Coach Todd Nelson signs new deal with Fury
June 15, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- The all-time top winning franchise in United Hockey League history, the Muskegon Fury, have taken their first major step as they prepare for the 2006-07 league season and the launching of their quest of returning the Colonial Cup crown to the Muskegon area and the Lakeshore community.
On this date, the Fury Club Owner and Team President Tony Lisman has announced that TODD NELSON has agreed to terms and signed a new two-year contract to remain as Director of Hockey Operations / Head Coach of the Muskegon Fury. Adhering to club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In inking his newest deal, Nelson, officially becomes the longest tenured head coach in Fury club history as the upcoming 2006-07 season will mark his fourth campaign at the helm of minor pro hockey's top winning team, through its initial 14-years of operations under the Fury banner.
In his first three years behind the Muskegon bench, the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan native has emerged prominently as the Fury's all-time winningest coach with a remarkable, 149-victories, two consecutive Colonial Cup Champion-ships and one Tarry Cup regular season crown as well as one Central Division title. His 29-playoffs' victories also rank #1 in the Fury record book.
The Fury President Lisman could not mask his elation with the return of his premiere head coach. "We feel both very pleased and especially fortunate to have a coach and individual the caliber of Todd Nelson returning for a fourth year to guide our Fury team. The achievements and the accomplishments of our team under Todd's guiding force have been unprecedented; not only in the 46-year history of Muskegon pro hockey but also in the history of the UHL. 'Nelly's' ability and talents in building a top-notch, contending team each season and welding it into a championship stature have been truly remarkable. He has helped bring tremendous excitement and consummate professionalism to our organization and our great community."
As for T. Nelson, the Fury's returning coach's enthusiasm remains strong, intact and unbridled for the new challenges that lie ahead for his Muskegon club. "I'm thrilled to be staying on in Muskegon with the Fury. My first three years here have been an absolutely outstanding experience. These have been experiences here that I would never trade. After winning the championship the first two years, we felt, that in this recently past season, we, again, had a very strong team though we did come up a little short in the playoffs. However, Muskegon is a first-class, great organization that always provides outstanding support. It's the kind of support which once again will be there as we put together another great on-ice product that will challenge to regain the Colonial Cup." The Fury bench pilot then expounded on the assets and qualities of the overall Muskegon organization. "The Muskegon Fury organization is a great organization to work for. It's an organization that always strives for complete and total excellence and wants to always win the championship. In addition, we always have the best interests of all our players at the top of our priority list in that we firmly believe in the promotion of our players to the AHL. Just this past season alone, we had eight of our players summoned to AHL clubs and in previous years, we have seen many more of our own players get the calls to the higher levels. We, as an organization, are quite proud of our players' growth and achievements realized here in Muskegon."
In the past 2005-06 campaign, the Fury's mentor directed his team to the best winning percentage ever in club history as Muskegon posted a majestic mark of 76(51-18-7) for 109-points and a .717 percentile. Under the Nelson auspices, the Fury finished in a lofty second place position in both the Central Division and overall 14-teams UHL standings, a mere two points behind Kalamazoo. The Fury's 51-victories equaled the club record set one season earlier in 2004-05, the 18-defeats tied the team record for fewest in a single season and the 109-points ranked second best all-time, behind the 111-points amassed one year earlier. In addition, the Fury set new standards for most road wins (24) and fewest road defeats (10) in 2005-06. In the playoffs, the Fury ousted opening round opponent Adirondack in 6-games, 4-2 before bowing to Eastern Division titlist Danbury in the semi-finals, also in 6-games, 4-2.
In Nelson's initial two seasons behind the bench, he led the Fury to the tune of two consecutive Colonial Cup Championships in 2003-04 and, again, in 2004-05. In his pro head coaching debut season of 2003-04, following a strong and stellar third place regular season finish at 76(47-20-9)103-points, Nelson led the Fury to an unprecedented, unparalleled, undefeated record-breaking, history-making post-season playoffs 11(11-0) surge to Muskegon's third Colonial Cup crown. The Fury swept all three playoffs series, surrendering an all-time league record, microscopic 14-GA as they won their last 14-games in a row to set a franchise record.
One year later, Nelson's Fury reigned UHL supreme and sovereign, again, becoming only the third team in UHL history to attain two consecutive Colonial Cup crowns and the first-ever club to capture custody of the coveted crown a record-setting four times. In the 2004-05 regular season, "Nelly's" squad registered the club record 111-points on a masterful mark of 80(51-20-9), sweeping all of the UHL's major hardware; the Central Division title, the Tarry Cup regular season Championship and the most prized jewel of them all, the Colonial Cup.
Representing the absolute essence of winning hockey, Nelson also captured the Colonial Cup Championship in his final season as an active player as a member of the Fury. In his final act before retiring, he was seen hoisting high to the sky Muskegon's Colonial Cup II in 2002, punctuating and culminating his playing career with a clarion crescendo, leading a defense that set the all-time UHL record for least GA in one season at 164 in 74-games for a 2.22 GAA. In all, in his four years' association under the Fury banner, he has been a major part of three league championships.
Becoming the Fury's eighth head coach on July 30, 2003, Nelson is the top winning coach in both Fury regular season and playoff history. Through 232-regular season games, he has engineered a brilliant record of 232(149-58-25) for a winning percentage of .696 and an average of virtually 50-victories per season. In 40-post season decisions, his mark stands at an extraordinary 40(29-11) for a mark of a superlative .725. The Fury have captured 7 of their 8-playoff series during the Nelson regime.
Today's signing of Todd Nelson officially makes him the longest term coach in Fury franchise history as he prepares for his fourth year at the coaching controls. Before his departure, Rich Kromm served for three full years behind the Fury bench.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from June 15, 2006
- Fury pick five players in dispersal draft - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Beauregard Headlines Jackals Picks In Second UHL Dispersal Draft - Elmira Jackals
- Mallards Acquire Rights to Five Players in Dispersal Draft - Quad City Mallards
- Hogs nab four veterans in dispersal draft - Rockford IceHogs
- Coach Todd Nelson signs new deal with Fury - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Komets take five in Adirondack-Danbury dispersal draft - Fort Wayne Komets
- UHL holds dispersal draft - IHL 2
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