Fury set to open training camp
October 6, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- Set to launch their 14th campaign as members of the United Hockey League, minor pro hockey's and the UHL's all-time best winning team, the two-time reigning Colonial Cup Champions, the Muskegon Fury, will commence their annual training camp for the 2005-06 season officially this MONDAY, OCTOBER 10TH at the Fury's long-standing home of Walker Arena, downtown Muskegon.
Third-year Director of Hockey Operations / Head Coach Todd Nelson will formally greet approximately 22-24 pros-pective roster candidates for team meetings and physical exams as the Fury take their initial steps in quest with zest of becoming the first franchise ever to capture three consecutive Colonial Cup crowned coronations. In recent seasons, Muskegon has emerged prominently as the most dominant team in UHL history. Achieving such lofty acclaim on the strength of three league championships over the past four seasons and an all-time UHL- record four titles through the past six calendar years, the Fury launch another new season as only the third team in league annals to claim back-to-back diadems.
Training camp sessions will be conducted daily with twice-a-day workouts limited to the opening two days of MONDAY, OCTOBER 10TH and TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11TH. On each of those aforementioned days, the men of the Fury will be on the ice for the morning session at 10:00 AM followed by a 2:00 PM afternoon assemblage. For the remaining days of camp, single workouts will be scheduled for 10:00 am. All training camp sessions are open free to the general public.
It is anticipated that the Fury training camp roster will be comprised at the outset of 3-GOALTENDERS; 7-DEFENSEMEN and 12-FORWARDS. Of the players presently listed on the Fury early roster, thus far, 22-players have been officially signed to standard UHL contracts.
For the moment, it does appear that Muskegon will have as many as 13-players returning from last season's Colonial Cup IV squad which did, indeed, "repeat the feat" in hoisting high to the sky yet another crown. In the spring of 2005, the "Furious Ones" ousted archrival Quad City (4-3), before overtaking Danbury (4-1) and lastly, in the Finals, Fort Wayne, also (4-1).
Among the galaxy of Fury returning incumbents from the 2004-05 "Team Title," which set club records for regular season victories (51) and total points (111), are Team Rookie of the Year, goaltender CLAYTON POOL; three defensemen are expected to return; including Colonial Cup IV MVP runner-up and best playoffs plus player JON INSANA along with Team Co-MVP and Best Plus Player DAVE VAN DRUNEN as well as promising first-year pro CLAY WILSON. The Fury, defensively, surrendered, grudgingly, the fewest GA in the league last year (195) for a GAA of 2.44.
At the forward position, there is an abundance of mighty manpower returning to a Fury club which also led the league in goal-scoring prowess with 285-GF for a GFA of a prolific 3.56. Nine members of the finely-tuned front wall are back donning the Fury coat of arms. Spearheading the star-studded cast are Muskegon's all-time top two scoring laureates; namely the "Gun-Sling King," right wing Rockin' ROBIN BOUCHARD, the last remaining Fury player who has been a member of all four championship teams and center TODD ROBINSON, a member of three title timber teams and #2 on the Fury's all-time career scoring list. Also back is 14-year veteran center JEFF NELSON, who finished 8th in league-wide scoring and was named Fury Team Co-MVP and Most Inspirational Player Award winner and team captain and former Michigan State standout RUSTYN DOLYNY, the latter also a member of the last three championship clubs. The remaining returning forwards are left wing JASON LAWMASTER and center BILLY COLLINS, both having played on the last two consecutive title teams. They are joined by right wings NIGEL HAWRYLIW and BILL ZALBA and rookie left wing DAVID WRIGLEY.
Among the more prominent newcomers to the Fury nation are defensemen STEVE O'ROURKE and TREVOR JOHNSON, with the latter marking his return to the Muskegon livery after a one-year hiatus which was spent playing in both the ECHL and the AHL. In 2003-04, the year of Colonial Cup III, Johnson's UHL Fury debut was an auspicious one, being named to the UHL All-Star Team and UHL All-Rookie Team. Also ready to make his Fury premiere is rugged, ruffian, rock-ribbed left wing KEN FELS.
There is an array of rookies ready to make an indelible initial impression on the Fury brain-trust. Foremost among the yearlings are goaltenders KEVIN LAPOINTE and DAVE RATHJEN with the former fresh from attending the training camps of the NHL Detroit Red Wings and the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. Rookie defensemen in the ranks are 6-6, 240 leviathan BRETT ANGEL from Acadia U., and JOE POMARANSKI from CCHA Miami O., U. Michigan Tech center JOHN HARTMAN and former Holy Cross two-time scoring champion BRANDON DORIA complete the Fury roster at this hour before the eve of actual training camp.
Training camp additions for the hometown team may still be anticipated; especially with the NHL and AHL regular seasons being inaugurated a full two weeks before the commencement of the UHL's 15th year of operations.
The Muskegon franchise is ushering-in its 14th year under the Fury moniker as both the all-time top winning team in UHL history with 541-victores as well as the best winning team in all of minor pro hockey with a winning percentage of a sterling .625. Moreover, the Fury are the lone team in UHL history to finish every season with an overall winning record and attaining a post-season playoff berth in each year of their existence. Three times in the last four years and four times through the past six seasons, the Fury have amassed 100 or more points in the standings. Six times in the past eight years and eight of the last 11-years they have achieved over 40-victories.
In addition to their league-record four Colonial Cup Championships, the Fury have reached the UHL Conference Finals in seven of the last eight seasons. In the process, they have registered an all-time league high 80-lifetime playoff triumphs.
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