Fury set for final five weeks of season
March 5, 2007 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
TOP TEAM TALES: Embarking on their sixth month of the 2006-07 United Hockey League campaign, the UHL's all-time top winning team, the Eastern Division and league-leading Muskegon Fury have divided their initial three games of a rather unusual regular season four game series against second place, defending league champion Kalama-zoo right on the .500 barrier from their perspective at 3(1-1-1). Under the doctrine of first year head coach Bruce Ramsay, the team from the land of the Fury and company have 17-games and five more weeks remaining on the 76-games' regular season docket with 10 of those on the road and 7-more still to be played in their amiable climes and environs of Walker Arena. Through 59-games, the Fury have compiled the UHL's premiere record of 59(43-14-2) totaling 88-points and an 11-points advantage over second place defending league champion Kalamazoo 60(36-19-5) for 77-points with the Fury having one game in hand on the Wings. The Fury and the Wings are in the midst of meeting five times in the month of March to conclude their 12-game regular season series. Addressing the matter of the overall UHL league-leadership, Muskegon has maintained a 7-points edge over Western Division front-running Rockford 58(38-15-5) 81-points with the IceHogs riding the crest of an all-time franchise record 15-games undefeated streak; 15(14-0-1). Meanwhile, Muskegon still holds a 9-points advantage over Western Division runner-up Fort Wayne 60(38-19-3) 79-points. The Fury have two important in hand games on the Komets. Muskegon's remaining docket will consist of 2-more games against Kalamazoo 10(6-3-1); 3- more meetings with Fort Wayne 4(1-3-0); and 2-more bouts with Rockford 5(3-2-0). In this first full week of game activity in March, the Fury face three games in four nights with the latter two on home ice. They will open the week with the fourth and concluding game of a 4-games' series with archrival Kalamazoo Wednesday night in Wings Stadium. The Fury will close out the week with a pair of momentous, monumental home encounters; Friday night Rockford touches down downtown in our town before Flint arrives on the scene for a duel with the Fury on Saturday night.
THE PROMO PUMP: For their two home appearances on tap for the upcoming weekend, the Fury will present another one of their popular scout nights for their Friday night rendezvous with Rockford while Saturday night, the Fury will be the host with the most in introducing Muskegon's debuting Arena Football entry, the Muskegon Thunder which will set sail on their maiden voyage season as a fledgling franchise, playing all of their home games at the Fury home of Walker Arena.
THE FURY ON TV: The first place, league-leading Fury game replays can now be seen weekly on both Muskegon Comcast Cable Channel 97 as well as Charter Mainstreet Channel 20, throughout the Grand Haven area and beyond. In the greater Muskegon area, the Fury game replays are scheduled 3-times weekly; Monday nights at 9:00 pm; Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm and Saturday mornings at 11:00 am. In Grand Haven / Spring Lake areas, the Fury are on the air Friday evenings at 7:00 pm and Sundays at 11:00 am.
THE BEST RECORD READ: In compiling a 3(1-1-1) mark through their initial 3-games of a 4-games series against second place Kalamazoo, the Fury have upgraded their overall season record to a magnificent 59(43-14-2) for 88-points. Their total of 43-victories represent five more triumphs than all of the UHL while their 14-setbacks being one less than the rest. When they rallied to overcome visiting Kalamazoo Sunday, the Fury halted their longest winless streak of the current campaign at 4(0-3-1). In their last 10-games; 10(5-4-1). In the first half of the season, their record was an extraordinary at 38(32-5-1). Thus far through the first 21-games of the second half, they are 21(11-9-1). One year ago after 59-games, the Muskegon record was 59(41-11-7) for 89-points. Presently, the Fury have garnered 2-more wins, 3-more losses and 1-less point than their immediate predecessors. The longest win streaks of the season have been two 8-game win skeins, one 7-game victory streak and four 3-game win streaks. Also to be incorporated in the Fury compendium collection of winning achievements is a 5-game unsullied skein of 5(4-0-1). The monthly listings: October 7(7-0-0); November 13(11-2-0); December 14(11-3-0); January 13(9-3-1); February 9(4-5-0); March 3(1-1-1).
THE HOME GROWN ZONE: When the Fury rallied to overcome Kalamazoo Sunday, 4-1, they applied the brakes to their longest winless skid of the season at 4(0-3-1) while at the same time halting their third two-game losing spell at Walker Arena. In their last 10-home decisions, Muskegon has posted a 10(4-6-0) mark. Their overall home mark stands at 31(22-9-0) which represents the UHL's third best record in that department. Saturday night has been part-icularly perplexing for the home town team as they have dropped 4 of their last 5-Saturday night home games; 5(1-4-0). The longest home win streak of the season has been 8-in a row; 8(8-0-0) mirroring their initial 8-home dates of the current campaign. Muskegon has also recorded one 6-game win skein and one 3-game victory skein.
ROAD PLACE ACE: The league-leading Muskegon road show may be on the precipice of more record-breaking and history-making majesty. Through 28-encounters abroad, the Fury have fashioned the league's pre-eminent road composite at a gleaming and glowing 28(21-5-2). Remarkably, the Fury have yet to sustain back-to-back defeats abroad thus far this season. They have spirited away a minimum one victory verdict from each of the UHL member clubs locales while maintaining a most impressive list of undefeated haunts on the foreign ice escapades totaling four; Flint 4(4-0-0); Port Huron 4(3-0-1); Chicago 3(3-0-0); Bloomington 3(3-0-0). In their last 11-foreign ice excursions, the Fury have compiled an excellent record 11(6-3-2). Earlier this season, the Fury established an all-time club record with an 11-game winning streak which fell just one shy of matching the all-time UHL league standard of 12-straight wins. The Fury have also earned one 4-game road win streak. The Fury are only 3-wins away from equaling their club record for most road wins established just last season in 2005-06 when they claimed 24-foreign ice successes through an excellent record of 38(24-10-4). The Fury have been especially effective abroad against their own Eastern Division rivals with a mark of a dynamic 16(12-2-2).
DIVISION DYNAMICS: All season long, the Fury have really been profiting against both of the UHL divisions. Against their own Eastern Division, the record is 34(24-8-2); at home: 18(12-6-0); road: 16(12-2-2). The breakdown: Elmira 7(6-1-0)32-25; home: 4(4-0-0)17-12; road: 3(2-1-0)15-13. Flint 9(7-2-0)36-17; home: 5(3-2-0)15-11; road: 4(4-0-0)21-6. Kalamazoo 10(6-3-1)37-25; home: 5(3-2-0)21-11; road: 5(3-1-1)16-14. Port Huron 8(5-2-1)28-24; home: 4(2-2-0)13-13; road: 4(3-0-1)15-11. In the Western Division, the Fury record stands at 25(19-6-0); home: 13(10-3-0); road: 12(9-3-0). The breakdown: Chicago 6(6-0-0)21-12; home: 3(3-0-0)10-4; road: 3(3-0-0)11-8. Bloomington 5(5-0-0)26-7; home: 2(2-0-0)10-5; road: 3(3-0-0)16-2. Quad City 5(4-1-0)29-15; home: 3(3-0-0)20-9; road: 2(1-1-0)9-6. Rockford 5(3-2-0)15-20; home: 3(2-1-0)11-13; road: 2(1-1-0)4-7. Fort Wayne 4(1-3-0)8-13; home: 2(0-2-0)4-9; road: 2(1-1-0)4-4.
THE GF / GA PLAY: The past week, the first place Fury earned a 3(1-1-1) record. Scoring 8-GF and allotting only 7-GA. Despite their lack of a knack on the goal- scoring attack in recent action, Muskegon still remains #1 in the UHL in goal-scoring cannoneering with 233-GF in 59-games for a GFA of 3.95. In their last 5-games, the Fury have registered only 10-GF for a GFA of a rather somnolent 2.00. Defensively, however, the Fury have been both stingy and stellar in recent action. They have grudgingly surrendered only 7-GA in the last 3-games for a GAA of 2.33. For the season, Muskegon ranks 4th in the circuit for fewest GA at 159-GA in 59-games for a GAA of 2.70.
HALLOWED HALOED HEIGHTS: The league-leading Fury continue to list 4 of the top point artisans in the UHL. 1- Todd Robinson 59(37-70-107); 3- Rustyn Dolyny 56(23-48-71); 5- (tied) Mike Watt 52(33-35-68); 10- Philippe Plante 59(16-42-58). In UHL goals: 1- Robinson (37); 4- Watt (33). In UHL assists: 1- Robinson (70); 3- Dolyny (48); 4-Plante (42). In PPG: 5-Robinson (12); 7- Watt (11). In PPA: 2- Robinson (26); 3- Plante (25). In SOG: 3- Robinson (260); 4- Watt (259). In GWG: 1- Robinson (11). In SHG: 1- (tied) Robinson (7). In PIM: 5- Adam Smyth (197). In Majors: 7- Kelly Thomson (14). Best PLUS: 1-Dave Van Drunen (+42); 2- Plante (+40); 3- Robinson (+38); 4- Doly-ny (+32). In Rookie scoring: 4-Evan Kotsopoulos 58(16-25-41); 7- Elias Godoy 24(11-25-36). In PIM: 1- Kotsopoulos (183). In Minors: 3-Kotsopoulos (34). In Goals: 6- Kotsopoulos (16). On the UHL defense: 1- Plante (58-points). In Goals: 2- Plante (16). In the goaltending category, Clayton Pool ranks 4th with a 2.50 GAA and SPCT: 919. Ryan Cyr is circuit seventh with a GAA of 2.81 and SPCT of .907.
"T. ROB" IN RECORDS: Eight year pro veteran center Todd Robinson is on the verge of a majestic pro year this season with the Fury. Now in his seventh Muskegon campaign "T. Rob" completed this past week with 3(1-3-4) with 10-SOG. In his squad's electrifying come back counterattack conquest Sunday of Kalamazoo, he crafted 3-more points and his 29th multiple game of the season. Included in his brilliant performance was the TBG and ultimate GWG mid-way through the third period to vault the Fury into the victory circle. It was Robinson's league-high 11th GWG of the season to tie the UHL's all-time single season standard which is shared by several other players including his former Fury teammates Robin Bouchard and Ryan Keller. In addition, it was his career best-ever 37th goal of the season, giving him 107-points with 17-games remaining. He is 15-points henceforth from equaling the Fury record for most scoring points in one season of 122 by both Brett Seguin and Sergei Kharin. For the second successive week, Robin-son is the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week.
LEATHER LARCENY: The Fury goaltender Ryan Cyr has been blade sharp and on the beam in his more recent activity. In his lone outing for the past weekend, he earned the game's lofty #1 Star status with his spellbinding and riveting 35-saves masterpiece in spurring his team to the 4-1 victory verdict over Kalamazoo. For the week, he was 1(1-0-0) with a 1.00 GAA and sterling .972 SPCT. Cyr has accounted for the last 5- Fury victories; 6(5-1-0) in that span with a microscopic 1.50 GAA and scintillating .949 SPCT. For the entire season, he has composed a winning record of 19(14-4-1) overall and 12(10-2-0) on home ice. Cyr is, again, the Fury's nomination for Southern Sports Supply / UHL Goaltender of the Week.
"COOP-DE-VILLE: It took all of 11-games but second year pro Kevin Cooper stayed with the program and finally found the golden touch on Saturday night in Kalamazoo. In that contest, he fired his first 2-goals as a member of the Fury with both strikes considered of the key, clutch tie-breaking, go-ahead variety. Those 2-goals ended an 8-games' pointless drought for the former D-III All-American from Middlebury College out of Vermont. He was named that game's #3 Star. A 33-goal artisan last season with Elmira, Cooper was an impressive +3 for the week and is currently 12(2-2-4) with 6-PIM and 23-SOG.
THE "BILLY 'C' SIEGE: Third-year center Billy Collins certainly enjoyed one of his better weeks for this current 2006-07 season. For the week he was 3(1-1-2) with a splendid +3 rating, 1-GTG and 7-SOG along with 4-PIM. For the season, the "Billy C." stock seems to be rising as he is 54(11-13-24) with 81-PIM and +4 rating. His Fury history is replete with his late season and playoff post season key, clutch goal-connection prowess.
WATT GOT SHOT: Ten-year veteran left wing Mike Watt continues to be the pulse and the conscience of the club with both his on-ice exploits and off-ice leadership qualities. The past week, the UHL's 5th top point-producer extra-ordinaire engineered 3-points in 3-games on 1-goal, 2-assists with a +2 rating and 13-SOG. Friday night in Kalama-zoo, he cannonaded the key TBG in the third period before authoring 2-assists, one on the GTG/PPG and the second on the TBG/GWG in Sunday's come back win over the Wings.
RUSTYN RIFLIN': Muskegon captain Rustyn Dolyny enjoyed another superb week of major contributing for his first place team. In 3-games, he was 3(1-1-2) with 12-PIM, 7-SOG and stellar +3 rating. His ENG late in Sunday's 4-1 triumph over Kalamazoo cemented the success for the home town team and was the insurance goal. He was +2 in that momentous game for the league-leaders.
PENALTY SHOT SHIFT: The Fury's three-time All-Star defenseman Dave Van Drunen found himself in a rather unfamiliar position in his team's Sunday 4-1 victory over visiting Kalamazoo. When the Wings were found guilty of delay of game with under 2:00 remaining in the game, a penalty shot was awarded the Fury. The league's premiere defensive defenseman and consummate workhorse was designated to perform the showdown one-on-one battle. He did not disappoint as he promptly proceeded to stash his 2nd goal of the season to solidify his team's latest victory. For the week, Van Drunen was 3(1-1-2) with a +2 rating.
SPECIAL TEAMS TUNING: Through the first three games of their four game series against Kalamazoo, the Fury are 1-14 on the power play and 54-363 on the season for a conversion rate of 14.9%. The Fury rank 6th in the league and are only 6 for their last 62 with the man advantage for a mark of 9.7%. The penalty-killing outfit continues to really radiate for the league-leaders as they rank a lofty third in the UHL, operating at 86.2% efficiency with the opponents being 57-414. The Fury have defused 46 of the last 50 advantages afforded the adversary for a rating of 92.0%. The Fury rank second in the league in SHG with 16.
HALLOWED HALL WALL: Rustyn Dolyny's ENG in Sunday's victory over Kalamazoo was his 142nd of his Fury career, ranking him third all-time in Fury career goals. Todd Robinson has tied Dolyny for second place all-time in Fury career GWG with 23. Billy Collins (194) is just 6-games from pro career 200. Rustyn Dolyny's next game will be the 400th of his pro career. Dave Van Drunen (697) is 3-games away from pro career 700. Mike Watt (591) is 9-games from pro career 600. Todd Robinson has tied the UHL record for most GWG in one season with 11. Robinson's next SHG (7) will tie Brett Seguin's Fury record of 8-SHG in one season.
FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": The Fury are flourishing on Sunday this season at 11(9-2-0) and 6(5-1-0) on the road. When the Fury score 4 or more, their record is 33(31-2-0). The Fury are 7(5-2-0) in the OTSO this season; home: 4(4-0-0); road: 3(1-2-0). Against their in-state Michigan rivals on the road, the Fury have a combined record of 12(10-1-1); Kalamazoo 5(3-1-1); Port Huron4(3-0-1); Flint 4(4-0-0). When the Fury bowed n Kalamazoo Friday night, 3-2, it marked their first road setback against a fellow Eastern Division opponent in 4-months; a 7-4 loss on November 4th in Elmira. Only three players have been at the starting line for all 59; Philippe Plante, Todd Robinson and Chase Trull.
RECAP THE WRAP: Facing three games in three days as part of a 4-game series against defending league champion Kalamazoo, the Fury posted an all-even log of 3(1-1-1). Friday night, in the first of 2-consecutively at Wings Stadium, the Wings struck with 2-third period goals in :52 just :25 following Mike Watt's (TBG) in a 3-2 triumph. Billy Collins (GTG) also connected and Clayton Pool made 35-saves. Saturday night at the same site, the Wings surmounted two 1-goal deficits to prevail in the OTSO, again, 3-2. Kevin Cooper accounted for both of the Fury thrusts with each one producing one-goal leads. Pool had 32-saves in regulation. Sunday in Muskegon, the Fury rallied from a late second period 1-0 deficit with 4-unanswered goals to surpass the Wings, 4-1. Todd Robinson (1-2-3)TBG/GWG, Philippe Plante (GTG/PPG), Rustyn Dolyny (ENG) and Dave Van Drunen (penalty shot goal) all connected for the victors with Watt assisting twice. Ryan Cyr was supreme in goal as he blanked Kalamazoo after the 3:06 mark early in the first period and brushed aside 35-shots.
THE FURY GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7TH THE FURY AT KALAMAZOO 7:00 PM
The fourth and final game of this four game series and the third one to be hosted by the defending league champions. The Fury are 10(6-3-1) in the season series and are 5(3-1-1) in 5-previous appearances at Wings Stadium. After this clash, the two top teams in the Eastern Division will have only one more meeting remaining and that one will take place March 31st in Muskegon.
FRIDAY, MARCH 9TH ROCKFORD AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
A potential showdown clash featuring the two divisional kingpins with the IceHogs launching the new week on a resounding rampage resonating all over the UHL. Undefeated in a club record 15-consecutive games; 15(14-0-1) and 26(23-1-2) in the past 26-outings, Rockford comes to Muskegon bent on overtaking the Fury for the overall league-leadership and Tarry Cup regular season crown. The Fury are 5(3-2-0) against the Illinois contingent but have trembled in the last two meetings including a 10-4 humbling in Rockford's last appearance here on February 3rd.
SATURDAY, MARCH 10TH FLINT AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
The Generals come to Muskegon for the last time in this regular season with the Fury on top in the 11-game season series 9(7-2-0). The league-leaders have actually attained a superior record on the road as compared to the normal setting at home when playing Flint. They are 5(3-2-0) at home and a perfect 4(4-0-0) at Perani Arena. The last time the two teams tangled, the Fury prevailed, 5-1in Flint, back on February 23rd.
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International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 5, 2007
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- Mallards Travel to Fort Wayne Before Pair of Weekend Home Games - Quad City Mallards
- Chicago Hounds Weekly Notes - Chicago Hounds
- Komets home for three this week - Fort Wayne Komets
- Generals Weekly Recap - Flint Generals
- Fury set for final five weeks of season - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Muskegon Fury notes - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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