Fury advance to Colonial Cup Semi-Finals for fifth year in a row
Published on May 3, 2006 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- By virtue of their opening round playoffs' series success over the Adirondack Frostbite, the two-time reigning Colonial Cup Champions of the United Hockey League, the Muskegon Fury, have attained a coveted berth in the playoffs' semi-finals' round for an unprecedented fifth consecutive year and for the eighth time through the past nine seasons.
Under the direction of the Fury's all-time winningest coach in both regular season and playoff post-season history, Todd Nelson, Muskegon, for a second consecutive season, has a date with the Danbury Trashers in the best 4-of-7 semi-final series. Also, for the second consecutive year, the Fury have earned the distinction of the home ice advantage on the strength of a superior regular season record over their Connecticut-based opposition. The Fury completed the 76-games' regular season schedule with their best winning record in franchise history at 76(51-18-7) totaling 109-points with a winning percentage of .717. Their final composite 2005-06 record was slightly superior to the 1998-99 Tarry Cup I and Colonial Cup I mark of 74(50-18-6) 106-points, resulting in a .716 winning percentile. This season, Muskegon's 51-victories equaled the all-time club record, which was set last year, while the 18-setbacks matched the record for fewest defeats and the 109-points were two points shy of matching last year's record of 111. Finishing in a lofty second place position in both the Central Division and overall UHL standings, the Fury are the designated #2 seed for this semi-final series.
Seeking a UHL record-breaking, history-making third consecutive Colonial Cup crown, the Fury have achieved their latest berth in the league's second round post-season series through the impetus of an opening round series success over the Eastern Division runners-up Adirondack Frostbite. For a third time in as many post-season meetings, the "Furious Ones" eliminated the Glens Falls, NY club, closing out the series Monday night on home ice with a 4-2 victory verdict and a 6-games' series ultimate triumph of 4-games to 2. In the first round success, Muskegon held serve by sweeping all three of its home encounters while extracting one victory in the middle three consecutive games played on foreign ice.
As for the Fury's second round opponent, Danbury, the Trashers completed their second season as a bona fide UHL franchise capturing their first-ever Eastern Division title on a record of 76(48-17-11) for 107-points, ranking third place overall in the 14-teams' league standings. Under the direction of UHL veteran head coach Paul Gillis, Danbury culminated the regular season with a crescendo on a 6-game win streak and a sparkling record of 16(14-2-0) in the last 16-games. Moreover, the Danbury club emerged prominently as the league's supreme road team with a stellar mark of 38(24-7-7) with the 7-losses tying the all-time UHL record for fewest road defeats in a single season.
In their opening round playoff series, the Trashers performed some extraordinary comeback magic against seventh seeded Quad City. The Connecticut club surmounted 2-0 and 3-2 series deficits as well as a 3-0 second period deficit in deciding game #7 to overcome the upstart Mallards in the last game, 6-4 and claim the series 4-games to 3.
This is the second consecutive spring in which the Fury and Danbury have locked antlers in the Colonial Cup Playoffs Semi-Finals series. In the 2004-05 campaign, in their inexorable ascent to their league-record fourth title crown, the Fury ousted the Trashers in 5-games, 4-games to 1. Muskegon swept the initial two decisions on home ice before spiriting away two triumphs in three appearances at the Danbury Ice Arena.
Games #1 and #2 of this series are set for Muskegon's Walker Arena on FRIDAY, MAY 5TH and SATURDAY, MAY 6TH with both games having an opening face-off of 7:30 PM.
Danbury will proceed to host Games #3, #4 and #5 with the latter, if necessary. The games dates in Danbury are on the docket for WEDNESDAY, MAY 10TH at 7:00 PM, FRIDAY, MAY 12TH and SATURDAY, MAY 13TH with both of those games set for 7:30 PM.
Should Games #6 and #7 be necessary, the series would return to Muskegon with the dates being MONDAY, MAY 15TH and TUESDAY, MAY 16TH with game times at 7:30 PM.
During the regular season, the two teams tangled twice with the series balanced at 2(1-1-0). Home ice advantage was tantamount to ultimate success with the Fury posting a 5-4 triumph, early in the season, on November 11th before bowing, 7-0 in the last clash between the two teams on March 1st in Danbury.
Adding some spice and intrigue to this upcoming series will be the goaltending match-up which will feature two former Fury teammates from last year's Colonial Cup IV squad. Former Muskegon three-time Colonial Cup winning Sylvain Daigle now tends the nets for the Trashers while Clayton Pool will be at Daigle's opposite end in the Fury goal crease.
The Fury have launched their quest with zest of the circuit's most prized jewel, inspired by the opportunity of making UHL post-season history. As the two-time reigning league Champions, Muskegon is seeking to become the first-ever team in UHL history to capture a third consecutive Colonial Cup crown. In 2004-05, the Fury did become only the third team in league history to claim two titles in succession. In the process, Muskegon became the first-ever club to capture the UHL's most hallowed hardware four times. In 2005-06, the Fury seek a new record fifth Colonial Cup Championship over the last seven calendar years.
The Muskegon Fury franchise is coming off yet another highly-successful campaign in which they have qualified for the league playoffs for an unprecedented, unparalleled 14th consecutive season, mirroring their overall existence in the UHL. For a 14th successive season as well, Muskegon achieved yet another impressive winning record, also unrivaled and unmatched in UHL and all of minor pro hockey circles.
The Fury have amassed the most regular season victories in UHL history with 592 and the most playoff series wins (20) and the most playoff game victories (84) in UHL history.
Danbury has reached the UHL's post-season playoffs in each of its initial two seasons of operations in the league. The Trashers are 3(2-1) in playoff series. In their maiden voyage season of 2004-05, as the Eastern Division runners-up, they eliminated East king Adirondack in the opening round before bowing out to the Fury in the semi-finals.
UHL COLONIAL CUP PLAYOFFS / SECOND ROUND BEST 4-OF-7 SEMI-FINALS SERIES
THE FURY VS. DANBURY
GAME #1 FRIDAY, MAY 5 DANBURY AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
GAME #2 SATURDAY, MAY 6 DANBURY AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
GAME #3 WEDNESDAY, MAY 10 THE FURY AT DANBURY 7:00 PM
GAME #4 FRIDAY, MAY 12 THE FURY AT DANBURY 7:30 PM
GAME #5** SATURDAY, MAY 13 THE FURY AT DANBURY 7:30 PM
GAME #6** MONDAY, MAY 15 DANBURY AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
GAME #7** TUESDAY, MAY 16 DANBURY AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
** IF NECESSARY **
International Hockey League 2 Stories from May 3, 2006
- Fury advance to Colonial Cup Semi-Finals for fifth year in a row - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Joel Martin Selected as the UHL's Southern Sports Supply Goaltender of the Year - Kalamazoo Wings
- Semi-Finals begin Friday - Kalamazoo Wings
- Kalamazoo's Joel Martin named UHL Best Goaltender - IHL 2
- UHL Colonial Cup Playoffs round two schedule announced - IHL 2
- Rockford's semifinal schedule with Wings set - Rockford IceHogs
- Trashers defeat Quad City in opening playoff round - Danbury Trashers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
