Champs cap preseason slate

Published on October 16, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


TEAM TITLE TALES: The two-time reigning Colonial Cup Champions of the United Hockey League, the Muskegon Fury, have completed their three games' pre-season slate and now look forward to the inception of their 14th season of operations in the UHL. Under the doctrine of third-year head coach Todd Nelson, the Fury capped the cursory pre-season schedule having attained the .500 plateau with an overall record of 3(1-1-1) for 3-points. When Muskegon clipped the Wings of Kalamazoo Wednesday night at their home of Walker Arena in an OTSO, 4-3, they swelled their composite winning streak in the UHL pre-season to an amazing 9-consecutive games; 9(9-0-0). At the same time, when the league's crowned kingpins trembled in their pre-season Saturday night finale against former coach Danton Cole and his rejuvenated Motor City Mechanics, 4-0, it at long last ended the Fury's 10-games' undefeated skein in the exhibition segment of the schedule. That extraordinary streak spanned four full falls for the Fury at 10(9-0-1). Muskegon will inaugurate the 2005-06 season seeking to become the first team ever to capture three consecutive league championships as the all-time top winning team in both UHL and all of minor pro hockey history. Under the team ownership of President / Governor Tony Lisman, the Fury franchise has achieved a sparkling .625 winning percentage and an all-time league record 541-wins in regular season competition and another all-time league best 80-triumphs in Colonial Cup playoffs activity. Moreover, to amplify the Fury history of on-ice prowess, the franchise has gained the distinction of finishing every season having transcended the .500 barrier. In addition, the Fury have qualified for the UHL Colonial Cup Playoffs in all 13 of their previous years, mirroring their total time of exist-ence. No other team in the UHL can boast of such winning consistency. As they prepare for their grand home opening night bonanza extravaganza and one last salute and celebration to Colonial Cup IV this Saturday night at Walker Arena against the Elmira Jackals, Muskegon's newest on-ice edition will actually be launching the 46th consecutive year of professional hockey in our town. As a franchise rich in tradition, the Fury have become the consummate model of winning hockey excellence. The Fury have captured the Colonial Cup crown two consecutive years, three times in the last four seasons and an all-time league record four times crammed into the last 6-calendar years; (1998-99, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2004-05). Furthermore, they have reached the Conference Finals for the last four years in a row and seven times in the last eight years. Muskegon has claimed three division titles; (1995-96, 1998-99, 2004-05) and two Tarry Cup crowns as UHL regular season champions in 1998-99 and 2004-05.

OPENING NIGHT IN MUSKEGON!!: The Fury will inaugurate their 14th UHL campaign with a single game on the league's opening weekend of the regular season. While the UHL will actually usher-in its 15th consecutive year of operations this Friday night, "Team Title" will wait until this Saturday night, October 22nd in a 7:30 duel against Eastern Division rivals, the Elmira Jackals. In 2004-05, the "Furious Ones" utterly dominated the season series against the Empire State sextet, sweeping all three collisions; 3(3-0-0), outscoring the Elmirans, 20-2. In Muskegon, the Fury prevailed by resounding results of 9-1 on 3/12/05 and 6-1 on 4/2/05. For a second consecutive opening night, the Fury and their fans will celebrate another Colonial Cup coronation. Three more championship banners will be raised to symbolize the Fury's Central Division, Tarry Cup and Colonial Cup titles and the latest edition of the Fury Colonial Cup Championship rings will also be presented.

RETURNING FROM COLONIAL CUP IV: The Fury current roster lists 12-players returning from Colonial Cup IV; including Team Rookie of the Year, goaltender Clayton Pool, who posted the UHL's second best winning percent-age (.707) on a record of 18-6-5 and the league's 4th best GAA of 2.37. On the defense, incumbents include Team Co-MVP, Best Defenseman and Best Plus Player Award winner Dave Van Drunen who's +37 rating was 2nd best in the UHL and top-flight Michigan Tech first-year pro Clay Wilson. Nine forwards return to the Muskegon lair spearheaded by the franchise top two all-time career scoring moguls, right wing Rockin' Robin Bouchard, the three-time defending Fury scoring champion and center Todd Robinson. They are joined by Team Co-MVP and Most Inspirational Player Award winner, center Jeff Nelson, right wing and team captain Rustyn Dolyny, left wing Jason Lawmaster, center Billy Collins, right wing Bill Zalba, top draft choice, left wing David Wrigley and Muskegon local product, right wing Nigel Hawryliw.

2005-06 FURY ROSTER NEWCOMERS: Among the newcomers to the Muskegon lineup to start the new season are rookie goaltenders Kevin LaPointe from Sacred Heart U. and former U.of Alberta standout Dave Rathjen. New members of the blue line are 7-year veteran Steve O'Rourke, former Fury #1 draft pick Trevor Johnson, who is returning after a one-year stint in the ECHL last season, Miami O., rookie Joe Pomaranski and Acadia U., first-year debuting pro Brett Angel. Up front, on the forward wall the newest Muskegon members are Michigan Tech center John Hartman and right wings Brandon Doria and Ken Fels.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Those Fury players from last season's Colonial Cup IV club that have departed include all-star goaltender Sylvain Daigle, now with league rival Danbury; the Fury's 2nd all-time leading goal-scorer, Brant Blackned, the UHL's best plus forward of last season, center B.J. Gaustad, defenseman Nolan Brown and center Colin Embley. Four more players have retired; right wing Scott Hollis, along with Jordon Flodell, Kevin Haupt and Tyler Palmer.

THE "NELLY" TRIFECTA: Head Coach Todd Nelson returns for his third year behind the Fury bench, having been utterly perfect with two titles in two years. Nelson joins Rich Kromm (1998-2001) for longest tenured coach in Fury club history. "Nelly" begins his third season standing on the precipice of a major milestone and 100-Fury coaching victories. His current log reads 156(98-40-18) for a winning mark of .688. He has already emerged as Muskegon's all-time leader in playoff victories on the strength of a brilliant 28(23-5-0) record for a win percentage of .821.

THE CHAMPIONS ROCK ON 92.5 ‘KLQ: All of the Fury game play-by-play broadcasts, home and away, in their entirety, all season long are on the new flagship home WKLQ-FM 92.5 on your FM radio dial.

THE FURY DAILY UPDATE ON 97.5 "THE CHAMP": Keep up to date with the two-time defending champions, the Fury, every day, Monday through Friday at 6:00 pm. The Fury Update is on 97.5 "THE CHAMP."

FURY HOTLINE PRESENTED BY PEPSI: Now in its 11th 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 - 9:00 pm with Fury special guests. The program is hosted by the "Voice" of the Fury, Terry Ficorelli, on WMHG-AM 1600 and on the Inter-net. Just visit the Fury web-site and tune in at www.furyhockey.com.

THE DISCOVERY FORD FURY WORLD-WIDE WEB-CASTS: All this season, all the Fury games can be heard on the Inter-net on the Discovery Ford 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 festive birthday parties with the Fury, phone (231) 726-FURY (3879).

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 16, 2005


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