Fury sweep week

November 28, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


TEAM TITLE TALES: For the Thanksgiving holiday week, it was yet another complete sweep of the week for the two-time defending Colonial Cup Champions of the United Hockey League, the Muskegon Fury. Under the doctrine according to third-year head coach Todd Nelson, the torrid men of the Fury claimed four conquests in as many contests to further elevate their overall season record to an extraordinary 15(14-1-0) totaling 28 of a possible 30-points for a winning percentage of a league-supreme .933. Having previously inaugurated their latest title-defense season with an all-time club record, best start-ever 10(10-0-0) mark, the Fury's latest win streak has swelled to 4-games in a row. In the process, Muskegon has reclaimed sole possession of first-place atop the Michigan-only, Central Division standings by 2-points over second-place Kalamazoo 16(13-3-0)26-points with one game in hand on the Wings who did have an 8-game win streak stifled this past weekend. The home town team has extended its divisional advantage over third-place Motor City 17(8-8-1)17 to 10-points with 2-games in hand. Meanwhile, Muskegon continues to make significant inroads in the business of the overall UHL league-leadership. Presently, the Fury have surged augustly into a share of second-place in the overall standings with Eastern Division front-running Adirondack 18(14-4-0) 28 with 3-games in hand on the Frostbite. Moreover, Muskegon has crept to within one-point of first-place overall and Western-Division leading Rockford 19(14-4-1)29 with 4-games in hand on the Ice Hogs. This week, the Fury face an ambitious weekend agenda consisting of three games in three days with the first one on the road and the latter two on home ice at Walker Arena. Friday night, the Fury sojourn to Fort Wayne for an always rugged assignment against the Komets before returning home to the amiable climes and environs of the "Hockey Barn of Bedlam" for dates against division rival Port Huron on Saturday night and an encore engagement against Fort Wayne in the first Sunday 2:00 pm matinee affair of the season.

TWO MONTHS, TOO PERFECT: The two-time reigning Champions have now completed the initial two months of their schedule and they have done so in virtually impeccably, perfect fashion. On the strength of a season-launching, club record 10-game win streak; 10(10-0-0) and a current 4-game victory string, the "Furious Ones" have sprouted their overall remarkable record to 15(14-1-0) for 28-points. Muskegon completed the month of October flawless and faultless at 3(3-0-0) before culminating the 12-games' hitch of duty in November with a superlative mark of 12(11-1-0); the best month ever in Fury regular season play. One year ago, the Fury were somewhat stagnant in the 11th month of the calendar year, posting a rather mundane mark of 12(6-6-0). After the first 15-games last year, the Muskegon record stood at 15(10-4-1) for 21-points. Currently, the Fury are 4-wins and 7-points superior to a year ago. To really elucidate and enumerate the Fury's enormous on-ice consistency and continuity, in their last 46-regular season games, they are a brilliant 46(36-6-4) in their last 46-games and a sterling 65(49-11-5) over the past 65-decisions. Longest win streaks this season have been 10-in a row and the current 4-game win skein. In 2004-05, the year of Colonial Cup IV, the Fury's longest victory skein was 9- in a row while compiling a team-record and league-best 17-games' unsullied streak; 17(14-0-3). Last season as well, "Todd's Team" posted two 10-games' undefeated streaks; both were 10(9-0-1).

THE INVINCIBLE PRINCIPLE: The Central Division-leading Fury remain the utter and total masters of their eminent domain and divine province at their home of Walker Arena. The past week, they collected two more impressive triumphs at the downtown historical landmark corner of Fourth Street and W. Western Avenue. The UHL league record 4-time Champions have hiked their overall home slate to 9(8-1-0) while currently enjoying back-to-back victories following their first and only setback of the season, incurred at home against Kalamazoo. Longest home win streak has been 6-in succession. They are a gaudy 25(22-3-0) in their last 25-home verdicts, outscoring the hostile invaders, 112-50. In the last 67-home decisions, they are still a stunning 67(55-9-3) for a win percentage of .845. The longest home win streak thus far this season has been 6-consecutively. The longest home win streak last season was 10-in a row.

STILL STANDING STELLAR: In the past week, the Fury extracted two more foreign ice victory verdicts; 5-1 last Wednesday night in Quad City and 6-3 triumph Sunday afternoon at St. Charles, 6-3. With those two latest triumphs, Muskegon has elevated its overall road record to a perfect 6(6-0-0) as the last UHL member team still standing without a defeat in hostile territory. Their current 6-game road win streak matches their longest of last season but is still two victories shy of the all-time club record for fastest start for the season at 8-in a row, established in the 2001-02 cam-paign and Colonial Cup II when Danton Cole was at the Muskegon helm.

DIVISION AMMUNITION: With an overall record of 15(14-1-0), the Fury continue to realize the riches of divisional domination as it relates to all three UHL alignments. In their own Central Division, they have posted a healthy mark of 7(6-1-0)30-14. At home: 4(3-1-0) 15-9; road: 3(3-0-0)15-5. The breakdown: Motor City 2(2-0-0)10-2; home: 1(1-0-0)4-1; road: 1(1-0-0)6-1; Port Huron 2(2-0-0)9-4; road: 2(2-0-0)9-4; Flint 1(1-0-0)6-2; home: 1(1-0-0)6-2; Kalamazoo 2(1-1-0)5-6; home: 2(1-1-0)5-6. In the Western Division: 6(6-0-0)39-18; home: 3(3-0-0)19-8; road: 3(3-0-0)20-10. The breakdown: Fort Wayne 2(2-0-0)15-9; home: 1(1-0-0)6-3; road: 1(1-0-0)9-6; Missouri 2(2-0-0)15-6; home: 1(1-0-0)9-3; road: 1(1-0-0)6-3; Quad City 1 (1-0-0)5-1; road: 1(1-0-0)5-1; Rockford 1(1-0-0)4-2; home: 1(1-0-0)4-2. In the Eastern Division: 2(2-0-0)8-5; home 2(2-0-0)8-5. The breakdown: Danbury 1 (1-0-0)5-4; home: 1(1-0-0). Elmira 1(1-0-0)3-1; home :1(1-0-0)3-1.

GOAL GARGANTUAN: For a third successive season running, the Fury continue to be armed with the most explosive pyrotechnics in the business. In fact, they lead the UHL with 77-missile shots resulting in goals for a per game average of 5.13. To amplify and magnify on their high-tech, high-voltage arsenal, the Fury, through just the first 15-games of the season, have already erupted for two 9-goal performances five 6-goal outputs, accounting for nearly one-half of their game schedule thus far this season. In 9-games on home ice, the Fury have fired cannons to the tune of 42-GF for a GFA of 4.67. Abroad, Muskegon has been even more lethal, engineering 35-GF in 6-outings for a GFA of a robust-o 5.83.

PROLIFIC TERRIFIC: The torrid Fury continue to totally dominate all of the major categories in the league. Once again, this week, they account for the top three scoring league laureates, along with 4 of the top 7 and 5 of the top 9 on the UHL hit parade. Todd Robinson 15(7-27-34) is #1; Jeff Nelson 15(11-20-31) is #2 and Robin Bouchard 15(16-14-30) is #3. Furthermore, Ryan Keller 15(11-13-24) is ranked 7th and David Wrigley 15(13-8-21) is 9th. Bouchard's 16-goals lead the league with Wrigley (13) ranked right behind at #2. Robinson (27) is 1st and Nelson (20) is 3rd in assists league-wide. Bouchard's 8-PPG rank UHL runner-up and his 72-SOG rank tied for 3rd in the loop. The two rookie phenoms, Ryan Keller (5) and David Wrigley (5) are tied for the league-lead in GWG. Wrigley (3) is tied for the UHL lead in SHG. Nelson 11/33, .333 and Wrigley 13/51; .255 rank 1st and 3rd respectively in goal-scoring marksmanship. The Fury also have 3 of the top 4 plus players in the league; #1 Dave Van Drunen +18; #2 David Wrigley +17 and Jeff Nelson is 4th at +16. In the UHL rookie scoring list, Keller is #1 and Wrigley is #3 with the latter also leading all rookies in goal-scoring (13). Keller is 3rd with 11 while he also leads all rookies in assists with 13. On the defense, Clay Wilson 13(3-9-12) is 8th, Trevor Johnson 15(2-8-10) and Van Drunen are tied for 10th 15(3-7-10). In the goaltending department, rookie Kevin LaPointe is 2nd with a 2.08 GAA and 5th with a .916 SPCT. LaPointe is one of only goalkeepers without a defeat so far this year; 6(6-0-0). Clayton Pool is rated 6th with a 2.61 GAA while his 8-wins tie him for 2nd most in the league.

PRESTO RUSTO: Five-year pro right wing Rustyn Dolyny has been prospering proficiently since re-entering the Fury lineup after some 8-games due to injury. The past week, "Rusto Bravissimo" was never better as he sparked his team to its perfect 4(4-0-0) week by crafting a key goal in each contest. For the week, he was 4(4-1-5) with 17-SOG and a superb +7 rating. Included in his output were 2-UG, 1-GTG and 1-TBG. He was named the #1 Star Saturday night in the Fury's major and mighty 4-2 triumph over Rockford and the #3 Star in his squad's 6-3 come back victory Sunday in Missouri. For the season, the erstwhile Michigan State scoring titlist and team captain is 7(6-4-10) with a strong +5 rating. Dolyny is the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week.

CLAYTON CLICKING: Second-year net-minder Clayton Pool has been fashioning superb play for the Fury all season long. The past week, the former U. of Alberta standout was dynamic, earning a 2(2-0-0) record while surrendering a menial 3-GA on 53-SOG. On Thanksgiving night, he captured the game's #1 Star honors in his team's 4-1 triumph over the Mechanics. He followed that performance by backstopping the Fury to a key, crucial 4-2 verdict over Rockford on Saturday night. Pool posted a miserly 1.50 GAA and supreme .943 SPCT for the week. Pool is the Fury's nomination for Southern Sports Supply / UHL Goaltender of the Week.

BAZOOKA BLAST BLITZ: For the Fury's all-time "Gun-Sling King" Robin Bouchard, it was yet another month of a veritable goal-scoring scourge. The 12-year pro ignited cannon-shots all month long in sharp-shooting 13-goals in 12-games among his November totals of 23-points. Muskegon's premiere career cannoneer essayed scoring points in all 12-games, including 8-multiple-point games and 4 multi-goal games. He actually scored goals in 9 of the 12-games and at one time during the month generated a masterful 6-games' goal-scoring streak with 6(10-3-13). He also led his first-place team in PPG with 6 while ranking third both in overall team point-producing and plus/minus with +9. Three times he was named the #1 Star and once the #2 Star. His month of November was highlighted by both his 1,000th career point and 500th pro career goal as he attained both momentous milestones on consecutive nights. Presently, perhaps, superseding all of these accomplishments is Bouchard's season-opening, UHL league-best 15-games' point-scoring streak in which he has amassed 30-points including a league-high 16-goals. Bouchard is the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Month for November.

ANOINT LAPOINTE: Another of the Fury's precocious rookies is goaltender Kevin LaPointe. The first-year pro is quietly yet very efficiently performing his craft in undefeated, winning fashion. For the month November, the Sacred Heart U. standout assembled an unsullied 5(5-0-0) record in 5-appearances, including 3-straight starts on foreign ice. The Quebec City, PQ native allotted only 9-GA, posting a stingy, stellar GAA of 1.89 and SPCT of .925. For the season, he is one of only two undefeated goalkeepers in the league at 6(6-0-0) with his last 4-consecutive victories secured abroad. LaPointe is the Fury's nomination for Southern Sports Supply / UHL Goaltender of the Month.

RYAN SKYIN": The Fury rookie wizard Ryan Keller is making an indelible impression around the UHL this season. In November, he was his team's second leading goal-scoring marksman as for the 12-games he was a prolific 12(10-9-19). He recorded scoring points in 10 of the 12-games, actually producing 5-multiple-point games and two multiple goal games including his first 3-goal "hat trick" as a pro. His 5-GWG and 2-SHG for November paced the Fury in those two key categories while his 5-PPG were second most for the month. Keller earned a strong +6 rating. Keller is the Fury's nomination for UHL Rookie of the Month.

SMOOTH-MOVE CENTER: Center Jeff Nelson is making his 14th pro season his best season ever. This past week, in 4-games, he was 4(2-3-5) with both of his strikes stroked on the power play and one of those was a key TBG in the Sunday come back triumph in Missouri. For the month of November, he was Muskegon's top point-maker, authoring a prolific 26-points in 12-games on 9-goals, 17-assists with a team-best +13 rating. His numbers included 3-PPG, 1-SHG, 1-GWG and 1-FG.

THE PLAYMAKING POINTS PRINCE: Savvy center Todd Robinson has been the absolute paragon of pre-eminent playmaking points' productivity since the nativity of the current campaign. The Fury's playmaker extraord-inaire was casting the laser-beam, radar-like sweet lead feeds the past week in spearheading his team's perfect 4(4-0-0) week. In those 4-games, "T. Rob" engineered 7-assists including three consecutive 2-assists' performances. Along with his 14-SOG, the "prince of points" pivot earned a masterful +7 rating. For the month of November, he was the Fury's second top scorer with 12(5-19-24) and a solid +5 rating.

WRIG'S ROLLS ROYCE: One more precocious Fury young rookie colt has been profiting in dividends for "Team Title 2." Left wing David Wrigley has acted the role of opportunist in a fluid Fury fashion. The past week, the Mercyhurst College star registered goals in the last three straight games; 3(3-2-5). Included in his output for the week were 2-PPG, 2-GWG and 1-FG. For the week, Wrigley achieved a tremendous +8 rating in those 4-games and for the month, he ranked 5th in team scoring with 12(8-6-14) with 3-PPG, 3-GWG and an excellent +9 rating.

"D-V-D" DAZZLE: Nine-year veteran defenseman Dave VanDrunen has injected considerable offense into his already all-star style of play. The second-year member of the Muskegon blue line brigade became a legitimate offen-sive force and factor of some significant repute when he connected for important goals in each of the Fury's last two games the past weekend. His 3-goals thus far this season already eclipse his total of 2 from last year. For the month of November, he was 12(2-4-6) with 1-PPG and a sterling +11 rating.

ONE MORE MATTER: The Fury power play is percolating prodigiously at this hour of the campaign. With their 2-PPG Sunday in the 6-3 come back win in Missouri, it continues to rank as #1 in the UHL at 29-93 for a proficiency rating of a prolific 31.2%. Despite having been presented the fewest power play advantages of any team in the circuit, Muskegon, nevertheless, has still scored the most PPG in the league as well. Through 15-games, the Fury are averaging virtually 2-PPG each game. Recently the power play has been even more resolute. They are 7 for the last 15; 46.7%; 8-17; 47.0% and 12 for the last 27; 44.4%. Muskegon also leads the UHL in SHG with 7.

TRAILING TREASURES: Jeff Nelson (295) is just 5-goals away from career 300. Jeff Petruic (298) is 2-assists from career 300. The Fury captain Rustyn Dolyny (98) needs 2-more goals to become only the 11th player in franchise history to score 100-goals. Tyler Palmer (298) is 2-games away from career 300. Robin Bouchard (584) is 16-games away from his 600th Fury game.

FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": With their 4-2 victory Saturday night over Rockford, the Fury extended their home ice undefeated over the Ice Hogs to 14(11-0-3). They are 23(19-1-3) in their last 23 home endeavors against Rockford. On the strength of their come back 6-3 triumph Sunday in Missouri, the Fury have advanced their recent record over the River Otters to 15(11-1-3). The Fury are the best third period team in the UHL, outscoring their opponents, 30-10. On the road, in the last 2-periods combined, the Fury have outscored the home standing team, 28-8. In 312-Fury career games, Todd Robinson is averaging over one assist a game with 319. The rookie combination of Ryan Keller (5) and David Wrigley (5) have combined for 10 of the Fury's 14-GWG. Robin Bouchard has already choreographed 5-multiple goal games thus far this season.

THE WRAP ON THE WEEK: Facing 4-games in 5-days on a rather demanding docket, the Fury responded in dynamic fashion to complete the sweep of the week. Wednesday night in Quad City, the Fury dispatched the Mallards, 5-1. The Fury high-octane attack featured 3-PPG and a 3-goal 2nd period assault. Robin Bouchard ripped a pair PPG and line-mates Jeff Nelson (1-2-3)PPG, Ryan Keller (1-1-2)TBG and Rustyn Dolyny (UG) also made connection. Kevin LaPointe was strong in goal with 21-saves. Thursday on Thanksgiving night, the Fury subdued Motor City, 4-1. Again, the Fury power play had a featured role, converting twice with David Wrigley (1-1-2)PPG/GWG, Bouchard (PPG), Dolyny and Jeff Petruic (FG) also delivering. Todd Robinson assisted twice as did Trevor Johnson. Clayton Pool made 28-saves. Saturday night in the showdown against Rockford, the Fury prevailed, 4-2. Wrigley (1-1-2)FG, Dolyny (1-1-2)TBG, Keller (PPG/GWG) and Dave Van Drunen (ENG) registered goals with Robinson, again, assisting twice. Pool rebuked 22-shots. Sunday in Missouri, the Fury surmounted a 2-0 second period deficit and overcame the River Otters, 6-3. Six various Fury marksmen were featured in the come back win with Bouchard (1-1-2)GWG, along with Nelson (1-1-2)PPG/TBG, Van Drunen (TG/PPG), Wrigley, Dolyny (UG) and Billy Collins caging singletons. Two more assists for Robinson and 2-more PPG for the Fury. LaPointe repelled 22-shots.

THE FURY GAME CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK:

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2ND THE FURY AT FORT WAYNE 8:00 PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4TH FORT WAYNE AT THE FURY 2:00 PM

The long-time, long ago and today rivalry will continue this weekend with a pair of offerings. The Fury have climbed into a 2(2-0-0) lead in the season series on the impetus of a 6-3 victory in Muskegon on October 28th and more recently a 9-6 success in the Indiana city on November 18th. The Fury are 6(6-0-0) against the Western Division this season.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3RD PORT HURON AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

The third session to be staged for these two Central Division foes and the first in Muskegon. Muskegon swept a pair of games from the fledgling Flags in Port Huron nearly three weeks ago, capturing a 6-3 verdict November 12th followed by a 3-1taming of the Flags, November 13th. The Fury lead the series, 2(2-0-0). Former Fury star center from Colonial Cup I in 1998-99 Paul Willett is now the head coach of the new Port Huron entry.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from November 28, 2005


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