Muskegon Chronicle Carriers Night." Also, that same night, the Fury will be giving away a Breakaway Bicycle and Miss Michigan, Kelli Talicska, will sing the National Anthem, meet and greet fans and sign autographs. Saturday night, the Fury will present their annual ever-popular "Beach Night" bonanza extravaganza as Richmond makes its initial visit of the season.
SPLURGE AND SURGE: With a record of 4(3-0-1) for the week, capped by a 3-games' winning streak in 3-days, the formidable Fury have heightened their overall composite record to a gleaming 55(34-15-6)74-points. Currently, the "Muskegonites" are riding the rising tidal wave of a 6-game unbeaten streak; 6(5-0-1), out-scoring the embattled enemy, 19-9. In the last 11-games, they are a healthy 11(8-2-1); last 24(17-5-2). Thus far, in the month of February, they are sporting a mark of 8(5-2-1). Last February, the record was 14(7-3-4). The Fury's longest win streaks of the season have been 9-in a row (second longest in the UHL this season), 5-in succession and 4-consecutively. They have assembled two 10-game undefeated streaks of 10(9-0-1). The longest losing spell of this title defending campaign has been 3-in a row, which has transpired on two occasions. Comparing records, after 55-games last season, the men of the Fury were 55(35-13-7)77. Presently, the Fury are 1-win and 3-points behind last year's clip.
HOME DOME DAZZLE: With two more victory verdicts achieved on home ice the past weekend, "Team Title" has upgraded its season's log to a league-best 27(20-4-3), earning 43 of a possible 54-points. Their 4-home setbacks represent the least in the league. Currently, the Champions are on a 3-game winning skein on the home grounds, having out-scored the visiting parties, 10-2. In the last 6-games at home; 6(5-1-0); last 16(12-2-2). Dating back to the latter stages of last season, the Fury have engineered a remarkable mark of 36(29-4-3) at the home place. The longest home ice win streak has been 4-in a row, which has occurred twice. The longest home ice undefeated streaks have been 9(7-0-2) and 7(6-0-1). Muskegon is a majestic 13(13-0-0) at home thus far this season against their own Central Division competition.
HAIL ROAD TRAIL: On the strength of their electrifying 3-1 Saturday night triumph over the NHL-accented Motor City Mechanics, the "Knights of Nelson" have expanded their foreign ice unblemished skein to 3-games; 3(2-0-1), out-goaling the home-standing squadron, 9-7. For the overall season to date, the Fury road record has risen to 3-games above the .500 barrier at 28(14-11-3). They are a sterling 13(9-3-1) in their last 13-journeys abroad. The longest road win streak has been 6-in succession which represents the second longest in the UHL thus far this season. There has also been one 3-game win streak in hostile territory. Longest losing streaks away from home bay have been 4-in a row and 3-straight.
IN-DIVISION DELUXE: The Fury have been truly radiating against their own Central Division as well as the Eastern Division delegation. Within their own division, they have attained an impressive and imposing record of 24(21-3-0), recording 42 of an available 48-points. They are a perfect 13(13-0-0) at home and a stellar 11(8-3-0) on the road. Meanwhile in the East, despite limited activity, Muskegon boasts an extant 4-game win streak and overall mark of 5(4-1-0). They are an impeccable 3(3-0-0) on the road and 2(1-1-0) on home ice. The Western Division, however, has been another matter as the team with the most wins in UHL history has registered a record of 26(9-11-6); at home: 11(5-3-3); on the road: 14(3-8-3). The breakdown; Central Division: Kalamazoo 7(7-0-0)28-15; home: 3(3-0-0)12-6; road: 4(4-0-0)16-9; Motor City 5(5-0-0)24-9; home: 3(3-0-0)16-5; road: 2(2-0-0)8-4; Flint 8(6-2-0)21-21; home: 4(4-0-0)9-5; road: 4(2-2-0)12-16. Port Huron 4(3-1-0)15-9; home: 3(3-0-0)14-6; road: 1(0-1-0)1-3. Western Division: Kansas City 7(3-2-2)23-20; home: 3(2-1-0)12-7; road: 4(1-1-2)11-13; Missouri 5(2-1-2)15-13; home: 2(1-0-1)8-5; road: 3(1-1-1)7-8; Quad City 4(2-2-0)12-7; home: 2(2-0-0)10-2; road: 2(0-2-0)2-5; Rockford 5(2-3-0)14-13; home: 1(1-0-0)4-1; road: 4(1-3-0)10-12. Eastern Division: Danbury 1(1-0-0)4-0; home: 1(1-0-0)4-0; Elmira 1(1-0-0)5-0; road: 1(1-0-0)5-0; Richmond 1(1-0-0)5-3; road: 1(1-0-0)5-3; Adirondack 2(1-1-0)4-4; home: 1(0-1-0)2-3; road: 1(1-0-0)2-1.
STINGY STATE: Defensively, flaws have been very few under the most scrutinizing magnifying glass in recent Fury vintage. In fact, in the last 3-games, the team from "Titletown" has reluctantly relented to the tune of a meager 2-GA for a GAA of a minuscule 0.67. During their present tense 6-games' unbeaten span of 6(5-0-1), they have yielded but 9-GA for a GAA of a frugal 1.50. On a 3-game win streak at the home front, again, the Fury have allotted only 2-GA. At home, the last 10-games, the GA is 16 for a GAA of 1.60. For the season in total, the Fury rank a very close second to Rockford with 133-GA in 55-games for a GAA of 2.42. Rockford has allowed one less goal than Muskegon (132) in the same number of games.
THE ACES OF THE OASIS: The UHL's defending scoring king colossus, Robin Bouchard 54(31-41-72) is 2nd in league-wide scoring prowess with linemate Brant Blackned 52(21-42-63) ranked 7th and Jeff Nelson 55(14-48-62) tied for 8th spot. Bouchard's 31-goals tie him for 2nd most in the loop with Nelson's 48-assists ranking him 4th in that department. Bouchard's 15-PPG and 38-PP/Points lead the UHL with Blackned league runner-up in the latter area with 32-PP/Points. In the PP/Assists category, Jeff Nelson (23) and Bouchard (23) are tied for 3rd with Blackned (21) listed 4th. Nelson and Blackned are tied for circuit 2nd in GWG with 5. Rustyn Dolyny's 4-SHG rank him just one shy of the UHL top perch. B.J. Gaustad leads the league in goal-scoring shooting percentage at 22/96 for a marksmanship rating of 22.9%. David Ambler ranks 4th in the UHL in PIM with 230 while his 22-majors rank as 4th most. In UHL rookie scoring Billy Collins 42(11-9-20) and Bill Zalba 49(10-10-20) are tied for 17th. Collins 5-PPG tie him for 3rd. Among the league defensemen, Jordon Flodell ranks 3rd in major penalties with 9. In the goaltending category, first-year pro Clayton Pool ranks 2nd in the league with a GAA of 2.23 with his .920 SPCT 5th best. Pool also has fashioned the league's best winning mark at 22(16-3-3) for a winning percentage of .795.
"JUNIOR" JUGGERNAUT: The consummate professional, veteran center Jeff Nelson has become "Mr. Fury Fluid" with his neat, complete play. The 13-year standout was utterly masterful in spurring his team's unbeaten week. In 4-games, he adeptly and adroitly authored 5-points on 2-goals, 3-assists with 9-SOG and a superb +5 rating. Both of his goals were the key game's FG including the GWG in a 3-points, #3 Star night Friday in the Fury's 4-0 shutout success over Danbury. The very next night, "J-Nel" stoked another FG in the club's thrilling 3-1 victory at Motor City. He capped his week's body of work with his first OTSO strike of the campaign in the 2-1 Sunday OTSO win over Flint. In his last 23-games; 23(6-24-30). J. Nelson is the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week.
LEATHER LARCENY ARTISTRY: Goaltender divine Sylvain Daigle was never bigger or better the past weekend as he prominently puck-stopped his team to a perfect 3(3-0-0) mark, grudgingly surrendering a scant 2-GA and rebuking 93 of 95-shots. The magical Daigle-barricade show opened Friday night when he extinguished Dan-bury with a 27-saves shutout masterpiece in a 4-0 home team decision. It was his first shutout of the season since his January 14th return from the London Racers and the 8th of his illustrious 5-year Fury career, equaling Joe Dimaline for the most Muskegon career shutouts. Saturday night in Fraser, he repelled 42 of 43-shots to spearhead a Fury 3-1 throttling of the Motor City Mechanics. The weekend of perfection became complete in a Sunday matinee feature presentation when the Daigle blockade frustrated, again. This time, the Fury's two-time team MVP turned aside 24-Flint attempts in a spine-tingling, thrilling theatre of a 2-1 OTSO success over the Generals. In all 3-games, Daigle was acclaimed the game's #1 Star as he recorded a GAA for the week of a microscopic 0.67 and a SPCT of a scintillating .979. For the season, Daigle has distinguished himself, again, with an overall record of 10(6-4-0) with a GAA of a shrinking 1.89 and a SPCT of a soaring .934. Daigle is the Fury's nomination for Southern Sports Supply / UHL Goaltender of the Week.
THE ROBBY RETURN: There was a stunning sighting of a second coming of the famous Fury pre-eminent playmaking prince of points pivot, center Todd Robinson. After a 44-games' absence due to an AHL stint with Grand Rapids, "T. Rob" came back as if never left the attack track. In fact, in his first game, Saturday night in Fraser, he stoked a Muskegon 3-goal unanswered first period powder keg by delivering the GWG on an electrifying breakaway flight before orchestrating the artful arrangement on a B.J. Gaustad SHG which culminated the uprising. Although having played only 11-games for the crowned kingpins this year, the Robinsonian numbers are, as always, prolific at 11(6-11-17).
LAWMAN MANIA: It was yet another banner week for the Fury's transplanted left wing Jason Lawmaster. Sus-taining his exceptional play on a line with Jeff Nelson and Rustyn Dolyny, the 6-year veteran contributed offensive-ly to the tune of one point in each of the 4-games; 4(1-3-4). Like his two linemates, he was a plus player in every game for the week's rating of a stellar +5. He also blazed 17-SOG and collected 9-PIM. In his 23-games of regular shift duty at the forward position, Lawmaster has averaged a-point-a-game with 23(11-12-23).
"HERRRRRE'S JONNY": The Fury's top scoring defenseman is former Michigan State star Jon Insana. The 3-year pro has been magnificent in recent action. This past week, alone, he connected on key goals in back-to-back games to cap the 4-games' week with 4(2-0-2), 6-SOG and an excellent +4 rating. His vastly-elevated play is reflected in the numbers. At one time relegated to a -15 rating, the New Baltimore, MI native has polished his strong back end act to the point where today his season rating has steadily climbed to a season's best +2.
THE CAPTAIN'S CHRONICLES: Four-year Fury right wing Rustyn Dolyny is a Muskegon man on a mission. The past week, he acted the role of playmaker extraordinaire, producing two consecutive 2-assists efforts while posting premium plus numbers in all 4 of his team that he captains outings. For the week, he was 4(0-4-4) with 10-PIM, 14-SOG and a strong +5 rating. He is now the Fury's 4th leading scorer with 51(17-30-47).
PREMIUM PROMENADE: The positive, plus players parade includes, in order; 1- B.J. Gaustad +21; 2- Dave Van Drunen +16; 3- Jordon Flodell +15; 4- Brant Blackned +14; 5- Nolan Brown +12; 6- Robin Bouchard +10; 7- Jeff Nelson +9; 8- Kevin Haupt +7.
UNEVEN UNMATCHED: The Fury specialty teams remain the best in the UHL in both departments; the power play and the penalty-killing category. On the power play, the Fury are 61-247 for a proficiency rating of 24.7%. Their 61-PPG are 9-more than the rest of the league. Muskegon has virtually scored twice the number of PPG than they have allowed. The shorthand band has permitted only 31-PPGA in 282-advantages afforded the adversary for an efficiency rating of a sterling 89.0%. Currently, the Fury are on another streak where they have choked off 18-consecutive enemy man advantages; 18-18; 100.0%; examining further, they are 30 for the last 31; 96.8%; 48 for the last 50; 96.0%. "Todd's Team" has struck for 7-SHG while surrendering 5 of the same.
MILESTONES STEPPING: Brant Blackned 259(127-172-299) is one point away from becoming only the fifth player in Fury franchise history to amass 300-points. Todd Robinson's GWG in Saturday night's victory at Motor City tied him with Sergei Kharin(104) for 8th place on the Fury's all-time goal-scoring list. With his 2-assists last Wednesday night in Kansas City, Rustyn Dolyny became only the 12th player in team history to record 200-points. Scott Hollis 726(292-297-589) is just 3-assists from pro career 300 and 11-points from 600.
FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": On home ice this season, the Fury have out-scored the opposition in the first period, 30-10 through 27-games. The Fury lead the UHL in second period goals with 75. The Fury are 10(4-6-0) in the OTSO this season with all 4-OTSO wins coming at home on all 4-Flint visits to Muskegon. When the Fury score 4 or more, they are undefeated at 26(25-0-1). The Fury have a combined record on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights of 36(27-6-3). Sixteen times this year the Fury have scored 5 or more goals. POST WEEK WRAP-UP: It was a superior week of spellbinding, riveting action from the Fury as they generated a 4(3-0-1) mark, out-scoring the opponents, 19-9. Wednesday night in Kansas City, the Fury surmounted a 2-0 deficit to insure 1-precious point through the regulation deadlock in an ultimate OTSO result of 3-2. Jon Insana and Robin Bouchard (PPG/GTG) connected for Muskegon with Rustyn Dolyny contributing 2-assists. Returning home Friday night, the Fury were flawless and faultless in a 4-0 masterpiece over Danbury. Jeff Nelson (1-2-3)FG/GWG, Scott Hollis, Insana and Brant Blackned (PPG) struck for the Fury with Dolyny adding 2-more assists, again. Sylvain Daigle was superlative with 27-saves. Playing an NHL-influenced group in Motor City Saturday night, the Fury triggered a 3-goal unanswered opening period torrent to throttle the Mechanics, 3-1. Nelson (FG), Todd Robinson (GWG)1-1-2 and B.J. Gaustad (SHG) each made connection. Daigle was dynamic with 42-saves. Sunday afternoon on home ice, the Fury prevailed over Flint in the OTSO, 2-1. Jason Lawmaster (FG) accounted for the Fury firepower in regulation before Nelson, Blackned and Gaustad (GWG) each struck goal gold in the extra session. Daigle repulsed 24-shots in regulation and 3 of 5-shot attempts in the OTSO.
THE FURY GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH QUAD CITY AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
Of the seven total meetings this season, this will be clash number five and the third of four bouts to be staged in Muskegon. Thus far the home ice advantage has been tantamount to ultimate success as each team in this long-time, fiercely-competitive arch-rivalry has captured a pair of conquests at home. In Muskegon, the Fury have claimed a 4-1 conquest back on October 22nd before earning a 6-1 encore victory on November 5th.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH RICHMOND AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
A rare meeting of the minds between a Central Division entry and one from the Eastern Division alignment. Muskegon leads the season series this year, 1(1-0-0). In the lone previous collision, back on January 5th in Virginia, the Fury responded with 3-PPG and captured the contest with a 5-3 conquest. The second-year RiverDogs are making only their second-ever appearance in Muskegon. The last one occurred on the last game of last regular season, April 10, 2004. In that one, the Fury dispatched the visitors, emphatically, 8-3.
FURY HOTLINE PRESENTED BY PEPSI: Now in its 10-consecutive year, the ever-popular Monday night Fury radio show, FURY HOTLINE PRESENTED BY PEPSI, is, once again, live every Monday night at Racquets Downtown Grill from 7:00 pm â 9:00 pm with Fury special guests. The program is hosted by the "Voice" of the Fury, Terry Ficorelli, on the 9-year exclusive home of the Fury, "REAL COUNTRY 97.5," WEFG-FM 97.5.
THE HOME OF THE CHAMPIONS, "REAL COUNTRY" 97.5: For the ninth straight year, all of the Fury games, home and away, in their entirety, all season long, are on the Fury's exclusive radio flagship home of "REAL COUNTRY 97.5." In addition, the Fury daily update reports can be heard every day, Monday through Friday at 5:25 pm. THE FURY HOCKEY UPDATE is on every day on "REAL COUNTRY 97.5."
THE PILLAR INDUSTRIES FURY WORLD-WIDE WEB-CASTS: All this season, all the Fury games can be heard on the Internet on the Pillar Industries Fury World-Wide Web-casts. Visit the Fury web-site and tune-in at www.furyhockey.com.
THE FURY TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets for all Fury games are available at the Walker Arena Box Office and all Ticketmaster Centers or by phone at (231) 726-2400. VISA / MASTERCARD are accepted. For great group rates and birthday parties with the Fury, phone (231) 726-FURY (3879).
International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 15, 2005
- Majors in the minors - IHL 2
- IceHogs announce date change to School Day game - Rockford IceHogs
- Fury seize share of overall league leadership - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Hogs heartbroken in Kalamazoo - Rockford IceHogs
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