Fury set to battle Kalamazoo
April 23, 2007 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- On the impetus of their opening round playoffs "sweeping" success over the Port Huron Flags, 4-games to none, the United Hockey League's all-time top winning team in both of the UHL regular season and the playoffs' post-season, the Eastern Division Champions, Muskegon Fury, have attained a hallowed, coveted berth in the Division Finals for an unprecedented sixth consecutive year and for the ninth time through the past 10-seasons.
Under the direction of first-year head coach Bruce Ramsay, Muskegon has a date to keep with the defending UHL Colonial Cup Champions, the Kalamazoo Wings in the best 4-of-7 Division Finals. Once again, the Fury have earned the distinction of the home ice advantage on the strength of a slightly superior regular season record over their prince-pal, nearby West Michigan archrivals. The Fury completed the 76-games' regular season docket with a majestic mark of 76(49-21-6) totaling 104-points with a winning percentage of .684. Though they fell one win shy of their third consecutive 50-victories' season, the Fury did achieve 49-triumphs, representing their fourth successive 40-wins season; their fifth in the last six years; their eighth the past 10-years and their 10th in the last 13-seasons. Muskegon's 49-victories ranked as second most in the UHL while its 21-setbacks equaled the fewest in the league. Moreover, their 104-total points for the regular season marked the fourth consecutive season, the fifth time over the last six years and the sixth time overall in Fury club history that the prestigious century points plateau was attained.
In quest with zest of a UHL record-breaking, history-making fifth Colonial Cup crown, the Fury have achieved their latest berth in the league's second round post-season series by virtue of an opening round series success over fourth place in-division rival Port Huron. For the second time in as many post-season meetings and the first-ever time under the Flags banner, the "Furious Ones" eliminated Port Huron as they closed out the series last Wednesday night, April 18th on the road with a 3-2 triumph. In the process, Muskegon completed a 4-game series sweep; 4(4-0-0), outscoring the Flags, 16-7. It was the Fury's fourth playoff series sweep in franchise annals with the previous three such accomp-lishments coming consecutively in 2004 when in unprecedented, unparalleled, undefeated, playoff perfect personified fashion, they swept to Colonial Cup III with an impeccable 11(11-0-0) mark of majesty.
As for the Fury's second round opponent, Kalamazoo, the Wings completed the regular phase in second place in the Eastern Division standings and fourth ranked in the overall alliance with the record of 76( 47-23-6) for 100-points or a mere four points differential to the Fury. Under the direction of the UHL's third all-time winningest coach, fourth year bench pilot, Mark Reeds, Kalamazoo culminated the campaign with a crescendo with a 12(10-2-0) record in its last dozen dates and 26(19-6-1) mark through its latter 26-episodes. Furthermore, the reigning kingpins flourished both home and away with a 38(24-10-4) mark at home and 38(23-13-2) abroad.
In their opening round playoff series, the Wings ousted third place finishing Flint in 6-games 4-games to 2 with their latter two triumphs the product of come-from-behind OT triumphs by replica results of 4-3. In the 2005-06 season, Kalamazoo captured its first-ever Colonial Cup crown since enlisting in the UHL in 1999-00 from their long-time membership tenure in the IHL. It was Kalamazoo's first league title since 1980, a span of some 26-years.
This is the second time in which the Fury and Kalamazoo have locked horns in the UHL Colonial Cup Playoffs and the eighth time overall that a Muskegon/Kalamazoo rivalry has been rekindled in the prestigious playoffs' history of both of these long-term, highly-successful West Michigan franchises. In the 2000-01 UHL post-season, the Fury and the Wings clashed in a one-game knockout format with the Fury prevailing, 6-3 to eliminate the Wings back on April 4, 2001.
Previously, as members of the IHL, the two nearby cities smacked seven times in the Turner Cup Playoffs; four times in the quarterfinals and three more times in the semi-finals. Muskegon gained a slight 7(4-3) advantage, laying claim to four of the last five series bouts; last 5(4-1). Including the IHL and UHL combined, in 35-playoff encounters, Muskegon has the advantage at 35(20-15).
Games #1 and #2 of this series are set for Muskegon's Walker Arena, on FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH and SATURDAY, APRIL 28TH with both games having an opening face-off of 7:30 PM.
Kalamazoo will then play host to Games # 3 and #4 on WEDNESDAY, MAY 2ND at 7:00 PM and FRIDAY, MAY 4TH at 7:30 PM. Games #5, #6 and #7, all under the "if necessary" category, are set for SATURDAY, MAY 5TH in Muskegon at 7:30 PM; MONDAY, MAY 7TH, in Kalamazoo at 7:00 PM and WEDNESDAY, MAY 9TH back in Muskegon at 7:30 PM.
During the regular season, the two teams tangled 12-times with the Fury capturing the series 12(6-4-2), outscoring the Wings, 38-29. The series was exceedingly close with three of the contests prolonged to the OTSO with the Fury post-ing a 3(1-2-0) in that department. To enunciate and punctuate the competitive closeness of the two clubs, the Fury were 6(3-2-1) at home against the Wings and 6(3-2-1) on the road in Kalamazoo. In the eight years in which the Kalamazooans have been associated with the UHL, the Fury have a season series mark of 8(7-0-1) against the K-Wings.
The Fury have launched their quest for the circuit's most prized jewel, inspired by the opportunity of making UHL post-season history, again. Muskegon is seeking to capture custody of its fifth Colonial Cup crown, having already won the most league championships in the UHL's history with four. The Fury have claimed "The Cup" in 1998-99, 2001-02, 2003-04 and 2004-05. They are one of only three teams in league annals to hoist high-to-the-sky back-to-back crowns.
Meanwhile, Kalamazoo, is seeking to join that exclusive elite fraternity by becoming the fourth team to win two Colonial Cups consecutively as this playoff series features the two teams that have won each of the last three UHL Colonial Cup Championships.
In its 15th anniversary season, the Fury franchise has come off yet another exemplary, extraordinary season in which it qualified for the league playoffs for an unprecedented 15th consecutive season, mirroring its overall existence in the UHL as Muskegon achieved yet another vintage, impressive winning season, also for a 15th successive year.
Muskegon has amassed the most regular season victories (642) and the most playoff victories (90) in UHL history. In addition, the Fury have won the most playoff series in league history, totaling 21, having captured 8 of their last 9; last 9(8-1) and 12 of the 14-playoff series; last 14(12-2).
UHL COLONIAL CUP PLAYOFFS / DIVISION FINALS
BEST 4-OF-7 SERIES---- THE FURY VS. KALAMAZOO
GAME #1 FRIDAY, APRIL 27 KALAMAZOO AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
GAME #2 SATURDAY, APRIL 28 KALAMAZOO AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
GAME #3 WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 THE FURY AT KALAMAZOO 7:00 PM
GAME #4 FRIDAY, MAY 4 THE FURY AT KALAMAZOO 7:30 PM
GAME #5** SATURDAY, MAY 5 KALAMAZOO AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
GAME #6** MONDAY, MAY 7 THE FURY AT KALAMAZOO 7:00 PM
GAME #7** WEDNESDAY, MAY 9 KALAMAZOO AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
** IF NECESSARY**
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