Fury in pursuit of another successful title defense
Published on September 9, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.---Staying on track in their pursuit of yet another successful title defense of their fourth Colonial Cup Championship spanning the past six calendar years and their third in consecutive fashion, the current two-time reigning United Hockey League kingpins, the Muskegon Fury are moving ahead smartly in assembling another victory producing machine for the 2005-06 UHL campaign.
With these marching orders first and foremost on their agenda, the Fury Club Owner and Team President Tony Lisman, in concert with Director of Hockey Operations / Head Coach Todd Nelson, have announced on this date that one of their many heroes from 2004-05 Colonial Cup IV, center BILLY COLLINS has agreed to contract terms and signed a new one-year pact to don the Muskegon family coat of arms for the upcoming 2005-06 UHL season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contract deal were not disclosed.
COLLINS, 23, will be casting off on his third season with the Fury clan, though, officially, the 2005-06 campaign will represent his second full season with "Team Title." The strong-armed and strong-willed 6-2, 200lb right-hand shooting pivot found his first full season with the league kings one of great promise, potential and point-proficient productivity. All culminated by a masterful and magical post-season performance which was paramount to the Muskegon club's ultimate success in claiming custody of its third Colonial Cup crown in four years and becoming the first UHL team ever to capture four overall championships.
In the 2004-05 season, Collins emerged as the Fury's foremost-scoring rookie, engineering 28-points in 65-games on 17-goals, 11-assists with 110-PIM and a +2 rating. His composite season output included 5-PPG, 2-GWG and 3-FG, along with 129-SOG. The native of Enderby, British Columbia began to gain the league-wide reputation of a feared and dangerous marksman as demonstrated by his 4-multiple goal games, including his first-ever three-goal "hat trick" which he fired on December 1st of last calendar year in a Fury 7-3 road demolition at since-defunct Kansas City.
The former star collegian at Detroit's Wayne State University really came into his own in the 2005 post-season, becoming a major catalyst in his team's latest surge to the circuit's summit. Capturing the UHL league rookie scoring crown in the playoffs, Collins, in 16-games, essayed 11-points on 7-goals, 4-assists with a +3 rating and 1-PPG. His 7-playoff goals also led the loop among rookies while his 29-SOG and .241 goal-scoring shooting percentage (7/29) both ranked rookie runner-up in the league's post-season action. Having joined the Fury nearing the conclusion of the previous season of 2003-04, Collins actually has now enjoyed the heady brew of two consecutive Muskegon league titles.
The Fury coach Nelson has liked what he has seen from his promising center and is high on Collins pro future. "Last season, Billy became one of the major strengths of our team and a key performer. He certainly enjoyed an outstanding rookie season, reaching his pinnacle at the end of the year as he became one of our biggest contributors to our ultimate success for the championship. In particularly, he was tremendous in our opening round series victory over Quad City. His potential is unlimited. He possesses size, skill and deceiving grit; all important assets for the betterment of our hockey club and for his own future in the pro game. With Billy participating in the upcoming Grand Rapids Griffins training camp and considering the success that he achieved last season, we expect him to be an even better player for the Fury in the new season."
The Collins signing to mark his return to Muskegon comes as somewhat of a surprise as the centerman had been contemplating the idea of retirement from the game. T. Nelson addressed that matter as well. "In the end, Billy, apparently found that he wasn't quite ready to retire. So, to have him back represents a nice surprise for the Fury. We are thrilled to have him come back for another season. After all, he has been a part of our club for both of our championships."
Originally obtained by the Fury as their fourth round selection in the March 2004 annual UHL North American Amateur Draft, Collins arrived on the Muskegon hockey scene following a standout three-year career at Detroit's Wayne State University of the highly-heralded CHA conference (College Hockey America). Signed by the Fury on April 9, 2004, he experienced a rather auspicious pro premiere as he demonstrated much polish and promise in his brief, but impressive, Muskegon coming-out party.
During his 2003-04 campaign at Wayne State, he authored 17-points in 31-games on 11-goals, 6-assists with 3-PPG, 2-GWG and 1-SHG and one three-goal "hat trick." His 11-goals were second most for the Warriors and his 87-SOG paced his squad. He placed third overall in the team scoring derby.
In addition, during his WSU career, in the 2002-03 season, he attained some degree of national fame and acclaim by recording a NCAA-leading 5-SHG, actually registering three of those SHG in the same game as part of a most unique three-goal "hat trick." In that same season, he engineered a single season career best 12-goals. He is currently ranked fourth all-time on the Wayne State career goal-scoring list with 31.
Prior to his advent to the college ranks, he enjoyed a magnificent 2000-01 season in the BCHL with the Prince George Spruce Kings, amassing 84-points in 60-games, including a league-high 50-goals while earning his team's MVP award and a berth on the BCHL First All-Star Team.
Today's signing of BILLY COLLINS brings to 13 the number of players currently under contract for the 2005-06 season. Previously, Muskegon announced the signings of goaltenders KEVIN LAPOINTE, CLAYTON POOL; defensemen DAVE VAN DRUNEN, CLAY WILSON; center TODD ROBINSON; left wings KEN FELS, DAVID WRIGLEY; right wings ROBIN BOUCHARD, RUSTYN DOLYNY, NIGEL HAWRYLIW, JASON LAWMASTER, BILL ZALBA.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from September 9, 2005
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- Sidewalk Spectacular Set for Saturday - Quad City Mallards
- Join Scrappy at the Danbury Ice Arena's Open House - Danbury Trashers
- Fury in pursuit of another successful title defense - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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