Fury widening lead

Published on February 11, 2007 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


TOP TEAM TALES: Completing a brief but arduous and circuitous two-game road excursion in as many nights the past weekend, the United Hockey League's all-time top winning team, the Eastern Division and UHL league-leading Muskegon Fury have retained and maintained a rather comfortable and commanding lead role atop the league standings. Under the stewardship of first-year head coach Bruce Ramsay, the men of the Fury power were 2(1-1-0) for the weekend past, prevailing in Port Huron on Friday night before succumbing to the IceHogs in Rockford on Saturday night. Nevertheless, Muskegon continues to dazzle with a dynamic dossier consisting of a superlative record of 51(39-11-1) totaling 79-points and supreme .775 winning percentage. With eight more weeks consisting of 25-total games still remaining on their schedule, the Fury will play 12- of those contests at the amiable climes and environs of home ice and Walker Arena while playing 13-more games in the hostile environment of foreign territory. Muskegon has achieved a n impressive winning record in season series against all member clubs with the one exclusion being Western Division front-running Fort Wayne with the Fury compiling a composite catalog of 3(1-2-0) against the K's. Upcoming this weekend, the Fury team faces a crucial two games' home stand series against fourth place divisional rival Elmira. The Fury will guest the Elmirans on both Friday and Saturday nights at their home of Walker Arena. The Fury will be idle on Sunday.

MUST SEE FURY TV: Three times each week, the greater Muskegon area community can catch and watch all of the electrifying action of first place league-leading Fury hockey on local cable TV. The Fury game replays are shown in their entirety every Monday night at 9:00 pm; every Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm and once again, Saturday mornings at 11:00 am. Watch the Fury on TV exclusively on Comcast Channel 97.

NATIONAL CITY BANK NIGHT: When the Fury host the Elmira Jackals in the second and concluding game of the two game home stand series Saturday night, National City Bank will be the presenting title sponsor. They will be giving away a plethora of prizes and surprises and a veritable gaggle of gifts to the fond following faithful Fury fans on that special night.

COUNT MOUNT 40: Having compiled a 2(1-1-0) record through a pair of foreign ice assignments the past weekend, the Fury have attained an enormous count of 39-victories in just 51-games on an overall mark of 51(39-11-1) totaling 79-points. The "Furious Ones" next triumph will realize, remarkably, their fourth consecutive 40-victories' season; their 5th in the last 6-years; their 8th in the last 10-years and 10th in the past 13-years; truly a hallowed hallmark of continued excellence. At this juncture of the campaign, the Fury are experiencing their first real stagnant state of the season, having composed a 4(1-3-0) record in the last 4-games; last 8-games; 8(3-5-0). The Fury's 39-victories are 7-more than the rest of the UHL while their 11-setbacks are 3-less than the rest of the UHL. Through the first half of the season, the Fury record was a pre-eminent 38(32-5-1). Thus far in the first 13-games of the season's second half, their record is a more mundane 13(7-6-0). One year ago, after 51-games, the Fury had attained a record of 51(36-8-7) for 79-points. Currently, Muskegon has 3-more wins but the same number of points as last year at this time. The home town team has assembled two 8-game win streaks, each representing the second circuit longest, as well as one 7-game win streak and three 3 game win skeins. Also to be included in the Fury's collection of winning accomplishments for '06-07 is a 5-game unsullied skein; 5(4-0-1). The monthly composites for this season: October 7(7-0-0); November 13(11-2-0); December 14(11-3-0); January 13(9-3-1); February 4(1-3-0).

HOME IMPROVEMENT: While they continue to lead the league in home ice victories with 19, the first place Fury have seemed to sputter and stutter lately on the home front. Presently, they have trembled in 2-in succession, repre-senting their second 2-game losing streak at home thus far this season. Overall, the Fury are 5(1-4-0) in their more recent 5-outings in front of their roaring, adoring fan-dom. For the season, the home mark stands at a masterful 26(19-7-0) with only Western Division pace-setting Fort Wayne's home log slightly superior at 24(18-5-1). The Fury's longest home win streak this season has been a UHL league-best 8-in succession, mirroring their first 8-home appearances of the season. Muskegon has also collected one 6-game home streak and one 3-game victory string in the friendly climes and environs of their Walker Arena.

ROAD WIN BINGE: In dividing their two foreign ice expeditions the past weekend, the Fury ran their record abroad to a stunning 25(20-4-1), by far the best of the rest in the UHL. Their 20-road triumphs are 6-more than the rest of the league and their remarkably minuscule 4-setbacks are 5-less than the rest. Muskegon has yet to incur back-to-back defeats in alien territory and have extracted a minimum of one road win from each UHL member locale. In fact, at this stage of the season, the Fury actually find themselves unbeaten in five different UHL haunts; Bloomington 3(3-0-0); Chicago 3(3-0-0); Flint 3(3-0-0); Kalamazoo 3(3-0-0); Port Huron 4(3-0-1). In their last 8-games away, the Fury record is a strong 8(5-2-1). Muskegon's 11-game road win streak is the longest achieved in the league this season. They have also earned a 4-game win streak abroad. The Ramsay rendition needs just 4-more road wins to equal the franchise record of 24-road wins established just last season in 2005-06 when they recorded a gaudy mark of 38(24-10-4). The Fury have been especially effective abroad within their own Eastern Division as their 13(11-1-1) record would reflect and attest.

DIVISION DELINEATING: The Fury have been prominent and dominant against both of the UHL's divisions thus far this season. Against their own Eastern Division, they have posted a superb record of 27(20-6-1); against their fellow fractious foes from the Western Division, the record is 24(19-5-0). First, the East; overall record 27(20-6-1); home: 14(9-5-0); road: 13(11-1-1). The breakdown: Flint 8(6-2-0)30-16; home: 5(3-2-0)15-11; road: 3(3-0-0)15-5. Port Huron 7(5-1-1)27-21; home: 3(2-1-0)12-10; road: 4(3-0-1)15-11; Kalamazoo 7(5-2-0)29-18; home: 4(2-2-0)17-10; road: 3(3-0-0)12-8. Elmira 5(4-1-0)24-19; home: 2(2-0-0)9-6; road: 3(2-1-0)15-13. Western Division: 24(19-5-0); home: 12(10-2-0); 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 3(1-2-0)7-9; home: 1(0-1-0)3-5; road 2(1-1-0)4-4.

PYROTECHNICS PROFICIENCY: Through the first 51-games of their 76-games UHL schedule, the league-leading Fury continue to pace the league in goal-scoring proficiency. They are the lone team thus far to exceed 200-goals, having percolated a prolific 209-GF for a GFA of 4.10. Muskegon has registered 33-more GF than the rest of the loop. Defensively, despite being absolutely decimated with injuries along with call-ups on their back line, the Fury are still ranked a lofty circuit second, allowing 138-GA for a GAA of 2.71. In addition, the Fury have surrendered the third fewest SOGA and per game yield of 30.4. The past weekend, they only permitted 45-SOGA in 2-road outings for a per game allotment of a rather stellar and stingy 22.5 per game.

AT THE TOP CROP: The UHL's top-ranked team continues with the best representation among the league's most illustrious and distinguished artisans. In the UHL scoring derby, 1- Todd Robinson 51(31-64-95) with a monstrous 34-points advantage over #2- Rustyn Dolyny 48(18-43-61); 4- Mike Watt 45(30-29-59); 6- Philippe Plante 51(15-38-53). In UHL goal-scoring: 1- Robinson (31); 2- (tied) Watt (30). In UHL assists: 1- Robinson (64); 2- Dolyny (43); 3- (tied) Plante (38). In PPG: 4- (tied) Watt (11); 6- Robinson (10) In PPA: 2- Robinson (25); 3- Plante (24). In SOG: 3- Robinson (224); 3- Watt (224). In GWG: 1- Robinson (9); 5- Watt (5). In SHG: 2- (tied) Robinson (5). In PIM: 3- Adam Smyth (189). In Majors: 5- (tied) Kelly Thomson (12). The Fury feature the top 5 plus players in the UHL: 1- Dave Van Drunen (+44); 2- Plante (+37); 3- Robinson (+36); 4- (tied) Dolyny (+26); Evan Kotsopoulos (+26). In UHL Rookie scoring: 4- (tied) Kotsopoulos 50(14-22-36); injured Elias Godoy 24(11-25-36). In rookie GWG: 3- (tied) Justin Coutu (3). In rookie assists: 3- Godoy (25); 4- Kotsopoulos (22). In rookie PIM: 1- Kotsopoulos (145). Thomson is #1 among UHL rookies in major penalties. In rookie plus players: 1- Kotsopoulos (+26); 3- Coutu +20; 5- Godoy (+16). In UHL defense scoring: 1- Plante. In SOG: 5- Plante (133); In GWG: 1- (tied) Jon Insana (+3); Coutu (+3). In OTSO goals; 1- Plante (3). In goals: 1- (tied) Plante (15); assists: 1- (tied) Plante (38). In SHG: 1- Plante (2). In the goaltending category, Clayton Pool is #2 with a 2.39 GAA and .921 SPCT. Pool's 29-victories tie him for the league-leadership. His 4-OTSO wins tie for 2nd best in the league and his SHOPCT of 18/19; .947 also ranks #2.

THE MSU BREW: Former Michigan State All-America Mike Watt donned the hero's robes Friday night in Port Huron to fuse the Fury's gigantic, dramatic and dynamic come back victory at the expense of their East Michigan divisional foes. Trailing 2-1 entering the fateful final frame, the NHL Edmonton Oilers #2 draft choice singularly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with two spellbinding, spine-tingling special teams' strikes to stoke the victory verdict. His first strike was cannonaded on the power play to equalize matters preceding his TBG/GWG 3:27 later on an electrifying coast-to-coast shorthanded, unassisted breakaway flight. For the game, Watt was hailed the game's #1 Star. In 2-games, he uncorked 13-SOG. His 8-multiple goal games tie him with teammate Todd Robinson for the top spot in the league while he leads the Fury with 3-"hat tricks." Watt is the Fury's nomination for Sher -wood / UHL Player of the Week.

RYAN ROADBLOCK: The Fury's first year goaltender Ryan Cyr always has been there thus far this season in the Fury's inexorable summit surge. The past Friday night, the Abbotsford, B.C. native turned in an excellent performance as he repelled 19 of Port Huron's 21-shots in backstopping his Fury squadron to a come back 3-2 triumph. For the season, he has posted a sparkling record of 14(10-3-1) in 15-games with a 3.24 GAA and .893 SPCT. Now undefeated in 4-starts at Port Huron, 4(3-0-1) with a 2.75 GAA, Cyr has been even more successful on home ice where he has earned a stellar record of 8(7-1-0). Cyr is the Fury's nomination for Southern Sports Supply / UHL Goaltender of the Week.

THE PLANTE POLICY: Muskegon's All-Star defenseman Philippe Plante has been the absolute model of consist-ency and excellence since the season's inception. The 8-year pro is enjoying a true career year. During the two game road trek the past weekend, his team produced a total of 4-goals. He earned key assists on 3 of those strikes including both of the Fury's PPG for the weekend; 2(0-3-3). For the season, he continues to rank as the league's top scoring defenseman while ranking runner-up to defensive colleague Dave Van Drunen for the league's premiere, premium, positive plus player at +37.

RUSTYN WRITING RECORDS: The Fury third-year captain Rustyn Dolyny is having his best season yet in his sixth overall campaign with the UHL's all-time top winning team. Ranked second in the overall UHL scoring chase, the former MSU captain connected on his 137th Muskegon goal Saturday night in Rockford despite his team's ultimate demise. With 137-Fury career goals, "Rusto Bravissimo" has inched to within 4-goals of equaling his former Fury on-the-road roommate Brant Blackned for #3 all-time in Fury goal cannoneering at 141.

CENTURY BARRIER BREAKING: The league's premiere point-producing pre-eminent prince of points playmak-ing pivot Todd Robinson is standing on the precipice of his fourth 100-points pro season and his third in his illustrious 7-year Fury career. With 2-assists the past weekend, "T. Rob" reached the 95-points' zenith with 25-games still remaining on the schedule. Muskegon's second all-time leading scorer has commandeered an enormous 34-points advantage atop the league's scoring derby as he seeks his first-ever pro scoring title and the Fury's second in succession and third in the past four seasons. Furthermore, his single assist Saturday night in Rockford tied him with Robin Bouchard for most career assists in Fury franchise history at 420.

THE DEVASTATION STATION: There has been absolutely no relief for the first place Fury in their tale of woe and travail with the injured list. The once deep defense has dwindled and diminished to a gallant group of transplanted blue-liners who are giving great effort to keep the Fury in some slight semblance of being whole. This week's litany list recitation dissertation of damage; for the defense, Justin Coutu, Justin Kinnunen (who was converted from left wing after the first flock of crippled comrades-in-arms); Ryan Barnes, Scott Barnes, Elias Godoy. Called up to AHL Grand Rapids are two more defensemen; namely Jon Insana and Tom Galvin.

THE SPECIAL TEAMS TOME: The past weekend, the Fury somewhat somnolent power play seemed set to resume its more normal, productive goal-scoring activity, connecting on one PPG in each of the team's two outings. For the season, the extra man band ranks 6th in the UHL, operating at 15.5% proficiency at 50-323. The Fury are only 6 for their last 66 with the man advantage for a rating of 9.1%. The penalty-killing cast is still rated a rising #3 in the loop with an efficiency mark of 85.8% with the opposition at 53-372. Muskegon has been shorthanded the second most times in the UHL ranked runner-up to Elmira (386). The Fury have scored 14-SHG which rank second behind Elmira's league-high of 20-SHG.

HERITAGE HALL: Todd Robinson has tied Robin Bouchard (420) for most career assists in Fury annals. Robinson has reached 420-assists in 404-Fury career games. Three-time All-Star defenseman Dave Van Drunen (689) is 11-games away from pro career 700. Left wing Mike Watt (137-162-299) is one point away from pro career 300. Todd Robinson (41) has tied Paul Kelly for 4th place on the Fury career PPG list. Rustyn Dolyny (391) is 9-games away from pro career 400.

FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": All 3 of Philippe Plante's 2-goal games this season have been struck on the road with 2 of those occurring in Elmira. The Fury have the best record in the UHL when scoring the game's FG at 30(27-3-0). The Fury are a perfect 4(4-0-0) in the OTSO on home ice this season. Muskegon has a winning record against all other UHL member clubs this season with the one exclusion being Fort Wayne 3(1-2-0). The Fury are flourishing on Friday nights this season with a mark of 18(16-2-0) overall and 10(9-1-0) on the road. Muskegon leads the UHL in 1-goal wins with 16 and third period come-from-behind victories with 5. The Fury have lost on their last 4-consecurive Saturday nights; 4(0-4-0); home: 3(0-3-0); road; 1(0-1-0).

RECAP WRAP: Facing a somewhat road odyssey the past weekend of two games in two nights with some rather exorbitant if not exotic travel, the Fury compiled a 2(1-1-0) record. Friday night in Port Huron, Mike Watt singularly surmounted his club's 2-1 shortfall with two third period special teams goals 3:27 apart to vault his team into the victory circle, 3-2. Watt (GTG/PPG), (TBG/SHG/GWG/UG) was the scoring hero with Dave Noel-Bernier delivering the game's FG. Philippe Plante assisted twice and Ryan Cyr recorded 19-saves in goal as the Fury outshot the Flags, 43-21. Saturday night in Rockford, despite outshooting the 'Hogs, 15-6 in the third stanza, the Fury succumbed to the home team's 4-goal flurry in a 5-1 setback. Rustyn Dolyny (GTG/PPG) did knot it for the Muskegonites with :23.8 remaining late in the middle frame. Clayton Pool sustained only his second setback in 19-decisions on the road with 19-saves as the Fury actually outshot Rockford, 26-24.

THE FURY GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH ELMIRA AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH ELMIRA AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

The Fury and the Jackals will lock antlers in a two-game series in as many nights at Walker Arena. Muskegon leads the series after the initial five meetings, 5(4-1-0), having captured the only two collisions that have happened here in Muskegon. In the last session staged here on January 28th, the Fury executed one of their best rallies in club history, exploding for 5 third period goals beginning with only 8:00 remaining in regulation time to eradicate a 4-1 deficit and defeat the Empire State sextet, 6-4. Last week, the Jackals named UHL coaching veteran Paul Gillis as their third head coach of the season. Gillis is the league's second all-time winningest coach with Elmira becoming his fourth appoint-ment, having been preceded by Quad City, New Haven and more recently, Danbury.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 11, 2007


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