Fury get back on track

Published on January 26, 2004 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


FURY FINDINGS: After experiencing somewhat of a deviation in the form of an aberration from the ultimate master plan and a 4-game winless spell at 4(0-2-2), the first-place, league-leading Muskegon Fury have corrected the slight derailment by closing the past weekend with two key, clutch consecutive victories in as many days within their own Western Conference. In the process, first-year head coach Todd Nelson's kinetic contingent has managed to maintain a 5-points' advantage over torrid, on-rushing, defending UHL champion Fort Wayne for both the Western Conference and overall United Hockey League standings. The "Knights of Nelson" have been the most active club in the league at this juncture of the current campaign which recently commenced the second-half of the 76-games' regular season schedule. Having played the most games in the UHL at 43, the men of "Fury-dom" have composed a record of 43(28-11-4) totaling 60-points while the Komets are 40(26-11-3)55-points with the potential luxury of 3-games in hand on Muskegon. The Fort Wayners have been playing possessed and obsessed hockey as they are currently riding the tidal wave of a 9-game undefeated streak at 9(8-0-1) and are 25(19-4-2) through their last 25-dates. They have won 6-in succession abroad. The Fury do have a winning mark of 5(3-1-1) against the K's thus far this season with still 4-more meetings remaining with 3 of those in Muskegon. Meanwhile, the third place Quad City Mallards also remain in the thickening of the playoff positioning plot with a season's log of 41(24-14-3)for 51-points and 2-games in hand on the Fury and the latter's 9-points' bulge over the "Greenheads." Not to be overlooked are the fourth place Kalamazoo Wings 37(19-12-6)44-points with 6-games in hand on the Fury and a present 4-game win streak overall and 12-game unblemished skein on home ice; 12(7-0-5). Concerning the overall UHL "brag-flag" race, the Fury have attained a 13-points' lead over Eastern Conference pace-setting Richmond 39(22-14-3)47-points and a 15-points differential over runner-up Flint 41(21-17-3)45-points. This week will be a somewhat uncharacteristically abbreviated work week for the first-place ace Fury as they face a single contest but one of major impact, import and magnitude with the always redoubtable Quad City Mallards coming to town for some Saturday night hockey night action in downtown Muskegon. Saturday night the Fury will be presenting an extraordinary night of electricity and excitement with Huntington Bank giving away Fury Team Portraits to everyone in attendance and the Fury, along with the UHL and other major notables honoring record-breaking, history-making Robin Bouchard for his remarkable achievement of setting an all-new, all-time pro hockey record for most consecutive goal-scoring games at 17-in a row. It will be "Robin Bouchard Night" Saturday night against Quad City.

LEAGUE-LEADING LEGION: Through the first 43-games of the current campaign, the first-place, league-leading Fury have fashioned a gaudy mark of 43(28-11-4) 60-points and a .698 winning percentage. Their 28-victories represent two more than every other team in the league and is just 10-wins away from their entire wins' total of last year; 76(38-29-9)85. Their 11-defeats tie them with Fort Wayne for fewest in the UHL. After a 4-game winless spell, their longest of such kind so far this season, the Fury rebounded resiliently and buoyantly with a pair of pressure triumphs over Western Conference foes Quad City and Missouri in under 24-hours. Overall, the Fury have a brilliant record of 16(11-2-3) in their last 16-efforts and 20(13-3-4) in the last 20-episodes. Muskegon has a high-powered performance mark of 28(19-5-4) in its last 28-chapters written. Their longest win streak of the season has been 5-in a row which has been accomplished twice. The longest losing span has been only 2-in a row which has been incurred on only two occasions. The Fury were 38(26-10-2)54 in the first-half and are presently 5(2-1-2) through the initial 5-outings of the second-half of the slate. After 43-games last year, Muskegon had compiled a record of 43(22-17-4)48-points. The Fury are currently 6-wins and 12-points superior to last year's clip. The monthly marks: January 12(6-2-3); December 13(9-3-1); November 14(9-5-0); October 4(3-1-0). Since Christmas, the Fury record is 17(11-3-3).

HOME GAIN REIGN: With their 4-3 conquest Sunday at the expense of Missouri, the Fury have advanced their latest home ice unsullied streak to 9-consecutively at 9(6-0-3). The last home setback was well over one month ago, back on December 19th and a 2-1 shortfall over visiting Quad City. The Fury do boast the league's foremost home ice mark at 19(13-3-3)29 points with the 3-defeats the least in the league. Muskegon's finest on ice has achieved a supreme mark of 14(10-1-3) in the last 14- Walker arena appearances. The longest home win skein has been 4-in succession. One year ago after 19-home dates, the Lakeshore Icemen had assembled a 19(13-4-2)28. The Fury are 1-point ahead of last season's home pace.

EXOTIC BURGS BONANZA: In traveling the UHL's more exotic burgs, the Fury road show has been aglow. Through 24-foreign ice invasions, they have cultivated the best away from home bay abroad mark at 24(15-8-1)31-points. Muskegon's 15-road triumphs equal Quad City 26(15-10-1) for the most in the loop. Moreover, Muskegon's 15 road wins have already surpassed all of last season's output at 14; 38(14-20-4)32. The Fury by Nelson are 15(10-4-1) in their last 15 alien ice escapades. Longest road win streak has been 5-in a row; there has also been a 4-game win streak away. One year ago, the Fury foreign ice ledger read 24(10-12-2)22. Currently, the Fury are 5-wins and 9-points superior to last season's road report.

THE CONFERENCE CONFLICT: The Fury have been an awe-inspiring aggregation nation within their own Western Conference thus far this season. After 30 in-conference encounters the Fury have achieved an impressive mark of 30(21-7-2)44 with a sparkling 15(11-4-0)22 composite abroad. In fact, to amplify, the "Furious Ones" have earned a winning record against all conference comers. The Fury already have gathered 3-more victories in the West than they did all of last year; 42(18-19-5)41. This year at home: 15(10-3-2); on the road: 15(11-4-0). The breakdown: Rockford 7(5-1-1); Missouri 7(5-2-0); Kalamazoo 5(4-1-0); Quad City 6(4-2-0); Fort Wayne 5(3-1-1). In the Eastern Conference, the mark is 13(7-4-2)16. At home: 4(3-0-1); on the road: 9(4-4-1). The breakdown: Columbus 3(3-0-0); Flint 3(2-0-1); Adirondack 3(2-0-1); Elmira 1(0-1-0); Richmond 2(0-2-0).

THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT: The offensive armaments of the Fury battalion still ranks them as the most prolific shooting and scoring team in the league. Through 43-games, they have registered 170-goals for a GFA of 3.96. Muskegon's polished prolific precision has produced 21-more goals than all other teams in the league. The Fury have scored 3 or more goals in 37 of their first 43-games. On home ice, the Fury have fired 77-strikes in 19-games for a GFA of 4.05 while on the alien ice caper, they have manufactured 93-goals in 24-invasions for a GFA of 3.88. On the defensive front, the Fury rank 9th with 139-GA for a GAA of 3.23.

MAJOR MAIN MEN: One again, this week, the Fury dominate the major individual offensive categories in the UHL. In fact, 3 of the top 4 and 4 of the top 7 point-machine meisters in the circuit belong to the Muskegonites. Record-breaking, history-making right wing Rockin' Robin Bouchard continues as the league's leading scorer with 43(37-33-70). Center Todd Robinson 43(9-51-60) is 2nd; left wing Brant Blackned 43(22-37-59) is 4th and right wing Scott Hollis 43(26-23-49) is 7th among the league's elite. Bouchard's 37-goals lead the league and are 9-more goals than all others while Hollis' 26-strikes rank 5th most. Robinson's 51-assists lead the league and are 11-more than the whole league. Blackned's 37-helpers tie him for 3rd most. Bouchard (15) and Blackned (12) rank 1-2 in PPG artistry with Bouchard (5) and Hollis (5) tying them for 2nd most in the UHL in GWG. The Fury are 1-2-3 in PP/Points; 1-Bouchard (29); 2-Blackned (28); 3-Robinson (25). Robinson's 24 PP/assists are #1 in the league, Blackned's 16-PP/assists rank as 4th best. Bouchard leads the UHL in SOG with 224. Defenseman Scott Feasby's +19 rating ties him for 2nd best in the league. Left wing Dave Noel-Bernier 40(13-19-32) is still the league's leading scoring rookie with his 13-goals ranked 2nd, his 19-assists rank as 1st and his 2-SHG tying him for the freshmen leadership. Defenseman Trevor Johnson's 28-minor penalties rank 2nd among rookies and his 7-PP/assists rank rookie runner-up in that department. Garry Toor 27(6-14-20) is 14th in scoring among the UHL's defensemen with his 4-PPG tying him for 2nd and his 6/53, 11.4 SPCT the best among the circuit's blue line brigade. In the seal of good goalkeeping category, Sylvain Daigle continues to lead the UHL in WINS: 24; MIN: 2107; SAVES: 1071; his 5-SOW rank 2nd and his .833 SO/SPCT is 3rd highest in the loop.

ROBIN'S REMARKABLE RECORD: The past Tuesday night in Adirondack, pro hockey history was made as the Fury's all-time leading scoring architect Robin Bouchard added yet another chapter to his growing legendary status. Muskegon's most popular personality icon struck with his standard flamboyant flair for the dramatic and the thrilling theater as his goal with barely 1:54 remaining in regulation time not only tied the game for his team, but also entered him in every hockey history book for pro hockey immortality. It marked the 17th consecutive game that "Rockin' Robin" had fired a goal and that shot heard round the hockey world set an all-time pro hockey record for most consecutive games scoring a goal, shattering a record originally set in the NHL over 80-years ago by Punch Broadbent of 16-games and equaled in the 1992-93 season by Darren Schwarz of the ECHL Johnstown Chiefs. Although his record-breaking streak ended with the next game, Bouchard, undaunted and certainly unruffled promptly proceeded to connect on 2-goals, 2-assists, 4-points and the GWG in the OTSO Saturday night win in Quad City and added another 1-1-2/GWG in the Sunday triumph over Missouri. For the week, he was 4(4-3-7) with 22-SOG, a +2 rating with one #1 Star and one #2 Star honors. The Fury's all-time "Gun-Sling King" has now cannonaded goals in 19 of his team's last 20-games; 20(24-16-40). Bouchard, once again, is the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week.

LEATHER LARCENY: The goaltending saga of Sylvain Daigle is still writing new chapters in his distinguished Fury career. The past week, the UHL's winningest net-minder compiled a 3(2-1-0) record in making 3-straight starts. The "Sly-Guy" posted a 3.67 GAA and .904 SPCT. The highlight of his winning week was his scintillating 49-saves masterpiece Saturday night in Quad City that led to his club's OTSO victory. In the extra session, "The Divine One" really radiated as he rebuked 4 of 5-Mallards' thrusts to gain the victory. Daigle is the Fury's nomination for UHL Goaltender of the Week.

THE 44 SCORE MORE: Veteran left wing Brant Blackned has been consistently piling up points all season long. However, until the last two games, "The Big Bear Barrage" had parked his goal-scoring form in a dormant garage. The past weekend, the all-star LW took and shook the slumber from his lumber with a pronounced, prominent 6-points performance. In Saturday night's dramatic 5-4 OTSO triumph in Quad City, Blackned delivered (1-2-3) with a PPG and the game's #2 Star. Then on Sunday, he blazed a pair of lightning bolt goals and added 1-assist and earned the #1 Star in his club's 4-3 conquest over Missouri. For the entire week, he was 4(3-4-7) with 15-SOG a +3 rating with 1-FG, 1-PPG and 1-GTG.

MOVER & SHAKER PLAYMAKER: Playmaker pre-eminent prince of points pivot Todd Robinson continues to master his adept and adroit art form for full value. The past week, the Fury's 4th all-time leading scorer, plied his craft to the tune of 5-assists in 4-games including two 2-assists nights. However, "T.Rob" did have his UHL season's best 18-game road point-scoring streak finally come to a close Thursday night in Elmira in a 4-2 Fury setback. During the time frame, the Robinsonian number of points mounted to 37 for an average of better than 2-points a game. After Rob-inson's 18-game streak, the next longest on the road has been only 8-straight games.

LAWMAN DUELS & RULES: Fury defenseman Jason Lawmaster really stepped up his game with zest and gusto the past week. Making connection on key, touch-in-the-clutch goals in consecutive games on the road, the "Lawman" became a major Muskegon marquee man as he essayed the GTG Thursday night in Elmira before sizzling the TBG Saturday night in the third period in the Quad Cities. For the week, he was 4(2-1-3) with 7-SOG and an excellent +3 rating. For the season, Lawmaster is 35(4-8-12) with 113-PIM and a superb +9 rating.

T. J. THE GREAT JOHNSONI: Defenseman Trevor Johnson has been realizing refinement and rich improvement in his overall game on the Fury back line. The rookie all-star was 4(1-1-2) for the week with a +1 rating and 14-PIM. His second goal of the season last Tuesday night in Adirondack was his second of the season with both of them being cranked in Glens Falls, NY. He capped the ambitious week's schedule with 1-assist and +2 rating in the 4-3 trumping of the Missourians. For the season, Johnson is 43(2-13-15) with 66-PIM and +1 rating.

KILL THE POWER: Once maligned the Fury penalty-killing cast of characters is now shined. The shorthand band was never so prominent and dominant than Saturday night in Quad City where Muskegon immobilized and otherwise paralyzed 10-straight Mallards man advantages including 3 of a sizable two-man advantage duration. To elaborate as well as enumerate, the Fury factor has now closed down 15-consecutive power plays and 25 of the last 26 for an efficiency rating of 96.9%. In addition, the Fury have actually stymied and stifled 51 of the last 54 enemy power plays for a rating of 94.4%. For the season, the Fury penalty-killing cast has risen from 12th to 6th best in the circuit. Meanwhile, on their own power play, the Fury still reign supreme at 24.9% proficiency rating; 51-205 with the 51-PPG the most in the league.

ANTHOLOGY NUMEROLOGY: Robin Bouchard 463(308-276-584) is just 16-points away from the Fury 600. Brant Blackned 570(340-389-729) is 11-assists from pro career 400. Todd Robinson 234(82-229-311) is only 3-assists away from tying Brett Seguin (232) for 3rd place on the Fury's all-time assists list. Brant Blackned 187(94-116-210) has climbed to 10th all-time on the Fury career scoring list. Scott Feasby 632(50-206-256) is 3-points away from tying Justin Morrison 253(106-153-259) for 8th place on the Fury's all-time scoring list.

FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": With their 4-3 verdict Sunday over Missouri, the Fury captured their 7th straight home win over the River Otters dating back to last season and their 10th triumph in the last dozen dates, overall, also dating back to last year. On the strength of their 5-4 OTSO win Saturday night in the Quad Cities, the Fury extracted their 4th consecutive victory from the Mallards in Moline IL dating back to last season. In 6-meetings with Quad City this season, the road team has prevailed in each of the last 5-contests consecutively. The Fury have outscored Quad City, 12-5 in the third period through 6-clashes this season. Muskegon has percolated 12-PPG in 6-games against Quad City this year.

CAP-UP WRAP-UP: Facing an arduous schedule of 4-games with the initial three played abroad with some rather exorbitant travel in-between, the Fury acquitted themselves admirably, achieving a 3(1-1-1) record. Tuesday night in Glens Falls, NY, the Fury earned a far better fate and destiny in settling for a regulation time tie in a 3-2 OTSO affair. The Fury utterly dominated the proceedings, outshooting the home standing IceHawks, 43-25. Muskegon was forced to rally with 2-third period goals to eradicate a 2-0 deficit. Trevor Johnson and Robin Bouchard (GTG) caged connections for the Fury before Adirondack outscored the Fury in the extra session, 3-1. Thursday night in Elmira, the Fury digested a disappointing defeat, 4-2. Jason Lawmaster (GTG) and Scott Hollis (TBG) delivered for the Fury. Saturday night in Quad City, the Fury ultimately prevailed in the OTSO, 5-4. Bouchard (2-2-4) FG/PPG/GWG/OTSO, Brant Blackned (1-2-3)PPG/GTG, Jason Lawmaster (1-1-2)TBG struck for the Fury with Todd Robinson and Scott Hollis each assisting twice. Sylvain Daigle was spectacular in rebuffing 49 of the Mallards' 53-SOG before brushing aside 4 of 5 in the OTSO while Robinson and Bouchard (GWG) ripped strikes for the victors. Returning home Sunday, the road-weary Fury dispatched Missouri, 4-3 on the impetus of a 3-goal 2nd period uprising that featured the GWG from Bouchard (1-1-2) and (2-1-3) from Blackned. David Ambler (TBG) also delivered for the home town team. Daigle was sound and solid with 26-saves.

THE FURY GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 31ST QUAD CITY AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

This is the Fury's lone game action for the final week of the month of January. It's the seventh of nine meetings this campaign against two long-time archenemies and the fourth and final one to be waged and staged in Muskegon. The Fury have gained a 6(4-2-0) advantage in the series on the strength of three straight wins in Moline. Meanwhile, the Mallards have garnered triumphs in each of their last two trips to Muskegon. The Fury have captured the regular season series from the Quad Citians only once in the previous 8-years of battles between two acrimonious archrivals.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from January 26, 2004


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