Dolyny signs on for sixth Fury season
August 9, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- With their fifteenth season of operations rapidly-approaching, the United Hockey League's all-time top winning team, the Muskegon Fury, continue to make considerable progress in constructing another competi-tive, formidable squad expressly to reclaim league championship status in the upcoming 2006-07 campaign. Bent on this overall commitment, the Fury organization has attained another major step in said direction with their latest developments.
On this date, the Fury Team Owner and Club President Tony Lisman, in collaboration with Director of Hockey Operations / Head Coach Todd Nelson, have announced that standout veteran right wing RUSTYN DOLYNY has agreed to terms and penned a new pact for the 2006-07 season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
DOLYNY, 29, is set to commence his sixth pro season with all of them clad in the robes of the Fury in Muskegon. Through his initial five seasons, he has emerged prominently as one of the truly top-notch, touch-in-the-clutch perfor-mers for the Fury, and for that matter, the entire UHL. Moreover, in his first five pro years, he has represented the embodiment of class, citizenship and leadership that have spawned a trio of titles for the hometown team during his tenure here in 2001-02, 2003-04 and, again, in 2004-05. In the latter title timber run, he served his first-ever term as Team Captain, a role which he will continue in for a third consecutive season in 2006-07.
In the 2005-06 campaign, the 6-2, 198lb veteran right-hand shooting forward prospered in the most prolific fashion of his distinguished Muskegon pro career. Finishing sixth in team scoring, the Fury captain collected a career best 67-points in 66-games on 26-goals and career best 41-assists. His 26-snipes represented his second most in a single pro season. The native of Fort Frances, Ontario also added a solid +14 rating and a career high 131-PIM. Included in his numbers from last season were 5-PPG, 3-GWG, 1-three-goal "hat trick" and Fury team top marks of 4-UG and 4-SHG. In tying rookie sensations Ryan Keller and David Wrigley for the team leadership in the latter category, Dolyny led Muskegon in SHG for a second successive season. His outstanding 5/8 OTSO mark of .625 ranked runner-up on the club.
Participating in his fifth post-season in as many years, Dolyny registered 6-points in 12-playoff encounters on 3-goals, 3-assists while his 47-PIM ranked second most in the UHL during the Colonial Cup time of the season. He culminated his superlative season by capturing the coveted Fury Most Inspirational Player Award for his stellar, stout, steady play in his own unheralded but always-effective fashion.
The Dolyny signing was a top agenda item for Coach Nelson, acknowledging how important his captain and star right wing is for the Fury to remain and attain more future success. "Obviously, we are elated to have Rustyn back in our lineup for the new season. He does everything on the ice for us. He plays power play, penalty-kill, skates a regular shift and is always on the ice in key game situations. In addition, he is tough and offers our club strong leadership skills as our captain. Also, he is integral to us due to the importance of maintaining strong chemistry in the locker room and on the ice. Rustyn is very well liked by his teammates and the organization as well as by the fans and the community. In short, he is a real asset to the Fury both on and off the ice."
In the year of Colonial Cup IV in 2004-05, the rugged right wing was superb, finishing a lofty fourth in Fury team scoring with 63-points in 66-games on 23-goals and 40-assists. Included in his regular season output were 2-PPG, 5-GWG, 3-FG, a positive +6 rating and excellent 4/9 marksmanship in the OTSO competition. Always the ace penalty-killing talent of the highest order, he paced Muskegon in SHG with 5, ranking him tied for second-best overall in the UHL in that vital department.
In the Fury's relentless rise to the circuit's supreme summit for the second time consecutively, Dolyny authored 9-points in 17-playoff appearances on 2-goals, 7-assists, hoisting high to the sky the Colonial Cup IV crown on May 22, 2005 in Fort Wayne.
In the 2003-04 season, the year of Colonial Cup III, Dolyny ranked sixth in the team scoring derby with 50-points in 66-games on 22-goals, 28-assists. He climaxed that particular season by capturing the Fury's annual "Mr. Hustle Award." In Muskegon's unprecedented, unparalleled, undefeated 11(11-0) surge to circuit supremacy, superiority and sovereignty, he essayed 4-goals, 5-total points with two of those strikes stoked as crucial game-winning goals.
"Rusto Bravissimo" has achieved a healthy and wealthy list of accolades and plaudits thus far in his Fury career. As a rookie, in the year of Colonial Cup II in 2001-02, he was named the Fury Team Rookie of the Year as well as being named to the UHL All-Rookie Team. His 30-goals that season tied for second most among all UHL first-year pros, ranked as second most for the Fury club and still ranks as his pro career best output. His 55-points ranked as fifth best in the rookie class while his 6-GWG led all UHL rookies and tied for the Fury team leadership. Dolyny also achieved a masterful +21 rating which ranked as fourth best among the league's debuting performers. When the Fury celebrated the crowning custody of the "Cup" that year, the former Michigan State captain was the UHL's top scoring rookie with 17(4-7-11), also pacing the league in goals and assists.
Before his actual procurement by Muskegon, Dolyny was a four-year standout at Michigan State where he captained and was team scoring kingpin in his senior year of 2000-01, actually finishing a lofty 10th in CCHA conference scoring power with 42(13-26-39).
He was acclaimed winner of the MSU hockey's Bill Burgess Award as Outstanding Senior and ranked in the top three in Spartans' scoring in all four of his seasons in competition there. In 1999-00, he led "State" and ranked fifth in the nation with 12-PPG and second in PP/points with 23. In the 1998-99 season, his 4-SHG led the CCHA while his 44(20-24-44) led all CCHA freshmen in point-production.
Through his first five years under the Muskegon employ, in his constant, consistent fashion, Dolyny has accrued some very significant career numbers that have him scaling the heights of the Fury record book. He will commence the 2006-07 ranked 6th in games played (329); 5th in goals (118); 9th in assists (164); 7th in points (282) and just one point behind Mark Turner (283) for 6th all-time. His 19-GWG tie him for Fury third all-time and his 13-SHG rank as second most in team history.
For his Fury pro career in the playoffs, the captain is 6th in games with 59; 8th in goals with 15 and 9th overall with 33-points.
For his entire pro career, the Dolyny numerology stands at 343(121-172-293) with 390-PIM.
Today's signing of RUSTYN DOLYNY brings to nine the number of players signed by the Fury for the 2006-07 UHL season. Previously, Muskegon announced the signings of defensemen JOSH CHASE, PHILIPPE PLANTE, JOE POMARANSKI, DAVE VAN DRUNEN; centers BILLY COLLINS, TODD ROBINSON; left wing RYAN BARNES; right wing ROBIN BOUCHARD.
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International Hockey League 2 Stories from August 9, 2006
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