Fury set club record with nine straight road wins

Published on December 17, 2006 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


TOP TEAM TALES: Flying meteorically high with their greatest start ever in their much storied and legendary franchise history, the Eastern Division and league-leading Muskegon Fury claimed two more conquests in as many contests the past weekend with both bouts staged in the road ring with both combats coming against Western Division competition. Under the guidance of first year head coach Bruce Ramsay, the Fury have been utterly awesome and then-some with their fabulous feat at this juncture of the 2006-07 campaign. Through their initial 27-games, the United Hockey League's all-time top winning team has composed a majestic mark of 27(24-3-0) totaling 48-points. In the process, the men of the Fury clad colors have advanced and otherwise enhanced their overall first place leadership atop their own Eastern Division standings to 16-points over defending league champion Kalamazoo 25(16-9-0)32-points as the Wings are 7(5-2-0) in their last 7-games and 10(7-3-0) through their last 10-starts. The men of Muskegon pro hockey prowess have amassed a sizeable 22-points' advantage over both Elmira 25(13-12-0)26 and Flint 28(12-14-2)26-points with the Jackals in the throes of a 4-game losing streak, having actually dropped 7 of their last 9-outings; 9(2-7-0). Meanwhile Flint has been resurgent, riding the rising rapids of a 4-game win streak while going 12(8-4-0) in the last dozen dates. In the overall banner chase, the "Furious Ones" have engineered an 18-points' cushion over Western Division front-running Fort Wayne 23(15-8-0)30. The Fury have a combined record against their four closest pursuers of 12(9-3-0). On this week before Christmas, the Fury face a two-games' agenda before embarking on their most rigorous regimen of the current campaign beginning the night after December 25th as they will tackle league foes for 9-games in 13-nights, including a Christmas vacation holiday week 4-game home stand at Walker Arena. This Friday night, the Fury will engage in kinetic combat at Kalamazoo against the reigning champs before returning home to conclude the pre-Christmas schedule with a Saturday night clash against expansion entry Bloomington. The Fury will also be home the night after Christmas, Tuesday, December 26th for a rematch with Kalamazoo; Wednesday, December 27th they will be guesting Flint and Friday, December 29th they will broach a two-game home and home series with long-time rival Quad City.

HOT PEOPLE PROMOS: The league-leading 27(24-3-0)48 Fury will launch an exciting Christmas holiday vacation week 4-game home stand commencing this Saturday night, December 23rd, when they tangle with Bloomington. It has been designated Fury Fans "WIN-WIN" NIGHT. Should the Fury win this game, everyone in attendance will receive a FREE ticket to the Fury game of January 28th against Elmira. On Wednesday, December 27th, the Fury will present their annual, ever popular "CARLOAD SPECIAL" as the home team tackles archrival Flint. Then on Friday night, December 29th, Quad City comes to town with the Fury presenting "SCOUT NIGHT" as well as the Fury "JERSEY AUCTION." The sleek-new silver jerseys which the Fury have donned for all of their December home games will be auctioned immediately following the game.

THE BEST 27 EVER!!: Traveling on the road to Illinois the past weekend, the first place Fury fashioned yet two more impressive, consecutive conquests. Friday night in Bloomington, they dismissed the Prairie Thunder, 4-0 before journeying to Chicago where they trimmed the Hounds, 3-2. In the process, Muskegon elevated its record to an extraordinary 27(24-3-0)48-points. One year ago, after the first 27-games, the Fury team of Muskegon had amassed 44-points through a mark of 27(21-4-2)44-points. The Fury's winning percentage at this juncture of the campaign is a fabulous .889. Their latest win streak has reached 5-in succession; 5(5-0-0), outscoring the adversaries, 19-8. In their last 9-games; 9(8-1-0), out-goaling the opposition, 33-15. Earlier in this season, the Fury compiled two 8-game win streaks which still represent the two longest win streaks in the UHL this year. Muskegon has also attained one 3-game win streak. The Fury's total of 24-wins are 8-more wins than the rest of the UHL. In their last 134-regular season games, the Fury have compiled a compelling composite of 134(97-25-12) for a win percentage of .769. Moreover, in their last 153-regular season games, the record is 153(110-31-12) for a victory percentile rating of .758. The monthly reports at this hour of the season: October 7(7-0-0); November 13(11-2-0); December 7(6-1-0).

HOME HAUNT HEALTHY: The Fury continue to maintain the UHL's premiere home record at 13(11-2-0), outscoring the invaders from the other UHL planets and exotic burgs, 59-32. It is interesting to note that both of the Fury's home setbacks have been incurred by a scant single goal margin while their 11-home triumphs pace the loop. The Ramsay rendition's longest home victory streak of the season has been 8-straight, mirroring their initial 8-home games of this season. In their last 107-regular season home dates, the Fury are conducting winning business at the .813 clip with a record of 107(84-17-6).

THE NEW ROAD RECORD: In sweeping a pair of road encounters the past weekend at Bloomington, 4-0 and Chicago, 3-2, the Fury established an all-time new club record for most consecutive road wins at 9-in a row; 9(9-0-0). Muskegon shattered the previous standard set in the first 8-road games of the 2001-02 campaign, the year of Colonial Cup II. The last and lone loss abroad thus far this season was back on November 4th in Elmira where the Fury were felled by the Jackals, 7-4. Overall, for the season, Muskegon has achieved the league's best road record at 14(13-1-0) with those 13-road victories being 5-more than the rest of the league. The men of the Fury have also earned a 4-game win streak abroad for this current campaign. The league-leaders have spirited away victories from every city of which they have trekked at this point of the season with the lone exception being Rockford where the Fury have yet to play in '06-07.

THE DIVISION DOSSIER: With two more triumphs in two nights the past weekend in Illinois, the Fury have remained remarkably inviolable against Western Division competition with a magical mark of 11(11-0-0); at home: 6(6-0-0) and on the road 5(5-0-0). The Fury are also flourishing within their own Eastern Division as their 16(13-3-0) would seem to reflect. Against the East, they are 7(5-2-0) at home outscoring the opponents, 26-17 and 9(8-1-0) on the road, out-goaling their opposition, 39-23. The breakdown: Port Huron 4(4-0-0)19-12; home: 2(2-0-0)10-7; road: 2(2-0-0)9-5. Flint 5(4-1-0)22-8; home: 2(1-1-0)7-3; road: 3(3-0-0)15-5. Kalamazoo 4(3-1-0)13-9; home: 2(1-1-0)6-5; road: 2(2-0-0)7-4. Elmira 3(2-1-0)11-11; home: 1(1-0-0)3-2; road: 2(1-1-0)8-9. Western Division 11(11-0-0)56-21; home: 6(6-0-0)33-15; road: 5(5-0-0)23-6. The breakdown: Bloomington 3(3-0-0)18-4; home: 1(1-0-0)7-3; road: 2(2-0-0)11-1. Chicago 3(3-0-0)9-5; home: 2(2-0-0)6-3; road: 1(1-0-0)3-2; Quad City 3(3-0-0)22-9; home: 2(2-0-0)15-7; road: 1(1-0-0)7-2; Rockford 1(1-0-0)5-2; home: 1(1-0-0)5-2; Fort Wayne 1(1-0-0)2-1; road: 1(1-0-0)2-1.

STINGY AND STELLAR: During their current 5-game win streak, flaws have been few under the most scrutinizing magnifying glass for the Fury defense as they have grudgingly surrendered only 7-GA for a GAA of 1.40. Further-more, in capturing 8 of their last 9-games, the Fury have allowed only 15-GA for a GAA of 1.67. For the season, the Fury rank a close second to Kalamazoo with the Wings at 2.20 GAA and the Fury at 2.26 GAA. At home, in 13-games, they have allotted 32-GA for a GAA of 2.46. Abroad, they have even been better yielding only 29-GA in 14-games for a GAA of a thrifty and nifty 2.07. The Fury have permitted more than 3-GA in just three of their first 27-games of this season. In the meantime, the offense continues to prosper, having generated a league-high 121-GF in 27-games for a GFA of 4.48. They have scored 33-more goals than any other team in the UHL. At home, the Fury have registered 59-times in 13-outings for a 4.54 GFA. On the road, they have accounted for 62-GF in 14-games for a GFA of 4.43. The Fury also boast the best differential in the UHL, having outscored their enemies 121-61 for a +60.

LEAGUE-LEADING MEN: Remaining on their torrid pace in this '06-07 season, the Fury continue to dominate the preponderance of the major categories in the UHL. In the league point-scoring race, the Fury continue with the top 5 in this department. 1- Todd Robinson 27(23-34-57); 2- Rustyn Dolyny 26(10-30-40); 3- Mike Watt 26(18-21-39); 4- Elias Godoy 19(11-23-34); 5- Philippe Plante 27(8-25-33).The Fury also have the top 2-goal cannoneers in the UHL; 1- Robinson 23; 2- Watt 18. The top 5-in assists; 1- Robinson 34; 2- Dolyny 30; 3- Plante 25; 4- Godoy 23; 5- Watt 21. In PPG: 2- Robinson 8; Watt 8. In PPA; 1- Robinson 17; 2- Plante 16. Robinson is #2 in SOG: 123; Watt #3 with 118. In GWG, Robinson leads the way with 6-GWG while Watt (3), Dolyny (3), Justin Coutu(3), Jon Insana (3 are all tie for 4th in the UHL. Robinson tops the UHL in SHG with 5. The Fury have the top 10 plus players in the UHL; 1- Dave Van Drunen +29; 2- Robinson +24; Plante +24; 4- Evan Kotsopoulos +22; 5- Dolyny +18; 6- Watt +17; 7-Godoy +16; Coutu +16; 9- Joe Pomaranski +13; 10- Dave Noel-Bernier +11. Van Drunen is #1 in minor penalties with 31. In UHL Rookie Scoring, 1- Godoy; 3- Kotsopoulos 26(10-11-21). On the UHL Defense: 1- Plante; 8- Jon Insana 16(5-9-14); 12- Coutu (5-7-12). In the goaltending department, Clayton Pool leads the league in wins (17) GAA: 1.74; SPCT: .942 while his 3-shutouts tie him for the league-leadership.

POINTS PERSONIFIED: The UHL's top scoring magnate, Todd Robinson has sustained his masterful craft of point production wizardry almost in an unprecedented fashion. The past week, the Fury 7-year veteran center recorded 2-more multiple point games on consecutive nights; 2(2-3-5) with 9-SOG and +3 rating. In his team's Friday night 4-0 trumping of Bloomington, "T. Rob" essayed 2-goals, 1-assist including the FG/GWG as he was acclaimed the #1 Star. The next night in Chicago, he assisted on 2-Fury PPG in the span of :38 in Muskegon's 3-2 victory. In the Fury's first 27-games of the season, he has engineered 17-multi-point games and 6-multiple goal games. Averaging an extraordinary 2.11 points per game, Robinson has carved-out a commanding 17-points advantage over linemate Rustyn Dolyny for the overall league scoring chase. He has also scored 5-more goals than the rest of the UHL. Currently riding the crest of a 5-game point streak; 5(5-7-12), Robinson is the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week.

GOAL PATROL ROLL: Goaltender extraordinaire Clayton Pool has been dynamic in the Fury cage thus far this season. The past week, the UHL's top-rated netminder backstopped the Fury to a pair of victory verdicts in as many nights on the road, surrendering a mere 1-GA total. He gained the game's #3 Star Friday night in claiming his 3rd shutout of the season and his second consecutively on the road as the Fury extinguished Bloomington, 4-0. The following night in Chicago, his bid for a second consecutive shutout fell short with only 2:15 remaining in the third period though the Fury did prevail, 3-2. For the week, he was 2(2-0-0) with a 0.50 GAA and .970 SPCT. In his last 4-games, Pool has allowed only 3-GA for a GAA of 0.75 and a perfect 4(4-0-0) record with a .976 SPCT. He is still the lone goaltender who is undefeated on the road this season at 11(11-0-0) with a 1.62 GAA. In his last 14 games; GA: 21; GAA: 1.50. The reigning UHL Goaltender of the Month and UHL Goaltender of the Week, Pool is the Fury's nomination, again, for Southern Sports Supply / UHL Goaltender of the Week.

13 FOR 18: The Muskegon captain, Rustyn Dolyny has now assembled the longest point-scoring streak in the UHL thus far this season at 13-consecutive games. In the two games the past weekend, he was 2(1-3-4) with 8-SOG and +3 rating. Friday in Bloomington, he was hailed the game's #2 Star on the strength of his 3-points, (1-2-3). During his current 13-point streak, Dolyny is 13(5-17-22) His 13-game point-scoring streak eclipses his teammate Elias Godoy's earlier accomplishment of a 12-games' streak consisting of 25-points.

THE WATT WALLOP: Ten-year pro standout Mike Watt continues to unholster humming howitzers as one of the premiere marksmen in the loop. The past weekend, in 2-games, he was 2(1-2-3) with 1-PPG and 15-SOG, including a +3 rating. In his squad's Saturday night 3-2 triumph in suburban Chicago, he was accorded #1 Star honors, scoring a PPG as one of his 10-SOG for that single game. Watt has swelled his individual point-scoring scourge to 8 games with 8(6-10-16). His season total of 18-goals rank runner-up to linemate Todd Robinson in the UHL.

THE TOUCH IN THE CLUTCH: Muskegon defenseman Justin Coutu seems to have discovered that rare talent of good timing and good delivery. In the Fury's 3-2 triumph at Chicago Saturday night, he authored his 5th goal of the season and his third on the PP. It was also his third GWG for his red-hot Fury team. For the week, he was 2(1-1-2) with 4-SOG and +2 rating.

A THUMP IN THE NIGHT: One of the newer members of the Fury clan, left wing Kelly Thomson announced his presence in the lineup through his physical prowess as well as his goal-scoring ability. He notched the key, crucial FG Saturday night in the win in Chicago. It was the "Thumper's" second goal since his acquisition as a free agent and it gave the Fury an early lead that they never relinquished at the home of the Hounds. Both of Thomson's strikes have been stoked on foreign ice thus far this season.

WINNING WITHOUT: The Fury have been truly amazing this season as they continue to pour on the power and the wins despite missing one-third of their lineup at this stage of the season. The past weekend, head coach Bruce Ramsay operated a lineup that was actually two players under the 18-man ceiling and yet the "Muskegonites" ultimately prevailed in both contests. Five Fury players are still shelved; Bill Zalba (15); Elias Godoy (8); Scott Barnes (7); Billy Collins (3); Joe Pomaranski (3). In addition, two Fury defensemen, namely Tom Galvin (27) and Jon Insana remain in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

THE PERCOLATE RATE: The Fury extra man band is percolating a finely, fermented brew in recent activity. Ranked a lofty second in the UHL at 38-198, Muskegon has earned a power rating of 19.2% proficiency just barely behind #1 Fort Wayne at 19.4%. Muskegon's 38-PPG pace the league, one better than Flint's 37-PPG. The Fury power play is 2 for the last 8; 25% conversion rating and 6 for the last 27; 22.2%. In the penalty-killing category, the Fury rank third at 189-219 for an efficiency rating of 86.3%. Opponents are only 3 for the last 39; 92.3% and 9 for the last 83; 89.9%. The Fury's 8-SHG rank runner-up in the league. They have allowed 7-SHG which rank as second most in the circuit.

MILESTONES MANAGING: Clayton Pool's 100th Fury career game in goal was a 4-0 shutout triumph Friday night in Bloomington. Pool has achieved the best career winning percentage in Fury history; 101(64-18-8) for .756. Rustyn Dolyny (129) is within 5-goals of tying Brett Seguin (134) for 4th place on the Fury all-time goal-scoring list. Todd Robinson (196) is just 4-goals away from pro career 200. Defenseman Philippe Plante 479(55-137-192) is just 8-points away from pro career 200. Left Wing Justin Kinnunen's next game will be the 100th of his pro career.

FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": The Fury have remained undefeated on Friday nights this season at 10(10-0-0) overall and 5(5-0-0) on the road. The Fury have scored 3-GF or more in 23 of their 27-games, posting a record of 23(22-1-0). The Fury have outscored their opposition in the first period this season, 39-16 overall; 21-8 at home and 18-8 on the road. Their best period has been the second period, outscoring the opponents, 46-16 overall; 19-7 at home and 27-9 on the road.

RECAP WRAP: Confronting two road games in two nights, the Fury responded with a pair of victories in Illinois. Friday night in Bloomington, the Fury disposed of the Prairie Thunder, 4-0, striking with a pair of goals in the first and third periods respectively. Todd Robinson (2-1-3)FG/GWG, Rustyn Dolyny (1-2-3) and Philippe Plante made connect-ion with Mike Watt assisting twice. Clayton Pool posted the victory with 35-saves. Saturday night, the Fury turned their attention to Chicago where they shaded the Hounds, 3-2. Two PPG in :38 just shy of the midway point of the second period were the margin of difference as Watt (PPG) and Justin Coutu (PPG/GWG) delivered after Kelly Thomson notched the game's FG. Robinson assisted on both PPG and Pool was supreme in goal with 29-saves.

THE FURY GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22ND THE FURY AT KALAMAZOO 7:30 PM

The fifth tussle of the season and the third in Kalamazoo where the Fury are 2(2-0-0) thus far this season. Overall, Muskegon leads the series, 4(3-1-0). The series is even in Muskegon at 2(1-1-0) with the Wings prevailing in the last session staged between the two nearby rivals, 3-2 back on December 2nd. These same two teams will lock antlers the night after Christmas, Tuesday, December 26th back in Muskegon at Walker Arena.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23RD BLOOMINGTOIN AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

The fourth time the newly-created rivals will clash and the second time in Muskegon; the first time since back on opening night, October 13th when the Fury prevailed, 7-3. Muskegon leads the series, 3(3-0-0) following their 4-0 shutout victory last Friday in the Illinois city. The Fury have outscored the Prairie Thunder, 18-4 overall and 11-1 in the last two meetings, both in Bloomington.

THE FURY CHRISTMAS VACATION WEEK HOME STAND

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26TH KALAMAZOO AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27TH FLINT AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29TH QUAD CITY AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from December 17, 2006


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