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Fury back on top after sweeping week

January 31, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


TEAM TITLE TALES: It was another important, impressive weekend of action for the reigning Colonial Cup Champions of the United Hockey League, the Muskegon Fury. Under the astute auspices of second-year head coach Todd Nelson, the men of the highest order of "Fury-dom" reclaimed sole control of the royal and regal penthouse suite on the impetus of three consecutive conquests in as many contests in as many days the past weekend. Each trumping triumph was claimed within their own Central Division which really magnified and amplified the magni-tude of the weekend's accomplishments. Moreover, in the process, Muskegon scotched and otherwise scuttled the stigma of an ignominious 3-game losing streak and catapulted into a 4-points' advantage atop the UHL's Michigan-only division. Having elevated their overall season record to 47(29-13-5) totaling 63-points, the first-place men of the Fury have overtaken Kalamazoo 49(28-18-3)59-points as the Wings sustained 3-successive setbacks over the same weekend after winning 13 of 14-games. The Fury still maintain two games in hand on the Kalamazooans who the Fury have now defeated 7-consecutive times this season, including a flawless 4(4-0-0) mark right in Wings' Stadium. "The Knights of Nelson" have increased their first-place advantage over third place Flint 47(21-17-9)51-points to 12-points with the Generals in the midst of playing 9 of 10 games abroad where they are only 7(1-4-2) in their last 7-starts and 15(2-7-6) in their past 15-excursions into hostile territory. Overall, Flint is 10(1-7-2) in its last 10-decisions. Looking at the big picture and the overall 14-teams' league standings, Muskegon's pro icers are tied with Eastern Division pace-setting expansionist Danbury 48(30-15-3)63 for third-place overall with 1-game in hand on the Trashers. However, Muskegon is lying in wait, having surged to within one-point of second overall Fort Wayne 47(30-13-4)64 with the Komets unblemished in their last 6(5-0-1). Coach Nelson's kinetic contingent is only 4-points away from the league-leadership which is presently the eminent domain and divine province of Rockford 48(31-12-5)67. This is yet another critical, pivotal week for the Fury who face a tortuous test of 4-games in 5-days with some rather exorbitant travel conditions. The Central Division leaders will broach the big week in Rockford for a duel with the IceHogs on Wednesday night before returning home for a Friday night, Saturday night home combination on the Walker Arena marquee. Fort Wayne comes to town Friday night before an encore engagement is on the docket Saturday night against Rockford. Sunday, the Fury face an early 2:00 pm matinee in Missouri against the River Otters.

REKINDLING RECORD: With a complete sweep of the 3-games in 3-days week, the Fury have raised their season record to a superlative 47(29-13-5)63-points. The 3-consecutive victories over the weekend brought to an abrupt halt an aberrational 3-game losing skid which followed an all-time regular season club record 9-game win skein. In their last 16-games, the "Furious Ones" have compiled a glossy record of 16(12-3-1). Last 23(16-5-2); last 29(18-7-4). The Fury capped the month of January with a supreme mark of 13(10-3-0). Last January, also in 13-games, they were 13(8-2-3). Muskegon's longest win streaks thus far this season have been 9-in succession, 5-consecutively and 4-in a row. They have also assembled two 10-games' undefeated streaks, each being 10(9-0-1). The longest losing spell of the title-defending season has been 3-in a row which has transpired twice. Comparing records, after 47-games last season, the Fury record stood at 47(31-11-5)67-points. Currently, the Fury are 2-wins and 4-points behind last year's clip.

HOMESTEAD STELLAR: Earning two more momentous, monumental triumphs in as many days the past weekend, the first-place Fury have advanced and enhanced their season's home record to the best in the UHL at 22(17-3-3), collecting 37 of a possible 44-points. Their 3-home setbacks represent the fewest in the league with the home hallow grounds currently yielding a 2-game win streak and a masterful log of 12(9-1-2) in the last dozen dates. Moreover, dating back to late last season, the Fury club has engineered a brilliant home mark of 32(26-3-3) in the last 32-home outings. Muskegon's longest home ice win streak has been 4-in a row which has been attained twice. In addition, the Fury have composed a 9-game unbeaten streak; 9(7-0-2) and a 7-game span of 7(6-0-1). Muskegon is a majestic 12(12-0-0) at home this season against Central Division competition.

INVASION INVIOABLE: When the Fury traveled to Kalamazoo Friday night and defeated the Wings, 6-5, they swelled their road record at Wings' Stadium this season to an impeccable 4(4-0-0) while stretching their overall unbeaten streak there, dating back to last season to 9(8-0-1). For the season, the road record now stands at 24(12-10-2) with "Todd's Team" posting a 9(7-2-0) mark in the last 9-invasions abroad. The longest road win skein of the campaign has been 6-in a row, representing the second longest overall in the league. There has also been a 3-game win streak away from home bay. Longest losing streaks on the road tracks have been 4-in succession and 3-in a row.

A HIT AGAIN IN MICHIGAN: The Fury have been awesome and then-some within their own Michigan-only Central Division. For the season, their record is a fabulous 22(19-3-0); a perfect 12(12-0-0) at home and a strong 10(7-3-0) on the road. However, against the Western Division, the Fury have been mysteriously mercurial as their 21(7-9-5) mark would infer. In fact, they are only 16(3-9-4) in their last 16-verdicts against the West. The Fury are 4(3-1-0) against Eastern Division delegates. The breakdown: Central Division: 22(19-3-0); home: 12(12-0-0); road: 10(7-3-0). Kalamazoo 7(7-0-0)28-15; home: 3(3-0-0)12-6; road: 4(4-0-0)16-9; Motor City 4(4-0-0)21-8; home: 3(3-0-0)16-5; road: 1(1-0-0)5-3; Flint 7(5-2-0)19-20; home: 3(3-0-0)7-4; 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: 21(7-9-5)63-60; home: 10(5-2-3)38-27; road: 11(2-7-2) 25-33. The breakdown: Kansas City 6(3-2-1)21-17; home: 3(2-1-0)12-7; road: 3(1-1-1)9-10; Quad City 4(2-2-0)12-7; home: 2(2-0-0)10-2; road: 2(0-2-0)2-5; Missouri 4(1-1-2)11-10; home: 2(1-0-1)8-5; road: 2(0-1-1)3-5; Rockford 3(1-2-0)9-9; road: 3(1-2-0)9-9; Fort Wayne 4(0-2-2)10-17; home: 3(0-1-2)8-13; road: 1(0-1-0)2-4. Eastern Division: 4(3-1-0)14-7; home: 1(0-1-0)2-3; road: 3(3-0-0)12-4. The breakdown: 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.

PUCKIN' IN / PUCKIN' OUT: The league defenders of the Holy Grail continue to flourish offensively as they rank a lofty third in the loop with 159-GF in 47-games for a GFA of a hale and hearty 3.38. The past week, the Fury goal-making machine manufactured 13-goals in 3-games for a polished and prolific 4.33-GFA for the weekend. Defensively, the Fury have surged to circuit second with 119-GA in 47-games for a GAA of a frugal 2.53. Muskegon, in a miserly manner, merely allotted 2-GA in the last 2-games for a GAA of 1.00. In the shots on goal category, the Fury rank 10th averaging 28.5 shots per game. On the back end, they are rated 4th best with a per game yield of only 28.0.

FOREMOST FURY FINERY: The UHL's defending scoring titlist, Robin Bouchard, 47(29-36-65) has reclaimed the top spot in this year's scoring race and chase with teammates Brant Blackned 44(17-38-55) ranked 8th and Jeff Nelson 47(11-43-54) listed 9th. Bouchard's 29-goals tie him for 2nd most in the league with Nelson's 43-assists ranking him as 3rd best in that category, Blackned's 38-helpers have him 5th best. Bouchard's 14-PPG tie him for the UHL leadership and his 35-PP/Points give him the league-lead outright. In the same latter category, Blackned's 29-PP/ points rank as 3rd most. In the PP/Assists department, Bouchard (21), Nelson (21) are tied for 2nd; Blackned's 20 tie him for 4th. Rustyn Dolyny's 4-SHG tie him for runner-up in the league and B.J.Gaustad 20/81, 24.7% leads the league in goal-scoring shooting percentage. Jason Lawmaster (42) is 4th in the UHL in minor penalties while David Ambler (205) is 6th in PIM with his 19-majors tying him for 3rd most in the loop. In UHL rookie scoring, Billy Collins 34(11-9-20) is 14th and Bill Zalba 41(9-9-18) is 16th. Collins 5-PPG tie him for 3rd with Collins and Zalba ranked 4th and 5th respectively in goal-scoring shooting percentage. Collins 11/66, 16.7%; Zalba 9/54, 16.7%. Under the good goalkeeping seal, Clayton Pool ranks #3 in the league with a 2.27 GAA while his SPCT of .918 ranks 6th best. Pool has also fashioned the league's best winning percentage at 19(14-3-2) for .790.

OUT OF THE GARAGE BARRAGE: Returning to the Fury lineup after missing three games due to a family emergency, the "Big Bear Barrage" has come out of his garage with gargantuan gusto. With the Fury having dropped all 3-games during the Brant Blackned absence, it has now suddenly become a 3-game win streak and a leapfrogging from 2nd to 1st place. The past weekend, the veteran left wing was 3(2-4-6) with a +3 rating and 8-SOG. He earned the game's #1 Star Friday night when he authored the TB/GWG/PPG with 5:07 remaining in regulation time to vault his team into the 6-5 victory at Kalamazoo. He was (1-3-4) for the night with a +3 rating. The next night, he was (1-1-2) with the #2 Star honors in the 5-1 dismissal of Motor City. He then climaxed his week's body of work with the ultimate GWG in the Sunday OTSO success over Flint. It was Blackned's team-high 5th OTSO goal for the season. In the last 12-games that he has played for the Fury, Muskegon has carded a perfect record of 12(12-0-0). In that span, he is averaging a prolific 2.33 points per game;12(6-22-28). Moreover, he is currently on a prodigious 8-games' point-scoring streak on the road with 8(4-18-22) for a per game average of 2.75 points per game. Blackned is the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week.

BAZOOKA BLAST BY "BOUCH": The Fury's all-time premiere career cannonneer, right wing Rockin' Robin Bouchard completed a massive month of point-productivity. For January, the "Gun-Sling King" collected 24-points in 13-games; 13(10-14-24) with a brilliant, team-best +17 rating. He recorded points in every game for the month except the very last one and never had a minus game. In fact, he recently capped the UHL's longest point streak of the season at 14-games; 14(13-18-31). For January he led the Fury in points, PPG (4), FG (2), SOG (46) and tied for the team lead in goals. He essayed 8-multiple point games for the first month of the new calendar year. Leading the Fury as well in multi-goal games with 7, Bouchard is the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Month.

ROOKIE ROADBLOCK: First-year netminder Clayton Pool continues to enjoy an auspicious premiere in the pro ranks in 2004-05. The past weekend, the former U. of Alberta standout spurred his team to two consecutive victory verdicts, including his 7th straight win in as many starts this season against Kalamazoo; 7(7-0-0) and his 4th in succession in Wings' Stadium. For the week, he was 2(2-0-0) with a 3.00 GAA, rebuking 57 of 63-shots for a SPCT of .905. He capped his week's work with a 5-1 triumph Saturday at home against Motor City. Pool is the Fury's nomination for Southern Sports Supply / UHL Goaltender of the Week.

SLY-GUY DENY: Veteran goaltender extraordinaire Sylvain Daigle's second coming to Muskegon has been greeted with rave-save reviews and much Fury fanfare. Rejoining the champs in January, the 2004 UHL Colonial Cup MVP posted a 6(3-2-0) mark in 6-games, including 5-starts. He also won his first two starts immediately subsequent to his Fury come back. For January, he compiled a thrifty and nifty 2.31 GAA and an excellent SPCT of .923. He is the Fury's nomination for Southern Sports Supply / UHL Goaltender of the Month.

NELSONIAN PUCK PLUTONIUM II: Smooth-move center Jeff Nelson has been the artful, arranging artisan of many a Fury strike stoked thus far this season. The 13-year veteran playmaking magician authored 5-more assists in Muskegon's initial two triumphs over the weekend; 2(0-5-5). Averaging nearly an assist a game for the season, (43-assists in 47-games), "J. Nel," in his last 15-games, has maestroed 19-assists; 15(3-19-22). In his last 28(5-29-34).

"GUS-BUS" BINGE: Second-year center B.J. Gaustad has emerged as one of the major principals in the Fury's climb to the circuit's sovereign, supreme summit. The past weekend was another one of great growth and grandeur for the hard-working, peripatetic pivot. For the first 2-games he was a star-studded 2(1-2-3) with 6-SOG and a dynamic +5 rating. His +18 rating for the season ties him for the Fury team leadership with Dave Van Drunen. In his last 14-games; 14(12-6-18). For the season, his 20-goals are second most for Muskegon.

RUSTO GOAL-GUSTO: Four-year Fury right wing Rustyn Dolyny has been speeding down the track with a rejuvenated goal-scoring act. Beginning last Sunday in Quad City and continuing the past Friday night in Kalama-zoo, the "Captain" struck with two consecutive 2-goal performances, giving him four 2-goal games for the season. For this week alone, he was 3(2-1-3) with a +2 rating and the key FG in the OTSO win Sunday at home against Flint. It was "Rusto Bravissimo's" 4th OTSO goal in 6-attempts; 4/6 , 66.7% marksmanship. In his last 8(6-7-13); last 13(7-12-19).

LAWMAN LASERS: The Fury's transplanted left wing Jason Lawmaster has made the position transition smoothly and swiftly. To elucidate and illuminate, the 6-year pro registered scoring points in all 3-games on the weekend with 3(2-2-4) including 1-PPG, 1-FG and 10-SOG. In his last 15-games, "The Lawman" has shown an uncanny touch in the clutch with 15(9-8-17) including 6-PPG and 3-GWG.

PREMIUM POSITIVE PLUS PLAYERS: Currently, there are two Fury mainstays sharing the club lead in the plus/minus category; namely B.J. Gaustad +18 and Dave Van Drunen +18. They are followed by Brant Blackned +12, Nolan Brown +12 and Jordon Flodell +11.

THE SPARKING SPECIALTY TEAMS: Once again, this week, the Fury specialty teams rank #1 in both key categories. The precision power play is #1 ranked at 57-219, 26.2% proficiency with their 57-PPG being 9-more than any other team in the league. The Fury are 4 for the last 13, 30.8% and 17 for the last 57, 29.8%. Not to be overshadowed is the penalty-killing ensemble cast which is also #1 operating at an exceptional efficiency rating of 88.0%; 212-241. Muskegon has precluded 17 of the last 18 for a rating of 94.4%. The Fury have connected on 6-SHG while surrendering 5 of same.

ANTHOLOGY NUMEROLOGY: With his 4-points in Friday night's victory at Kalamazoo, Brant Blackned 625(364-439-803) became the third Fury player this season to attain the pro career 800-points' plateau. He was earlier preceded there by Robin Bouchard (418-396-814) and Jeff Nelson 924(272-536-808). Rustyn Dolyny (86-112-198) is just 2-points away from becoming only the 12th player in Fury history to reach 200-points. Bouchard 543(355-342-697) is just 3-points away from the Fury 700 club. Goaltender Sylvain Daigle's next game will be the 400th of his pro career.

FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": The Fury's best night of the week is Friday with a record of 15(11-2-2); on the road 8(6-2-0). The Fury are 10(8-1-1) on home ice on Saturday nights this season. All 3 of Muskegon's home victories this season against Flint have been via the OTSO, representing the Fury's only 3-OTSO wins for the season. The Fury have out-scored the opposition in the first period at home, 26-10. When they score 4 or more, the Fury are unsullied at 23(22-0-1). Muskegon has a combined record of 11(11-0-0) against Kalamazoo 7(7-0-0) and Motor City 4(4-0-0).

POST WEEK WRAP-UP: It was a gigantic week for the first-place Fury as they swept the week at 3(3-0-0). Friday night in Kalamazoo, despite squandering a seemingly insurmountable 5-1 lead, the Fury ultimately prevailed,. 6-5. Rustyn Dolyny struck twice (FG/TBG) with Brant Blackned (1-3-4)TB/GWG/PPG, Robin Bouchard (1-1-2), B.J.Gaustad (1-1-2) and Jon Insana also connecting. Jeff Nelson dished 3-assists and Jason Lawmaster had a pair of arrangements. Clayton Pool withstood the Wings rally, rebuffing 42-shots. Returning home for the balance of the weekend, the Fury fashioned a 5-1 masterpiece victory over Motor City on Saturday, striking with 3-unanswered first period goals. Bouchard (2-1-3)PPG/GWG, Blackned (1-1-2), Lawmaster (PPG) and Billy Collins (FG) all delivered the Muskegon mail with Nelson and Jordon Flodell each assisting twice. Pool brushed aside 15-Mechanics' shots. Sunday, the Fury solved Flint in the OTSO, 2-1. Lawmaster (FG) accounted for the Fury's sole goal before Dolyny (FG), Blackned (GWG) and Gaustad (IG) all ripped the chords in the OTSO for the victors. Sylvain Daigle was scintillating in goal, repelling 28-shots in regulation and 3 of 4 in the extra session.

THE FURY GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND THE FURY AT ROCKFORD 8:00 PM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH ROCKFORD AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

The Western Division and league-leading IceHogs lead the season series 3(2-1-0) with all three of the previous bouts waged in Illinois. However, in their last trip to the Metro Center on New Year's Eve, the Fury roasted the ‘Hogs, 7-3. Rockford will make its first of three appearances in Muskegon this Saturday night. With all four Fury games this week against the Western Division, the Fury will be pressed to make amends as they are only 16(3-9-4) in their last 16-episodes against the West.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH FORT WAYNE AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

The Fury will be in search of that elusive, initial victory against the always formidable Fort Wayners. Muskegon is winless in the first 4-affairs; 4(0-2-2) with this being their last chance to find an answer for the Komets in Walker Arena, where the home team is 3(0-1-2) against the K's. After this clash, only a single meeting remains and that won't be until April 1st in Indiana.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH THE FURY AT MISSOURI 2:00 PM

This will be the fifth of six meetings and the third and final one in St. Charles where the Fury are 2(0-1-1) thus far this season and 4(1-1-2) overall against the River Otters. In the last collision, January 15th in Muskegon, the Fury registered their lone win over the Missourians, 6-2.

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