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Fury sweep week

March 20, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


TEAM TITLE TALES: Having achieved an impressive sweep of the week consisting of three games in three days the past weekend, the two time defending Colonial Cup Champions of the United Hockey League, the Muskegon Fury, have reclaimed sole control of first place in the Central Division standings as well as surged into a tie for the overall UHL league-leadership. With an absolutely extraordinary record of 62(44-11-7) totaling 95-points, the men of the Fury continue to boast the circuit's supreme mark with a winning percentage of .766. Approaching the final four weeks of the regular season schedule and their final 14-games before the playoffs, the Fury are clinging to a slight one-point advantage atop their Michigan-only division over second place Kalamazoo 64(44-14-6) 94-points with still 2-games in hand on the Wings who are 14(11-2-1) in their last 14-games and 22(17-4-1) through their last 22-outings. The Wings are in the midst of playing 9 of their last 13-games on the road where they are 6(5-1-0) in their last 6-games and 15(12-3-0) in their last 15 junkets abroad. The Fury will collect their last 2-games in hand on Kalamazoo this week. The Fury squad has climbed into a tie with Rockford 64(44-13-7) 95-points for the overall UHL league-leadership and the Tarry Cup crown They still have 2-games in hand on the Ice Hogs who are 10(5-4-1) in the last 10-verdicts. The Fury will collide with Rockford 4-more times crammed into their final 9-games of the regular season in April with the first two being played here in Muskegon and the latter two, including the regular season finale, being staged in the Illinois city. Regarding the other divisional leader, Eastern Division front-running Danbury 65(39-15-11) 89-points with 3-games in hand on the Trashers. This week, the Fury confront a rugged schedule of 4-games in 5-days with two of those at home and the other two away. Wednesday night, it's a date with the Generals in Flint. Friday and Saturday nights the Fury will play host to divisional foes Port Huron and Kalamazoo respectively. They will wrap-up the ambitious docket by sojourning to Motor City Sunday to be hosted by the Mechanics. All four Fury games this week are crucial contests as each is within their own Central Division.

RECORD RED GLARE: This past week, the first place Fury compiled an impeccable 3(3-0-0) mark, outscoring their adversaries, 12-5 in the process. For the season, third-year head coach Todd Nelson's aggregation nation has elevated their record to a sterling 62(44-11-7) for 95-points and a win percentage of a league best .766. Muskegon is tied for the most victories in the UHL with both Rockford and Kalamazoo while its 11-defeats represent the least in the loop. They have attained the coveted and prestigious 40-victory plateau for the third consecutive year; the fourth time in the last 5-years; the seventh time in 9-years and the ninth time in the last 12-years. The latest Fury win streak has progressed to 3-in succession with the co-league leaders capturing 6 of their last; 8(6-2-0); they are 11(8-3-0) in the 11-games and 16(10-3-3) through the last 16-games. One year ago after 62-games, the Fury were 62(39-15-8) for 86-points. Presently, the Fury have five more wins, 4-fewer defeats and have garnered 9-more points than one year ago. Thus far this season, the Fury's longest win streaks have been 10-in a row, which they have accomplished on two separate occasions and they have earned a 5-game win streak. In addition, the "Furious Ones" have engineered the UHL's longest undefeated streak of the season at 15(13-0-2). Moreover, they have assembled an 11-game unsullied streak; 11(10-0-1) and a 7-game undefeated streak of 7(6-0-1). The monthly records thus far: October 3(3-0-0); November 12(11-1-0); December 14(8-4-2); January 11(10-0-1).; February 13(6-3-4); March 9(6-3-0).

HOMESTEAD STELLAR: In sweeping a pair home encounters the past weekend, the Fury have advanced their overall record to a superb 32(23-6-3), the third best home mark in the league. The Fury have already sustained as many home setbacks as they incurred last season; 40(31-6-3). The Fury are 8(6-1-1) in their last 8-home starts. This season, the Fury's top win streaks at home have been 6-consecutively and 5-in succession.. They have also assembled a season's best 9-game home ice undefeated streak of 9(8-0-1). In their last 89-home decisions, the Fury have compiled an excellent home composite of 89 (69-14-6).

ROAD RECORD REVEL: The past weekend, the Fury wrapped-up their three games in three days sweep with a thrilling 1-0 shutout triumph on the road. Muskegon's road record continues as the best in the UHL at 30(21-5-4). Their 21-road victories are foremost in the loop. Currently, the Fury are 4(3-1-0) in their last 4-road games and 6(4-2-0) in their past 6-abroad. The longest road winning streaks thus far this season have been 7-consecutively, a feat that has been accomplished on two separate occasions. In addition, the Fury have compiled a superb 11-games undefeated road streak; 11(10-0-1) and an 8-games streak; 8(7-0-1). The Fury are closing in on two of their all-time road standards for foreign ice warfare. The single season club record for most road wins is 23 and for fewest road defeats, 13.

THE DIVISION DIARY: The Fury have truly shined when playing outside their own division thus far this season. In fact, combining their respective records against the Western and Eastern Divisions, they are a gigantic 29(24-3-2); Eastern Division 10(8-1-1); Western Division 19(16-2-1). In their own Central Division, the Fury have a mark of 33(20-8-5). The breakdown by division; Central Division: 33(20-8-5); home: 17(11-4-2); road: 16(9-4-3). The breakdown: Port Huron 9(6-0-3); home: 3(2-0-1); road: 6(4-0-2); Flint 7(5-1-1); home: 5(4-1-0); road: 2(1-0-1); Motor City 8(5-3-0); home: 5(3-2-0); road: 3(2-1-0); Kalamazoo 9(4-4-1); home: 4(2-2-0); road: 5(2-2-1). Western Division 19(16-2-1); home: 11(9-1-1); road: 8(7-1-0). The breakdown: Fort Wayne 5I(5-0-0); home: 3(3-0-0); road: 2(2-0-0); Rockford 4(4-0-0); home: 3(3-0-0); road: 1(1-0-0); Quad City 5(4-0-1); home: 3(2-0-1); road: 2(2-0-0); Missouri 5(3-2-0); home: 2(1-1-0); road: 3(2-1-0). Eastern Division: 10(8-1-1); home: 4(3-0-1); road: 6(5-1-0). The breakdown: Roanoke 2(2-0-0); home: 1(1-0-0); road: 1(1-0-0); Richmond 3(2-0-1); home: 1(0-0-1) road: 2(2-0-0); Elmira 2(2-0-0); home: 1(1-0-0); road 1(1-0-0); Danbury 2(1-1-0); home: 1(1-0-0); road: 1(0-1-0); Adirondack 1(1-0-0); road: 1(1-0-0).

STELLAR OFFENSE STINGY DEFENSE: By claiming conquests in all three contests the past weekend, the Fury outscored their opposition, 12-5. Offensively, the Fury rank #2 in the UHL with 271-GF in 62-games for a GFA of a prolific 4.37. Defensively, the Fury enjoyed a masterful week, grudgingly surrendering 5-GA in 3-games for a GAA of 1.67. For the season, the Fury have yielded 199-GA in 62-games for a GAA of 3.21. Muskegon ranks circuit seventh on the defense.

TOP GUN GLORY: The Fury continue to dominate the individual league-wide categories this week. Robin Bouchard 62(52-54-106) is #1 as he seeks his second UHL scoring title in the past three years. Jeff Nelson 58(30-73-103) is #2, rookie phenom, Ryan Keller 52(39-35-74) is 6th, Todd Robinson 42(16-54-70) is 8th.and David Wrigley 62(33-36-69) ranks 12th. Bouchard leads the UHL in goals (52); PPG (28) MG (13). Nelson's 73-assists are foremost in the league while his 15-PPG rank 5th. Keller (10) leads the UHL in GWG with Wrigley (8) in the league's runner-up position. Bouchard (7/11) is also third in the league in OTSO goals (7). Keller and Wrigley are #1 and #2 in the UHL rookie scoring derby with Wrigley's 12-PPG ranking rookie 4th and Keller (11-PPG) 5th. Keller's 39-goals lead all UHL rookies and ranks as fourth most overall in the league. Keller's +36 rating tops all rookies and ranks him fifth overall in the league. For the defense, Trevor Johnson 52(8-38-46) ranks 5th in scoring among the UHL blue line brigade. Dave Van Drunen's lofty +36 rating ranks second among defense and fifth in the UHL overall. In the goal-keeping category, Clayton Pool ranks 11th in the UHL with a 2.96 GAA with his 26-wins ranked as fourth best in the league.

"KELS' CONNECTS: Rookie sensation Ryan Keller has been blazing lately with his goal-scoring cannoneering. The first-year pro left wing, crafted a prolific week the past weekend. In 3-games, he generated 8-points on 4-goals, 4-assists. Friday night against Flint, he was accorded #1 Star honors with (2-2-4), including 1-PPG and 1-GTG with a brilliant +4 rating. The very next night, again, he was lauded as the #1 Star with (2-2-4), again, including 1-PPG and 1-SHG which also was the GWG. He has scored the GWG in 4 of the Fury's last 6-victories. Keller has produced 10-multiple goal games and in his last 13-games, he is 13(13-11-24); last 8(9-6-15).Also this past week, he established a new Fury record for most goals scored in a single season by a rookie with 39, shattering the former mark which was set by Andre Petrunin (37) in the year of Colonial Cup I in the 1998-99 season. For the second time in the last three weeks, Keller is the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week.

PRIME IN PREMIERE: Newly-acquired goaltender Nick Boucher enjoyed an exciting debut in the Fury goal the past weekend following his trade from Elmira. Posting a 2(2-0-0) record in his initial two starts for "Team Title," the former Dartmouth College marvel backstopped his new team to a home-and-home series sweep of rival Quad City in under 24-hours. Saturday night, he brushed aside 20-shots in the 5-3 triumph over the "Greenheads." Then on Sunday in the Quad Cities, he earned the shutout in a tight 1-0 triumph with 24-saves. For the week, the former Pittsburgh Penguins draft choice, registered a 1.50 GAA and .936 SPCT. Boucher, in his first week with the Fury, is the Muskegon nomination for Southern Sports Supply / UHL Goaltender of Week.

THE "GREAT JOHNSONI": The Fury defensive scheme has been markedly improved in recent action; especially pronounced since the return of Trevor Johnson. "T.J. The Great Johmsoni" assembled two consecutive 2-point games resulting in another undefeated weekend for his club. Friday night, he was (1-1-2) with a +2 rating in the Fury's 6-2 dismissal of the Generals. He came right back with 2-more assists the next night, Saturday night, in the 5-3 throttling of Quad City, posting another supreme +2 rating. In each game, Johnson was accorded the game's #3 Star. For the week, he was 3(2-2-4) with a strong +4 rating.

SMOOTH MOVE MONEY: The Fury's masterful center Jeff Nelson became the second Muskegon catalyst to attain the prestigious 100-points' plateau thus far this season when he adeptly and adroitly authored 3-points on 1-goal, 2-assists in his team's 5-3 decision over Quad City Saturday night. For the week, "J. Nel" was 3(2-2-4) with a +1 rating and an electrifying SHG/GWG Friday night in the 6-2 trumping of Flint. With 954-career points, he is just 46-points away from pro career 1,000 points.

DEFENSE BY "DVD": Veteran defenseman Dave VanDrunen is back in form and at the top of his game as he primes for the playoffs. Having played every game for the Fury this year, he has advanced his plus rating to an outstanding +36 which ranks in the top in the UHL overall and #2 among all UHL league defensemen. Van Drunen has also made it into the top 15 in UHL defensemen scoring with 62(7-24-31).

SPECIAL TEAMS TUNED TONIC: The Fury specialty teams have been excellent in recent action, both on the power play and in the penalty-killing categories. The power play remains #1 in the UHL where it has been since opening night. For the season, they are 88-352 for a proficiency rating of 25.0%. Their 88-PPG rank as second most in the league behind Kalamazoo. The penalty-killing cast of characters has been even better. Ranking #4 in the UHL, the Fury have limited the opponents to 65-423 for an efficiency rating of 84.6%. Lately, the Fury have squelched 18 of the last 19; 22 of the last 24 and 28 of the last 31 and 44 of the last 48. Muskegon struck with a SHG on two consecutive nights the past weekend, hiking their season output to a league-high 18-SHG.

MAJOR MILESTONES: Rustyn Dolyny (113) has tied Paul Kelly (113) for 6th place on the Fury's all-time goal-scoring list. Dolyny (161) has also tied Andrew Luciuk (161) for 9th place on the Fury's all-time career assists list. Todd Robinson (345) is just 5-assists from 350. Trevor Johnson (197) is just 3-games away from pro career 200. Nick Boucher's shutout victory Sunday at Quad City was the 50th victory of his relatively short pro career. Coach Todd Nelson 218(142-51-25) is just 8-victories away from becoming only the eighth coach in UHL history to attain 150-victories.

FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": The Fury are the best third period team in the UHL, outscoring the opposition by a +39 rating of 98-59. When the Fury surrender 3-GA or less, they are undefeated at 36(34-0-2). When the Fury shutout Quad City Sunday, 1-0, it marked their second shutout of the season with both being by replica results of 1-0. Goaltender Clayton Pool is 7(6-1-0) in his last 7-decisions with a 2.73 GAA and .915 SPCT. Dating back to last season, the Fury have achieved an 8-game unbeaten streak against Quad City; 8(7-0-1). Also dating back to last season, the Fury have won 3-in a row from the Mallards right in Quad City.

THE WRAP ON THE WEEK: The first place Fury did complete the sweep for the week with a perfect 3(3-0-0) mark. Friday night, on home ice, the Fury dismissed Flint 6-2 on the impetus of 5-consecutive goals to eradicate a late 2-1 first period deficit. Muskegon spiced its zesty assault with 2-PPG and 1-SHG. Ryan Keller (2-2-4) PPG/GTG was the Fury sparkplug with Bill Zalba (1-1-2)FG, Trevor Johnson (1-1-2) also connected as did Rustyn Dolyny (PPG) and Jeff Nelson (SHG/GWG). Todd Robinson and Tom Galvin each assisted twice. Clayton Pool was blade sharp with 27-saves. Saturday night, the Fury defeated Quad City, 5-3, striking twice in the first and second periods respectively. Again, there were 2-more PPG and 1-more SHG for the victors. Keller (2-2-4) PPG/SHG/GWG, Nelson (1-2-3) FG/PPG, Jason Lawmaster and Robin Bouchard were the sharpshooters with Johnson earning 2-more assists. In his Fury debut, Nick Boucher was splendid with 20-saves. The weekend wrapped up on the road in Moline, IL on Sunday where the Fury blanked the Mallards, 1-0, behind Boucher's 24-saves shutout goalkeeping and the game's lone goal in the third period by David Wrigley.

THE FURY GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22ND THE FURY AT FLINT 7:00 PM

The eighth of nine meetings overall and the third one to be played in Flint. The Fury lead the season series 7(5-1-1) and are 2(1-0-1) in Flint. Overall, against the Generals, dating back to last season, the Fury are 12(10-1-1) in their last dozen dates.

FRIDAY, MARCH 24TH PORT HURON AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

The tenth and final clash of the season for two Central Division rivals and the fourth one to be staged here in Muskegon. The Fury are unblemished against the fledgling Flags this season with a record of 9(6-0-3). They are 3(2-0-1) here at home and were 6(4-0-2) in Port Huron.

SATURDAY, MARCH 25TH KALAMAZOO AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

The archrivalry between the top two teams in the Central Division continues with the series even at 9(4-4-1). Here at home, the Fury are 4(2-2-0). In the Wings last excursion here, the Fury defeated them, 5-2 back on March 10th. However, before that same weekend had become history, on Sunday March 12th in Kalamazoo, the Wings exacted a significant amount of retribution with a 6-0 humbling of the Fury.

SUNDAY, MARCH 26TH THE FURY AT MOTOR CITY 5:00 PM

The ninth and last clash of these two Michigan rivals and the fourth one at "The Garage" in Fraser. The Fury are on top in the season series at 8(5-3-0). They have a winning record against the Mechanics of 3(2-1-0) when playing on foreign ice. In their last trip there, the Fury prevailed, 3-2, back on February 24th.

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