Sports stats



Fury reclaim UHL lead

March 6, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


TEAM TITLE TALES; After a somewhat inauspicious inception, the two-time defending Colonial Cup Champions of the United Hockey League, the Muskegon Fury, completed their recent three games' Eastern road swing in resilient and impressive fashion by posting consecutive victories to complete the extended excursion with a solid 3(2-1-0) record. In the process, the men of the Fury reclaimed sole control of both the Central Division and overall UHL league leaderships with a brilliant mark of 56(40-9-7) totaling 87-points and a winning percentage of a league-best .777. Under the direction of third-year head coach Todd Nelson, the Fury have regained a slim one-point advantage over second place divisional rival Kalamazoo 58(40-12-6) 86-points while still having 2-games in hand on a Wings squad-ron which is currently enjoying a 5-game win streak and a 12(10-1-1) mark through its last 12-dates. Meanwhile, the Fury club also has gained a one-point advantage over Western Division front-running Rockford 57(40-11-6) 86-points with one game still in hand on the IceHogs who are 8(4-3-1) in their last 8-starts and are currently 3(1-2-0) in the first 3-games of a season-long 7-game road sojourn. Of their 20-remaining regular season games, the Fury may be in a position to determine their own fate and ultimate destiny in their bid for a second successive Tarry Cup regular season crown and a third such league prize in Muskegon's UHL tenure. Eight of their final 20-games will be battles against the Wings and the ‘Hogs with the Fury vying against each formidable rival a total of 4-times. The Fury are 7(3-3-1) against Kalamazoo thus far this season and a perfect 4(4-0-0) against Rockford. Concerning the third UHL division kingpin, Eastern Division pace-setting Danbury 60(35-14-11) 81-points, the Fury have a 6-points edge over the Trashers with 4-games in hand. Muskegon's first place icers face another daunting test of 3-games in 3-days on the weekend including a pivotal and critical two-game series against the Kalamazoo Wings. The Fury will guest Kalamazoo Friday night with Missouri coming to town on Saturday night at Walker Arena. Sunday, it's an encore matinee presentation as the Fury travel to Kalamazoo for a 4 p.m. session.

40 FOR FURY AGAIN: When they dispatched the Flags in Port Huron Sunday, 6-2, the Fury attained the coveted and prestigious 40-victory status for the third consecutive season; the fourth time in the last 5-years; the seventh time over the past 9-years and the ninth time in the last 12-seasons, unprecedented and unparalleled in UHL history as the Muskegon franchise continues to embody overall, total excellence. Over those past 12-seasons, in those three years that the Fury did not reach 40-triumphs, they, nevertheless, came quite close. In 1996-97, 39-wins; 2000-01, 37-victories; 2002-03, 38-victories. For the current campaign, the Fury are a league-best 56(40-9-7) 87-points and .777 win percentage. They have won 2-in a row and are 6(5-1-0) in their last 6-outings. In their last 10-games, they are 10(6-1-3). Incorporating last regular season, the Fury are a remarkable 65(46-11-8) in their last 65-decisions; last 87(62-14-11); last 106(75-19-12). One year ago, after 56-games their record stood at 56(35-15-6) for 76-points. Currently, the Fury have garnered 5-more wins, have 6-less defeats and 11-more points than one year ago at this time. Thus far this season, the Fury's longest win streaks have been 10-in a row which has been accomplished on two separate occasions, and one 5-game win skein. They have also fashioned one 11-game undefeated streak; 11(10-0-1) and one 7-games unblemished skein; 7(6-0-1). In the 2004-05 season, the year of Tarry Cup II and Colonial Cup IV, the Fury accrued one 9-game win streak and an all-time club record and UHL season-best 17-games undefeated streak at 17(14-0-3). Last season as well, the Fury attained two 10-game unbeaten binges with both being 10(9-0-1). For the monthly returns; October 3(3-0-0); November 12(11-1-0); December 14(8-4-2); January 11(10-0-1); February 13(6-3-4); March 3(2-1-0).

HOUSEHOLD GOLD: The Fury are currently involved in a 4-game unbeaten skein on home ice at 4(3-0-1). For the composite campaign, the Fury home record stands at a superb 28(20-5-3). This season, the Fury's top winning streak on home ice has been 6-in a row and one 5-game victory spell. "Todd's Team" has also expressed itself with a season's best 9-game home ice undefeated streak; 9(8-0-1). The Fury are a sterling and stunning 44(34-7-3) in their last 44-acts at the household and a masterful 86(67-13-6) in their last 86-regular season home encounters.

ROAD SHOW SHINE: With consecutive triumphs Friday and Sunday at Elmira and Port Huron respectively, the Fury raised their road record to a brilliant, league-best 28(20-4-4), having sustained a scant 4-defeats in 28-missions abroad. The Fury have won 2-in a row and are 4(3-1-0) in their last 4-acts abroad. The Fury team record for most road wins in a single season is 23, accomplished twice. Their team record for fewest road setbacks in a single season is 13. Muskegon's longest road win streak of the season has been 7-in a row, which the Fury have achieved on two separate occasions this season. They have also recorded a stellar 11-games undefeated road streak; 11(10-0-1) as well as an 8-games' span of 8(7-0-1).

DISSECTING DIVISIONALLY: When the first-place Fury step outside of their own divisional boundaries, they have been virtually inviolable with a combined mark of 26(22-2-2). Muskegon is 16(14-1-1) against the Western Division competition and 10(8-1-1) against the Eastern Division alignment. Against their own Central Divison, the Fury have also posted a dominating 30(18-7-5) log. The breakdown by division; the Central Division: 30(18-7-5); home: 15(9-4-2); road: 15(9-3-3). Port Huron 9(6-0-3); home: 3(2-0-1); road: 6(4-0-2). Flint 6(4-1-1); home: 4(3-1-0); road: 2(1-0-1); Motor City 8(5-3-0); home: 5(3-2-0); road: 3(2-1-0); Kalamazoo 7(3-3-1); home: 3(1-2-0); road: 4(2-1-1). The Western Division breakdown: Fort Wayne 5(5-0-0); home: 3(3-0-0); road: 2(2-0-0); Rockford 4(4-0-0); home: 3(3-0-0); road: 1(1-0-0); Missouri 4(3-1-0); home: 1(1-0-0); road: 3(2-1-0); Quad City 3(2-0-1); home: 2(1-0-1); road: 1(1-0-0). The Eastern Division breakdown: Richmond 3(2-0-1); home: 1 (0-0-1); road: 2(2-0-0); Roanoke 2(2-0-0); home: 1(1-0-0); road: 1(1-0-0); Elmira 2(2-0-0); home: 1(1-0-0); road: 1(1-0-0); Adirondack 1(1-0-0); road: 1(1-0-0); Danbury 2(1-1-0); home: 1 (1-0-0); road: 1(0-1-0).

POTENT POWER PLANT: In the final two-games of their recently-concluded 3-game road junket, the Fury shredded their opponents with 12-total goals for a per game GFA of a prodigious 6.00. With the most powerful offensive artillery in the league for a third consecutive year running, the Fury have amassed 6-GF or more in a single game for 18-times in 56-games. For the season, the home town team has engineered 259-GF for a GFA of a prolific 4.63. On the blue line, the Fury are ranked #7 in the circuit, having yielded 181-GA for a GAA of 3.23.

THE PRIMO SUPREME-O: The Fury's Robin Bouchard 56(51-50-101) has stayed on top in the UHL's scoring chase while line mate Jeff Nelson 52(28-58-96) is #2 in the loop. Todd Robinson 36(15-51-66) has skyrocketed meteorically to #8 in the UHL. David Wrigley 56(29-35-64) is 10th and Ryan Keller 46(34-29-63) is 13th in the race. Bouchard leads the UHL in goals (51), PPG (28) and SOG (282). He also leads the league in multiple goal games with 13. Keller (8) is tied for the UHL lead in GWG with Wrigley runner-up with 7-GWG. Wrigley's 4-SHG tie him for third most in the league; Nelson leads the league in assists with 68 while his +34 rating ties him with teammate Ryan Keller (+34) for 4th place in that department league-wide. Wrigley and Keller are 1st and 2nd in the UHL rookie scoring with Wrigley's 11-PPG 4th rookie rated. Keller's 34-goals rank tied for 4th in the UHL overall and ranks #1 in the UHL among all rookies. For the defense, Trevor Johnson 46(7-33-40) is ranked 5th in UHL defensemen scoring derby while Dave Van Drunen is 12th 56(7-23-30). In the goaltending department, Clayton Pool 33(24-6-3) ranks 4th for victories with rookie Kevin LaPointe 22(16-3-4) having suffered the fewest losses in the league, a mere three.

RAPID RYAN RAMPANT: Rookie sensation across the UHL nation, left wing Ryan Keller has the magical "Midas Touch" with "Team Title." In the two games which he played the past weekend, he was a one-man wrecking crew. Friday night in Elmira, the former Saskatoon Blades WHL standout fired a pair of pivotal strikes including the late, dramatic TBG/GWG with only 2:31 remaining in regulation time to sink the home standing Jackals, 6-5. Then on Sunday, Keller connected on 2-more cannons in a masterful 3-points'performance as his team disrobed the Flags, 6-2. For both of these games, Keller delivered the all-important GWG and was named the #1 Star for each contest. For the week, he was 2(4-1-5) with 2-GWG and +4 rating. In his last 7-games; 7(8-5-13). With 8-multiple goal games and his season-high +34 rating #4 in the UHL overall and #1 among rookies, Keller is the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week.

POOL PUCK STOP: Muskegon netminder Clayton Pool is in form and at the very top of his game at a momentous time of the season for his club. The past weekend, last week's Goaltender of the Week backstopped Muskegon to a pair of consecutive victories to cap a grueling road trip. In 2-games, he was 2(2-0-0) with a 3.50 GAA and .900 SPCT. Pool is currently enjoying a personal 4-game win streak; 4(4-0-0) with a 2.50 GAA and a sparkling SPCT of .923. For a second straight week, Pool is the Fury's nomination for Southern Sports Supply / UHL Goaltender of the Week.

"T. ROB" ROLL & GOAL: The Fury's pre-eminent playmaking prince of points pivot, Todd Robinson climaxed the 3-game road adventure with two consecutive 3-point performances. The Fury's second all-time leading scorer engineered 3-assists Friday night in the victory extracted from Elmira before connecting on 1-goal and 2-assists Sunday in the Fury's plundering of Port Huron. For the week, Robinson was 2(1-5-6) and is a prolific 10(4-14-18) in his last 10-outings. For the season, despite missing some 20-games due to a sundry of maladies, Robinson is averaging a amazing 1.83 points per game; 36(15-51-66).

"Z" ZONK BONK!: The Fury's all-purpose versatile forward Bill Zalba continues to be one of the more unsung and unheralded heroes of this latest Muskegon contending kinetic contingent. No matter whether he is a right wing, left wing or center, the hard-working sparkplug has been extra especially effective. In fact, on Sunday, in his team's 6-2 domination of Port Huron, "Z" came through with 1-goal, 1-assist, 2-points and a solid +2 rating. For the season, he has delivered 4-goals of which 2 have been scored against the newly-minted Port Huron squad.

THE CRANE GAME: Recently acquired defenseman Ryan Crane has left a rather indelible impression for those of the adversary who has opposed him thus far. In his short stint, he has fired 5-goals which have been crammed into 2-Fury games. He generated the 3-goal "hat-trick" February 17th at home against Richmond, before connecting on a pair of first period strikes as the supreme catalyst in the Fury's 4-goal unanswered first period siege at Elmira Friday night. The former WMU standout has propelled 2-multiple goal games for the Fury; one "hat trick" game and the one 2-goal game.

JEFF'S JETS: High-scoring right wing Jeff Petruic seems to be coming alive at a most opportune time of the season. The 11-year veteran capped his team's recent 3-games' weekend road expedition with some significant offensive contributions. In Friday night's 6-5 verdict over Elmira, he delivered a PPG before he was (1-1-2) on Sunday in Port Huron. In the latter game, Petruic scored the game's key FG producing a lead the Fury never renounced. For the season, he is 42(13-12-25) with 2-PPG, 1-GWG and 4-FG.

TUNING THE TEAMS: The Fury power play, as it has been all season long, remains #1 rated in the UHL for a third consecutive year. Currently, they are 82-321 for a proficiency rating of 25.6%. Their 82-PPG actually rank #2 overall in the league behind Kalamazoo's 90. However, the K-Wings have been presented 101-more PP advantages than have the Fury. The Fury's penalty-killing cast of characters ranks a lofty 4th in the league and climbing at 324-385 for an efficiency mark of 84.2%. The opposition's man advantage is 0 for the last 10 and just 3 for the last 31.

THE MOUNTAINS OF MILESTONES: Robin Bouchard played in Fury game #625 Sunday in Port Huron. He is ranked #2 all-time in this Fury category. Todd Robinson (128) is just 6-goals shy of tying Brett Seguin (134) for third place on the Fury's all-time goal-scoring list. Rustyn Dolyny (111) is just 2-goals away from tying Paul Kelly (113) for 6th place all-time and is just 2-assists (159) away from tying former teammate Andrew Luciuk (161) for 9th place Fury all-time. Goaltender Clayton Pool now has a Fury career record of a scintillating 62(42-12-8) for a win percentage of a stellar .742.

FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": The Fury have equally distributed their 40-wins thus far this sea-son with 20 at home and 20-more on the road. With their 6-2 verdict Sunday at Port Huron, the Fury have remained undefeated on the road on Sunday at 8(7-0-1). The Fury completed the road portion of their season series with Port Huron unbeaten at McMorran Place Arena, 6(4-0-2). The past weekend, Robin Bouchard achieved the prestigious 100-point barrier for the fourth time in his illustrious career and his third time as a member of Muskegon. The Fury remain undefeated this season when they surrender 3-GA or less at 32(30-0-2). When the Fury defeated Elmira Friday night, it marked their 12th consecutive victory over the Jackals and 4th successive win in the Empire State.

THE WRAP ON THE WEEK: Confronted with a rather strenuous 3-game road trip the past week, the Fury truly responded with two consecutive conquests in the ensuing contests after broaching the journey with their worst loss of the season Wednesday night in Danbury, 7-0. It was only the second time this season that the league's most powerful offense was denied on the scoring ledger. However, the Fury made amends and atoned for the Wednesday Waterloo as they prevailed in Elmira Friday night, 6-5 and in Port Huron on Sunday, 6-2. In the Friday night decision, the Fury erupted for 4-opening stanza strikes stoked by a pair from Ryan Crane (FG/SHG). Ryan Keller also ripped the cords for a pair including the ultimate GWG while Rustyn Dolyny (1-1-2) and Jeff Petruic also found the bullseye. Clayton Pool turned aside 35-shots. Sunday in Port Huron, it was a Fury 4-goal second period barrage spurred by 2-more goals and 3-points from Keller. Todd Robinson (1-2-3), Bill Zalba (1-1-2), Petruic (1-1-2) and Billy Collins also delivered the mail as Pool pushed his personal goaltending win streak to 4-in a row.

THE FURY GAME CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK:

FRIDAY, MARCH 10TH KALAMAZOO AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

SUNDAY, MARCH 12TH THE FURY AT KALAMAZOO 4:00 PM

It's the showdown weekend for the Central Division and the overall UHL league-leadership when these top two teams lock antlers. Thus far the season series is balanced at 7(3-3-1) with Muskegon 3(1-2-0) at home and 4(2-1-1) at Wings Stadium. The Wings launch the weekend riding the crest of a 5-game win streak; they are 12(10-1-1) in their past dozen dates. The Fury have captured the season series from the Wings in each of Kalamazoo's first 5-seasons in the UHL after transferring their club from the defunct IHL to the UHL.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11TH MISSOURI AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

The Fury will host the Missouri River Otters Saturday night holding a 4(3-1-0) season series edge over the fourth place contingent of the Western Division. In the River Otters lone appearance thus far this season in Muskegon, way back on October 29th, the Fury dismantled them, 9-3 on the impetus of a 6-goal third period blitz that shattered a 3-3 deadlock. The Fury have a 3(2-1-0) road record against Missouri in 2005-06.

• Discuss this story on the International Hockey League 2 message board...

International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 6, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Muskegon Lumberjacks Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central