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Fury complete first round sweep

April 23, 2007 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


TOP TEAM TALES: The all-time top winning team in both regular season and Colonial Cup Playoffs history, the Muskegon Fury, have advanced to the divisional finals of the 2006-07 UHL Playoffs by virtue of their 4-games opening round playoffs sweep of in-division, in-state rival Port Huron. Under the doctrine according to first-year head coach Bruce Ramsay, the Fury completed the sweep of the Flags 4-games to none. In the process, the reigning Eastern Division Champions have advanced to the Division Finals for an unprecedented, unparalleled sixth consecutive year and for the ninth time in the last 10-seasons. The Fury's sweep of the fourth place finishing Port Huron club represents the fourth time in franchise history that they have eliminated an opponent in the post-season by way of a clean, com-plete sweep. The previous three occasions occurred in the 2003-04 campaign, when under the direction of head coach Todd Nelson, the Fury, in UHL record-breaking and history-making fashion swept of all three of their playoff series, fashioning a phenomenal 11(11-0-0) mark in their inexorable ascent to Colonial Cup III. Having captured custody of the most Colonial Cup coronations in league annals at four, the Fury will continue their pursuit for Colonial Cup V in the best 4-of-7 Divisional Finals against the ultimate victor of the opening round playoff series featuring defending league champion and Eastern Divisional runner-up Kalamazoo and third place seeded Flint. No matter the Fury opponent, Games #1 and #2 of the divisional finals are set for Friday night, April 27 and Saturday night, April 28th at 7:30 pm with both games on the Fury's home ice of Walker Arena. Muskegon maintains the home ice advantage for the second round series on the strength of its fourth division title and its second in the past three seasons.

THE RECORDS RED GLARE: Having actually concluded the regular campaign with their longest winless streak of the season at 5(0-3-2), the Fury were an aroused and vivified aggregation nation in their opening round playoff series against Port Huron with the 4-games to none series sweep. As the UHL's all-time top winning team in both of the regular season and the post-season, the Fury latest playoffs series success represented their 21st playoff series triumph, which is, by far, the most ever in UHL lore. To further amplify and magnify Muskegon's majesty in the post-season warfare, the Fury have now prevailed in 8 of their last 9-playoffs series; last 9(8-1-0); and 12 of their last 14 playoff series in this department; 14(12-2-0). "The Furious Ones" have now laid claim to 90-total playoff victories, also foremost in UHL history. The Fury's ousting of the Flags marks the second time in as many playoff meetings that they have eliminated a Port Huron-based UHL team. The initial such effort and success transpired back in the 1999-00 season when the Fury, as defending Colonial Cup Champions, foreclosed the Port Huron Border Cats in the second round in 6-games as they ended the then division champions B-Cats season 4-games to 2. Muskegon capped the season on a 6-game win streak against the Flags; 6(6-0-0); at home: 3(3-0-0); on the road: 3(3-0-0). In the last two seasons against Port Huron, the Fury have dominated with a record of 25(18-3-4).

ACE HOME BASE: The Fury proceeded to claim conquests in each of their home contests in their opening round playoff elimination of Port Huron, posting a 2(2-0-0) record and outscoring the visitors, 9-3. The Fury fashioned a 5-1 triumph on Saturday, April 14th in Game #2 of the series before staving off the Flags in Game #3, 4-2. Incorporating the regular season, the Fury have been flourishing on home ice with a mark of 10(6-1-3) in their last 10-performances. Muskegon has never been foiled in a home playoff game by Port Huron, sporting a supreme mark of 5(5-0-0). In their competition against the Flags entry, they won their last 3-home games in a row and are 11(8-2-1) in their last 11-home encounters against Port Huron.

RECORD ROAD RUN: Muskegon did, indeed, complete the sweep of the first round series against the Flags where they launched the match-up, in Port Huron. The Fury spirited away victories in Game #1, April 13th, 4-2, before closing it out, Wednesday, April 18th at McMorran Place Arena, 3-2. The Fury prevailed in their last 3-excursions to Port Huron this year; last 3(3-0-0). For the season in Port Huron, they were 8(6-1-1) and for the last two seasons on the east side of the state, they are 14(10-1-3). Muskegon halted a regular season-ending 4-game winless skid on the road; 4(0-3-1); which was their worst such skein of the season in this recently-completed playoff round against Port Huron. Including the playoffs of last year, the Fury are currently on a 3-game win streak on the road.

LEAGUE-LEADING MEN: Second Team All-Star left wing Mike Watt is the UHL's leading scorer in the playoffs with 4(3-5-8); 6- (tied) Rustyn Dolyny 4(4-2-6); Todd Robinson 4(2-4-6). In Goals: 2- Dolyny (4); 3- Watt (3). In Assists: 1- (tied) Watt (5); 4- (tied) Robinson (4). In SHG: 1- Watt (2); 3- (tied) Robinson (1). Best PLUS: 2- (tied) Watt (+5); 5- Van Drunen (+4). PIM: 2- Chase Trull (21). In Goaltending: 3- Clayton Pool (1.75 GAA). 1- WINS: Pool (4). Best Record: 1- Pool 4(4-0-0). MIN: 1- Pool (240). SAVES: 1- Pool (125); SPCT: 1- Pool (.947).

ALL-STAR TEAM: Three Fury luminaries represent Muskegon on the 2006-07 UHL All-Star Teams. On the First Team, is UHL Scoring Champion, center Todd Robinson and the league's second top scoring defensemen, Philippe Plante. Left Wing Mike Watt has been named to the Second All-Star Team. Despite his league best +46 rating defenseman Dave Van Drunen did not land a berth on either team. The same for right wing Rustyn Dolyny, who finished 9th in league scoring and carded the 5th best plus rating in the UHL at +31.

FIRST FOR FURY: Second All-Star Team left wing Mike Watt has been acclaimed the winner of the 2006-07 UHL Most Sportsmanlike Player Award. The 30-year-old 10-year pro from Michigan State finished 6th in UHL scoring during the regular season with (35-44-79) and an excellent +24 rating. Included in his season numbers were 12-PPG (second most on the club); 6-GWG (also second most for the club); 3-SHG (second for the club); 9-multiple goal games (second on the club) and three 3-goal "hat-tricks," which tied for most for the Fury. This marks the first time ever that a Fury player has captured the UHL Most Sportsmanlike Player honors.

COLONIAL CUP MILESTONES: With his 6-points in the first round playoff series, Todd Robinson (20-72-92) has tied Stephan Brochu (92) for 5th place on the UHL's all-time point-scoring list. Robinson's 72-assists vault him into 4th UHL all-time with his next assist (73) tying him with long-time teammate Robin Bouchard (73) for #3 all-time. He is only 2-assists behind Brochu (74) for #2 in league playoff history. The Fury's all-time playoff OT record is 22(15-7-0); home: 16(12-4); road: 6(3-3). Rustyn Dolyny (63) has climbed to 6th on the Fury's all-time playoff games played list, one behind Rob Melanson (64). Todd Robinson (20) has tied Andrew Luciuk for 4th place on the Fury's all-time goals list with Dolyny (19) tied with Paul Willett for #5 all-time. Billy Collins (17) has climbed to 8th all-time Fury career playoff goals. Dolyny (40) is now 8th in career playoff points. Robinson is now the Fury career leader in playoff SHG with 3.

FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": Goaltender Clayton Pool 14(8-4-0), ranks third all-time for the Fury in playoff games played (14) and victories with 8. Kyle Raftis scored his first-ever goal as a pro in the Fury's game #3 4-2 victory Tuesday night. Rustyn Dolyny notched a goal in each of the first three games of the series against Port Huron as he and Billy Collins have each delivered 2-goal games in the playoffs. Head Coach Bruce Ramsay's first-ever playoff series success as the Fury pilot has come against the last UHL team he coached which was the Port Huron Beacons. The Fury have 8-players in their lineup with Fury Colonial Cup Championships on their respective resumes; Rustyn Dolyny (3), Todd Robinson (3), Billy Collins (2), Clayton Pool (1), Philippe Plante (1), Dave Van Drunen (1), Dave Noel-Bernier (1), Bill Zalba (1). The Fury outscored Port Huron in every period of their series; 1st: 5-4; 2nd: 3-1; 3rd: 8-2. Mike Watt (2-4-6) authored scoring points on the Fury's first 6-goals of the playoff series against Port Huron.

THE WRAP RECAP: The Fury completed a 4-games to none series sweep against divisional rival Port Huron. In Game #1 April 13th in Port Huron, they struck with 3-third period goals to douse the Flags, 4-2. Mike Watt (2-2-4) 2-UG/1-GTG/1-TBG/ 1-SHG connected for the Fury along with Rustyn Dolyny (1-1-2)TBG/PPG/GWG and Todd Robinson (1-1-2)IG. Clayton Pool repelled 26-shots. Saturday, April 14th in Muskegon, the Fury throttled the visitors, 5-1. Again, it was a 3-goal third period uprising that cemented the victory. Dolyny (FG), Dave Noel-Bernier (TBG/PPG/GWG), Justin Kinnunen (IG), Chase Trull and Billy Collins each delivered with Watt engineering 2-more assists. Pool rejected 24-shots. Tuesday night, still in Muskegon, the Fury dispatched the Flags, 4-2 on the impetus of a 3-goal first period blitz in 6:26 by the 6:59 mark of the stanza. Dolyny (2-1-3)FG/ENG, Watt (1-1-2)GWG, Kyle Raftis scored for the victors with Robinson essaying 2-assists. Pool was superlative with 42-saves. The Fury capped the series sweep with a 3-2 verdict Wednesday back in Port Huron. Collins scored twice including the GTG and GWG with Robinson delivering the TBG/SHG. Justin Coutu had 2-assists and Pool made 33-saves.

THE FURY PLAYOFFS GAME CALENDAR

BEST 4-OF-7 DIVISIONAL FINALS

GAME #1 FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH AT MUSKEGON 7:30 PM

GAME #2 SATURDAY, APRIL 28TH AT MUSKEGON 7:30 PM

THE FURY WILL MEET THE WINNER OF THE PLAYOFF SERIES KALAMAZOO / FLINT.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from April 23, 2007


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