Fury become first in UHL to reach 600 wins

Published on November 6, 2006 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


TOP TEAM TALES: Staking claim to victories in two of three dates the past weekend, the United Hockey League's all-time top winning team, the Muskegon Fury, completed a highly-successful four games' road sojourn against their fellow fractious foes from their own Eastern Division with a superb record of 4(3-1-0). In the process, head coach Bruce Ramsay's aggregation nation advanced and otherwise enhanced its overall season record to a sparkling 10(9-1-0) for a .900 winning percentage. Presently on top in both the Eastern Division and the overall UHL standings, the Fury have collected 18 of a possible 20-points, establishing a 6-points' advantage over second place Elmira 9(6-3-0)12-points and an 8-points edge over defending champion Kalamazoo 7(5-2-0)10-points. The torrid Muskegon contingent has attained a 4-points' advantage over lava-hot Western Division front-running Fort Wayne 8(7-1-0) with the Komets currently riding the crest of an impressive 6-game winning streak. In the midst of playing seven consecutive games within their own Eastern Division and 10 of 11 in that composite category, the Fury confront yet another daunting task this weekend as, once again, they face three games in three days with their first two outings being on home ice. Following a lengthy two weeks absence from their amiable climes and environs of Walker Arena, the Fury return home to host archrival, improving Flint on Friday night before the always redoubtable Rockford IceHogs come calling for "Hockey Night in Muskegon, Saturday Nitro," this Saturday night. For the second straight week, the Fury will close the week's schedule with an excursion to Port Huron where they will be guested by the Flags on Sunday.

HOME ICE SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT: When the Fury return home for a two games' home stand this weekend, they will be presenting one of their premiere weekends of the current campaign. On Friday night, when they collide with Flint, Muskegon hockey fans of all ages will have their first opportunity to acquire the long-awaited and long-antici-pated Muskegon hockey book for the ages, "Muskegon Hockey History and Its Heroes" from local author Jay Vandervoorde. For public sale for the first time, the book will be accompanied by some 40-former Muskegon all-time greats from the eras of the Zephyrs (1960-65), Mohawks (1965-84), Lumberjacks 1984-92 and the current day contemporary Fury from 1992 through today, coming back to Muskegon for this special night. Then on Saturday night, the Fury will present their annual, ever-popular Thanksgiving "Turkey Shoot" sponsored by The Meat Block.

THE FURY/UHL 600!: When they Fury extracted a hard-earned 4-2 foreign ice triumph Friday night in Elmira, the franchise achieved yet another page of historical grandeur. The victory represented the Fury's 600th triumph as a bona fide league franchise, the most ever in league annals as they achieved such lofty laurels in their 15th anniversary season. For the season, Muskegon has composed a sterling mark of 10(9-1-0) for 18-points. Their season-inaugurating 8-game win streak; 8(8-0-0) came to a screeching halt Saturday night in Elmira as the 8-game win skein fell just two triumphs shy of matching the club record for best start ever set just last year when the Fury launched the campaign with an amazing club record 10-game victory streak; 10(10-0-0). In their last 117-regular season games, Muskegon has recorded a masterful mark of 117(82-23-12) for a win percentage of .752. The Fury recently completed their second successive undefeated October at 7(7-0-0). Thus far in November, they are 3(2-1-0). Last November 2005, the Fury posted a remarkable record of 12(11-1-0).

UNDEFEATED FEAT: Through their initial 4-home appearances of the season, the Fury have been perfect personified as their 4(4-0-0) record does attest. They have out-goaled the adversaries in their Walker Arena den, 25-10. Only the Fury and Western Division pace-setting Fort Wayne 4(4-0-0) remain as the only unsullied teams on home ice thus far this season. In their last 98-home encounters in regular season competition, Muskegon has assembled a brilliant mark of 98(77-15-6) for a winning percentile of an extraordinary .815.

PERVADING WHEN INVADING: Recently completing a rather arduous four games' road junket, which was wrought with some rather inordinate travel, the "Furious Ones" flourished with a 4(3-1-0) record. For the season, they are a superb 6(5-1-0) abroad, outscoring the home-standing enemies, 30-18. Their longest win streak away has been 4-in succession; 4(4-0-0). Muskegon does lead the UHL in foreign ice successes with those 5-triumphs. The Fury have already spirited away victories in each city that comprises their Eastern Division delegation.

THE DIVISION DIARY: In the midst of seven consecutive games within their own Eastern Division and 10 of 11 in such category, the Fury have posted a 6(5-1-0) mark thus far, vanquishing each team in their own conference. Eastern Division: 6(5-1-0)28-20; home: 1(1-0-0)5-3; road: 5(4-1-0)23-17. The breakdown: Port Huron 2(2-0-0)9-5; home: 1(1-0-0)5-3; road: 1(1-0-0)4-2. Flint 1(1-0-0)7-3; road: 1(1-0-0)7-3. Kalamazoo 1(1-0-0)4-3; road: 1(1-0-0)4-3. Elmira 2(1-1-0)8-9; road: 2(1-1-0)8-9. Western Division: 4(4-0-0)27-8; home: 3(3-0-0)20-7; road: 1(1-0-0)7-1. The break-down: Bloomington 2(2-0-0)14-4; home: 1(1-0-0)7-3; road: 1(1-0-0)7-1. Chicago 1(1-0-0)4-2; home: 1(1-0-0). Quad City 1(1-0-0)9-2; home: 1(1-0-0)9-2.

ARTILLERY DISTILLERY: Producing 12 more GF in their three games in three days road trek the past weekend, the Fury maintained their mastery as the UHL's highest tech, highest octane scoring machine. Through their initial 10-games, Muskegon has maestroed a mammoth 55-GF for a GFA of a mighty 5.50. Muskegon has generated a minimum of 4-goals in each of its first 10-games of the campaign. In 4-games on home ice, they have registered 25-GF for a GFA of 6.25 while on the road, they have attacked to the tune of 30-GF in a half-dozen dates for a GFA of a potent 5.00. Certainly not to be superseded is the Fury's defensive posture as they rank a lofty third in the loop, allotting only 28-GA in 10-games for a GAA of a frugal 2.80. The men of the Fury squadron have yielded more than 3-GA in just a single game this season; the lone game that the club has not won.

PINNACLE PLAYERS: The high-flying Fury continue to sky above the rest in the preponderance of key categories in the UHL. They rule in top 5-point-scoring positions in the league. 1- Todd Robinson 10(11-15-26); 2- Elias Godoy 10(6-11-17); Rustyn Dolyny 9(4-13-17); 4- Mike Watt 10(10-6-16); Philippe Plante 10(2-14-16). Robinson's 11-goals lead the loop with Watt a close second with 10. Robinson's 15-assists lead the league with Plante 2nd with 14 and Dolyny ranked 3rd with 13-helpers and Godoy #4 with 11. Robinson also leads the league with 5-PPG and Watt a close 2nd with 4-PPG. Watt, Dolyny and Robinson also share the UHL leadership in GWG with 2. The top 5-plus players are also all from the Fury; 1- Plante +13; Dave Van Drunen +13; Robinson +13; 4- Watt +12; 5- Dolyny +10. In UHL Rookie Scoring, Godoy is #1 and Evan Kotsopoulos 9(7-3-10) is #2. On defense, Plante is #1 in scoring with Jon Insana 8(4-6-10) ranked 3rd. Insana leads all defense in goals (4) and PPG (3). In the goaltending department, Clayton Pool boasts the league's best record at 6(6-0-0) with his 6-wins ranked tied for the league-lead. Pool's 2.33 GAA ranks runner-up for the circuit and his .929 SPCT ranked 3rd overall.

"T. ROB" RICHES: Coming off yet another banner weekend of prolific and proficient point productivity, the pre-eminent prince of points playmaking pivot Todd Robinson has increased his leadership in the UHL scoring derby to an astounding and resounding 9-points. The past weekend, in 3-games, he continued his lusty offensive singular assault with 3(4-1-5) including his first 3-goal "hat-trick" of the young season. "T. Rob" accomplished the latter feat Sunday in his squad's 4-2 victory verdict at Port Huron, being hailed the game's #1 Star. He also added a splendid +3 rating and 20-SOG. In his team's first 10-games, he has already engineered 8-multiple point games and 3-multi-goal per-formances. The 8-year pro perennial all-star has been held pointless in just one single game this season. Averaging a prodigious 2.6 points per game, Robinson, named last week, the first UHL Player of the Month for October, is, once again, the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week.

POOL PUCK PATROL IN GOAL: Third year goaltender Clayton Pool continues to shine when protecting the twine. The past weekend, the former U. of Alberta record-breaking human puck barricade was, again, bedazzling and at the same time befuddling to the opposition. In his two starts, he recorded replica results of 4-2 triumphs including Friday night in Elmira and Sunday in Port Huron. Heralded the #2 Star Friday, the "Pool Patrol" was precision-polished in rebuffing 69 of 73-SOG for a healthy .947 SPCT and 2.00 GAA. With his latest 2-victories produced abroad, Pool has heightened his road record to an impeccable 5(5-0-0) accounting for all 5-Fury road wins thus far this season. His foreign ice GAA is a stingy and stellar 2.20. Pool is the Fury's nomination for Southern Sports Supply / UHL Goaltender of the Week.

CAPTAIN CLUTCH: The Fury captain Rustyn Dolyny may be enjoying his best start ever in his distinguished 6-year Muskegon pro career. In the past 3-games' weekend, he acted the role of playmaker extraordinaire, essaying 5-assists including two consecutive 2-assists' efforts both Saturday night in Elmira and Sunday in Port Huron. For the week 3(0-5-5) with 14-SOG. "Rusto Bravissimo" is averaging nearly 2-points per game with 17-points in 9-outings for the year.

WORTH "WATT-CHING": Ten-year veteran left wing Mike Watt has represented a top tonic and electric elixir for the home town team. Deferring his dynamic goal-scoring colossus act for a supreme set-up role, the former NHL standout authored 4-artful assists in 3-games; 3(0-4-4) with 13-SOG. His emergence as one of the major, premiere prime-time players in the UHL has helped catapult the Fury into starry heights of the league's top penthouse suite.

BIRTHDAY BOY GODOY: The UHL's reigning Easton Rookie of the Month, center Elias Godoy celebrated his 25th birthday Friday night in Elmira with a lot of stellar style and prowess profile as he fired the game's FG in his team's 4-2 decision over the Jackals. The circuit's supreme scoring rookie collected 5-points for the week on 3(1-4-5) including two consecutive 2-assists games. The U. Mass-Lowell product is averaging a skillfully-imbued 1.7 points per game with 10(6-11-17) for his first pro season.

PHIL FEELING IT: Ace defenseman Philippe Plante has never been better with his solid combination of strong defense and stellar offense. After broaching the season with 13-assists in the first 8-games, the 8-year pro made connection on his first 2-goals of the season Saturday night in Elmira. For the week, Plante was a productive 3(2-3-5) with +2 rating and 6-SOG. He is the UHL's highest scoring member of the blue line brigade.

"D-V-D" SPELLS: The initials stand for "dynamic 'Vandy' defense" and that's what the Fury receive every game, every night from their two-time all-star Dave Van Drunen. The consummate, quintessential workhorse, the 10-year pro continues to build his premium, positive plus portfolio. In fact, his lofty +13 rating ties him for the league leadership which represents especially familiar surroundings throughout his pro career. For his initial two seasons with Muskegon, he has captured the Fury Best Defenseman and Best Plus Player Awards for the last two consecutive years. He is right back on top, again, this year.

CONNECTING CONSISTENCY: By propelling power play goals in each of their three games the past weekend, the Fury have kept a rather remarkable streak intact in that they have produced at least 1-PPG in each of their first 10-games of the season, totaling 18-PPG. The Muskegon extra man band ranks runner-up behind Fort Wayne. On the shorthand band, Muskegon has been the recipient of 3-SHG while surrendering 4 of said same. Todd Robinson (5), Mike Watt (4), Jon Insana (3), Elias Godoy (2) lead the Fury in power play prowess and production.

MAKING MEMORIES: With his 4-goals the past weekend, Todd Robinson (145) has surged, augustly, into 2nd place on the Fury all-time goal list. Rustyn Dolyny 338(122-176-298) is just 2-points away from becoming only the sixth player in Fury history to reach 300-career points. Dolyny's 5-assists the past week have advanced him into 7th place on the Fury all-time list. Jon Insana (97) is just 3-points hence from pro career point #100. Scott Barnes next game will be the 100th of his pro career. Clayton Pool (88) is 12-games from 100 with the Fury.

FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": When they bowed in Elmira Saturday night, 7-4, the Fury saw their 13-game winning streak; 13(13-0-0), spanning three years come to a close against the Jackals. They had won 5-in a row in the Empire state. By prevailing in Port Huron, 4-2 on Sunday, the Fury extended their unsullied skein over the Flags to 12(9-0-3) and 7(5-0-2) at McMorran Place Arena. The Fury have outscored the opposition in the first period on home ice, 11-2 and in the second period at home, 6-1 for a combined total of 17-3 in the first two periods at home. The Fury have not yet been involved in an OTSO affair thus far through the first 10-games of the season.

RECAP WRAP: Facing a rather strenuous stretch of 3-games in 3-days abroad, the Fury responded in superb fashion with a 3(2-1-0) record. Opening a 2-game set in Elmira Friday night, the Fury halted the Jackals 5-game win streak with a hard-earned 4-2 triumph. The success was achieved by way of 2-unanswered third period thrusts that severed a 2-2 stalemate. Adam Smyth fired a pair of strikes for the victors while Elias Godoy (FG) and Jon Insana with the third period strike (TBG/PPG/GWG) also connected. Philippe Plante had 2-assists and Clayton Pool was on top of his game with 34-saves. In the encore Saturday, it was the Jackals turn to end the Fury's win streak of 8 when they overtook the previously unbeaten squad, 7-4. Three PPG and 2-SHG expedited the Fury's first undoing of the season with Plante 2-goals, Insana (1-1-2)FG and Todd Robinson (1-1-2) striking for the victimized team. Godoy and Rustyn Dolyny each assisted twice and rookie Ryan Cyr, in his first start on the road, suffered the consequences of his team's first setback of the season. Sunday in Port Huron, the Fury bounced back with a solid 4-2 verdict over the Flags. Surmounting 1-0 and 2-1 first period shortfalls, the visitors were fueled by Robinson's first 3-goal "hat-trick" of the year including 2-GTG/SHG/GWG/PPG. Josh Chase scored his first pro goal while Dolyny, Godoy and Mike Watt each had 2-assists. Clayton Pool returned in goal and fashioned his wares in the form of an electrifying 35-saves effort.

THE FURY GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH FLINT AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

These two long-time archenemies will tangle for the second time this season and for the first time in Muskegon. In the first episode, back on October 22nd in Flint, the Fury prevailed, 7-3. The Generals commence the new week having realized significant inroads after stunning the league reigning champions, Wings in Kalamazoo Saturday night, 7-4 before securing one point in a home ice 4-3 OTSO verdict gained by Western Division leading Fort Wayne Sunday in Flint.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH ROCKFORD AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

Two of the premiere teams in the UHL will collide for the first time this season as the Fury and the IceHogs get together. The Illinois-based opposition launches the week climbing, having won 3-in a row and 5 of their last half-dozen starts after inaugurating the campaign rather inauspiciously by dropping their initial two games opening weekend, both on home ice. Rockford is the defending Western Division titlist from the '05-06 season.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH THE FURY AT PORT HURON 5:00 PM

For the second straight Sunday the two Eastern Division contenders will wage warfare at McMorran Place Arena. Muskgon has gained a 2-0 advantage thus far on the impetus of a 5-3 trumping of the Flags on October 27th at Walker Arena. This victory was followed by a come back 4-2 triumph last Sunday on the East side of the state.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from November 6, 2006


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