Fury maintian Central Division leadership

Published on November 22, 2004 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


TEAM TITLE TALES: Completing a rather ambitious agenda consisting of 4-games in 5-days, the defending Colonial Cup Champions of the United Hockey League, the Muskegon Fury, have masterfully maintained their eminent domain and divine province atop the Michigan-only Central Division standings. Through their initial 15-games of the current campaign, the Fury, under the doctrine according to head coach Todd Nelson, have compiled an overall record of a superlative 15(10-4-1) totaling 21-points and the second best mark for the entire 14-teams' alliance. The "Knights of Nelson" will embark on this Thanksgiving holiday week protecting a 3-points advantage over second-place Flint 15(8-5-2)18 with the Generals recently completing an extended 7-game home stand with a 7(5-2-0) mark. However, Flint has played 11 of its first 15-games at their own homestead. Muskegon is retaining a 5-points' lead over third-place Kalamazoo 13(8-5-0)16 with the Wings having the potential luxury of 2-games in hand on the Fury. Kalamazoo has won 2-in succession and is 7(5-2-0) in the last 7 and 10(7-3-0) in the last 10 starts. The Fury do have a combined record of 5(4-1-0) in action thus far this season against their two closest contenders. On the overall standings front, the Fury stand circuit second as they trail Western Division and league-leading Rockford 16(11-2-3)25 by 4-points with 1-game in hand. The vastly-bolstered IceHogs are presently riding the crest of an 8-game unsullied streak at 8(6-0-2). The men of the Fury code are 1-point ahead of Eastern Division leading Elmira 18(10-8-0) with 3-games in hand on the Jackals. This holiday week, the Fury-men face three games in four nights, including a two-games' home stay. The Thanksgiving night game has returned to Muskegon and the Fury after a one-year absence as division rival Port Huron comes to town Thursday night. Saturday night, the Adirondack Frostbite are here before the Fury find their way to Fort Wayne for a date with the Komets next Sunday.

THE FURY FRANCHISE 500: It was an historical night in both Muskegon pro hockey and UHL annals the past Saturday night when the reigning kingpins saddled a 6-1 defeat on expansionist Motor City at Walker Arena. With that triumph, the Fury franchise became the first-ever in UHL history to attain 500-victories as both the winningest team in the UHL and in all of minor pro hockey today. Overall, for this season, the Muskegon mark is 15(10-4-1)21 with a winning percentage of a league runner-up best .700. Their 10-victories tie them with Elmira for second most in the league while the mere 4-setbacks represent the second fewest in the loop. After broaching the current season with their best start ever at an undefeated 10(9-0-1) and that amazing 27-game unbeaten and unblemished skein from last season, the Fury are 5(1-4-0) in the last 5-decisions. Their longest win streaks of the season have been 5-in a row and 4-in succession. Their longest losing spell has been 3-consecutively. After 15-games last year, the Muskegonites had recorded a mark of 15(9-6-0)18. Currently, the Fury are 1-win, 2-losses and 3-points superior to last year's clip.

HOME HOT HAVEN: With their lone victory of the past week being a 6-1 emphatic conquest of fledgling Motor City, the "Furious Ones" continue to construct a virtually inviolate record on home ice. In fact, for this season, the league kingpins have attained the league's second best home mark at a superb 9(7-1-1), out-scoring the visitors, 41-22. Dating back to last season and Colonial Cup III, the home act stands at a brilliant 18(16-1-1), out-goaling the alien invaders, 77-38. Longest home win skein has been 4-consecutively along with a 7-game unblemished streak at 7(6-0-1).

AMISS ABROAD: Starting the season with a 3-game winning binge abroad; 3(3-0-0) and an 11-game victory string away from home bay dating back to last season, the Fury have faltered in recent activity in incurring 3-consecutive setbacks in their team travels. In that span, they have been outscored to the tune of 10-2. Muskegon has mustered goal outputs of 1, 1 and none in those three unfounded foreign ice missions. Last season, Muskegon's longest losing streak on the road was only 2-in a row.

POSITION IN DIVISION: The Fury have been flourishing within their own Michigan-only Central Division as their record of 7(6-1-0)27-16 would attest. However in inter-divisional conflict and combat, the Fury have stagnated somewhat, especially against their Western Division counterparts. After an opening unbeaten mark of 5(4-0-1), the Fury have sustained 3-consecutive setbacks against the West. They are now 8(4-3-1). The breakdown: Central Division: Kalamazoo 2(2-0-0)7-4; road: 2(2-0-0)7-4; Motor City 2(2-0-0)11-4; home: 2(2-0-0)11-4; Flint 3(2-1-0)9-8; home: 1(1-0-0)2-1; road: 2(1-1-0)7-7. The Western Division breakdown: Kansas City 2(2-0-0)9-3; home: 2(2-0-0)9-3; Quad City 3(2-1-0)10-4; home: 2(2-0-0)10-2; road: 1(0-1-0)0-2; Fort Wayne: 2(0-1-1)8-12; home: 2(0-1-1)8-12; Rockford: 1(0-1-0)1-3; road: 1(0-1-0)1-3.

THE GOAL POLL: After the first 15-games of the current campaign, Muskegon ranks a lofty #2 in the league in goal-scoring firepower with 55-GF and a 3.67 GFA. At home, they have connected on 40-GF in 9-offerings for a GFA of a proficient 4.44. On the road, they have scored 15-GF in 6-games for a GFA of 2.60. Muskegon has managed a mere 2-GF in losing the last 3-road games in a row. Defensively, the Fury rank #5 with only 38-GA in 15-games for a GAA of an avarice 2.53. At home, they have surrendered 22-GA in 9-outings for a GAA of 2.44 while on the road, they have yielded 16-GA in a half-dozen dates for a GAA of 2.67. Also, the Fury crew is ranked second in the league for fewest SOGA with a per game yield of 25.8.

SPOTLIGHT SPORTING: UHL defending scoring titlist Robin Bouchard 15(10-14-24) has ascended to 2nd in the league scoring race with Scott Hollis 15(8-13-21) ranked 5th. Brant Blackned 15(7-11-18) is tied for 13th in the league. Blackned's 6-PPG tie him for 2nd most and his 3-GWG tie him for the most in the league. Bouchard continues to lead the league in PP/Points with 17 and PP/Assists with 12. Blackned is circuit second in PP/Points with 14. Bouchard's 14-assists tie him for the league best. Jason Lawmaster (23) leads the league in minor penalties; his 106-PIM tie him for second-most in the UHL. Billy Collins 15(5-5-10) is 8th in UHL rookie scoring. In the goaltending department rookie Clayton Pool 4(4-0-0) is the lone undefeated net-minder in the UHL and he also cards the league's best GAA of 1.61. Pool's .932 SPCT is #2 in the league. Brent Belecki is ranked 12th with a GAA of 2.75.

CAREER CANNONEER: The Fury's all-time leading artisan Rockin' Robin Bouchard enjoyed yet another historical week of more major milestones. Two more were realized by the "Gun-Sling King" the past week. Friday night, he stepped on the ice for his 700th all-time pro career game in Rockford. The following night, on home ice, he was saluted as the game's #1 Star with 2-goals, 2-assists, 4-points. His first goal represented his 900th career scoring point. The next milestone looming on the nearest next horizon is 400- career UHL goals. Currently "Bouch Almighty" is at 398 and counting in becoming only the third player in league annals to reach UHL career 400-goals. For the past 4-game work week, he was 4(2-3-5), including his third 2-goal game of the year. Bouchard is the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week.

GOALKEEP STEEP: Rookie net-minder Clayton Pool continues to make a favorable impression with his precocious, precision style in the cage. In his only start of the past week, the erstwhile U. of Alberta standout backstopped his team to its lone victory of the week in a 6-1 domination of Motor City on Saturday night. In that contest, Pool rebuked 12 of 13-shots and lowered his GAA to a league-best 1.61 and raised his SPCT to a league runner-up best .932. He is the lone, last undefeated goalkeeper in the UHL at this hour of the season. Pool is the Fury's nomination for Southern Sports Supply / UHL Goaltender of the Week.

BRANT BRINGS IT: Veteran left wing Brant Blackned assembled another sound and solid week for the first-place Fury during the ambitious 4-games docket. For the week, he was 4(1-3-4) with 12-SOG. In Saturday night's 6-1 carnage of Motor City, he earned #2 Star accolades, registering 1-goal, 1-assist and a +3 rating. His goal was a PPG/GWG. Through that 1-goal, the "Big Bear Barrage" (114) closed to within 3-goals of tying Andrew Luciuk (117) for third place on the Fury's all-time goal-scoring list.

"LAWMAN" MUSCLE: Transplanted right wing Jason Lawmaster has been an intimidating, tormenting menace to all of the Fury's opposition. Saturday night, he notched his first goal of the season as an integral and instrumental part of his team's 4-goal third period powderkeg which was fused by a 3-goal blitz in 1:51. For the season, "The Lawman" is 15(1-4-5) and +2 rating. His 23-minor penalties are foremost in the UHL and his 106-PIM tie him for second most in the UHL.

DEFENSIVE FIRST: When Kevin Haupt made connection on a game-tying power play early in the second period Friday night in Rockford, his goal became a first for the Fury this season. Haupt's goal represented the very first goal produced by a Muskegon defenseman thus far this season. For the season, he is 15(1-2-3) with a +1 rating and 4-PIM. He has 34-SOG for the season.

UNEVEN STRENGTH STRUT: Those specialty teams for the first-place Fury are still leading the way in the UHL with much polish, precision, prominence and dominance. The power play is percolating proficiently at 28.7% at 24-83. The extra man band is operating at over 8% better than all of the league. Muskegon's 24-PPG are 4-more than the rest of the league. The penalty-killing prowess has been impeccable. The Fury are #1 in the UHL in this department as well. Currently, the Fury are operating at an extraordinary 91.3% efficiency rating at 73-80. The penalty-killing cast has now stymied the last 17-consecutive man advantages afforded the adversary for a perfect 100.0% rating. Furthermore, they are 37 for the last 38 and 46 for the last 48 in precluding the enemy extra man opportunities.

THE MATTER OF MILESTONES: Brant Blackned (223) is just 5-games shy of tying Paul Kelly (228) for 10th place on the Fury's all-time games played list. Blackned's GWG Saturday night against Motor City was his 16th to tie him with Brett Seguin for 4th all-time on the Fury's list. More Blackned; he is just 3-games away from pro career 600; (597). Jeff Nelson (893) is 7-games away from pro career 900. Kevin Haupt (98) is 2-assists from pro career 100.

FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": In their first 6-road games this season, the Fury have scored only 3-goals in the first period, being outscored, 6-3. The Fury have only been out-shot in 2 of the first 15-games this year. When they score 3 or more goals, the Fury record stands at 11(9-1-1); when they score 4 or more, they are unbeaten at (8-0-1). When the Fury bowed at Quad City Sunday, 2-0, it halted their 6-game win streak over the Mallards overall and their 3-game win streak in Moline where the Fury actually were 8(7-1-0) in their last 8-appearances there. Muskegon is a perfect 9(9-0-0) entering the third period with the lead and 5(5-0-0) when leading after the opening period.

POST WEEK WRAP-UP: The Fury recorded a 4(1-3-0) mark for the week with the lone win coming at home. Last Wednesday night on the home range, the Fury were derailed by Fort Wayne, 6-3. Billy Collins did fire a pair of goal for the Fury with Scott Hollis (PPG) also connecting. Jordon Flodell added 2-assists Brent Belecki faced a Komets' 37-shot siege. Friday night in Rockford, the Fury were edged by the IceHogs, 3-1. Kevin Haupt (GTG/PPG) accounted for the Fury's sole strike. Belecki made 26-saves for his team. Saturday night, back on home ice, the Fury marooned Motor City, 6-1. It was a 4-goal third period eruption which featured a 3-goal blitz in 1:51 that turned the tide in this contest. Robin Bouchard (2-2-4)FG, Brant Blackned (1-1-2)PPG/GWG, B. J. Gaustad (1-1-2)PPG, Scott Hollis and Jason Lawmaster caged singletons while Jeff Nelson and Collins each assisted twice. The Fury oushot Motor City, 42-13 overall and 29-6 in the first two periods. Clayton Pool had 12-saves for the win in goal. Then on Sunday in Moline, IL, the Fury were blanked for the first time this season by Quad City, 2-0. For the latter two periods, the Fury out-shot their opposition, 28-13 but failed to capitalize. Belecki went the distance in goal, brushing aside 27 of 29 Mallards' shots.

THE FURY GAME DATES THIS WEEK:

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH PORT HURON AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

This will be the first of seven clashes between the two division foes and the first of four games to be staged in Muskegon. Last season, the Fury were 5(1-2-2) against the Beacons. Beginning this holiday week, Port Huron has won consecutive games for the first time this season, accomplishing the feat over the past weekend.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH ADIRONDACK AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

The first of four sessions to be staged and waged this season and the first of a pair in Muskegon. Formerly known as the IceHawks in a previous life, the newly-named Frostbite have lost only twice in their last 11-games after launching the season rather inauspiciously in the form of a 5-game winless skein.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH FORT WAYNE AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

The third of seven meetings and the first of only two clashes to be staged in Fort Wayne. Muskegon is 2(0-1-1) in their two encounters thus far this season with both bouts having Muskegon as the backdrop. Last year, the Fury were 4(2-2-0) in Fort Wayne during regular season competition before sweeping both games in Indiana in the Western Conference Finals of the Colonial Cup Playoffs as part of a 4-games to none sweep of the K's.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from November 22, 2004


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