Fury's High-Powered Offense Keeps them atop Western Conference

December 14, 2003 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


FURY FINDINGS: With the first nine weeks of the 2003-04 United Hockey League season now in the books, the high-tech, high-octane Muskegon Fury continue to rely on their high-voltage scoring machine to maintain their first-place residence atop the Western Conference standings. Under the direction of first-year head coach Todd Nelson, the pyrotechnically potent men of the Fury have dynamically delivered a league-high 95-GF in just 22-games for a GFA of a gaudy 4.32, having scored 16-more goals than any other team in the league. Though they divided a pair of games in as many nights the past weekend, the marauding Muskegonites amassed an amazing 12-GF but did yield a rather munificent 12-GA as well. Once the weekend of Fury offensive fireworks was over, the "Knights of Nelson" were still maintaining a 4-points' bulge atop the conference conclave over torrid, defending league titlist Fort Wayne 21(12-7-2)26-points with the Komets the beneficiaries of one game in hand. While the Fury 22(15-7-0) totaling 30-points, have won 6 of their last 7-starts and 7 of the last 9-outings, the Fort Wayners have been on a rapid, relentless rise. Pres-ently, the K's are riding the wave of a 6-game unblemished skein 6(5-0-1) with a sparkling 11(9-1-1) mark in their past 11-episodes. However, the Fury are 2(2-0-0) thus far this season against the reigning champions. The Fury are holding a 6-points advantage over third-place Quad City 19(11-6-2)24-points with the Mallards enjoying the luxury of 3-games in hand. The Quad City club is currently 2(1-1-0) through the initial two games of an extended 7-game road excursion. "The Greenheads" are 7(2-4-1) in their last 7-decisions overall. Muskegon has posted a 4(3-1-0) record thus far this season against the Mallards. In relation to the overall UHL 12-teams' standings report, the Fury have become a major contending part of a real logjam at the top of the circuit's summit. The hometown team is currently tied with Eastern Conference king Richmond 21(15-6-0)30 for the overall league-leadership with the first 7-teams distinguished by a scant 6-points; Muskegon 30, Richmond 30, Elmira 29, Flint 28, Columbus 28, Fort Wayne 26, Quad City 24. Approaching for the Fury this week is, perhaps, their most momentous series of games thus far this campaign. They will wrap-up their current 3-game home stand Friday and Saturday nights when Quad City and Flint each come calling at Walker Arena for crucial, critical clashes before the Fury reciprocate and sojourn to Flint Sunday for a matinee encore presentation against the always-formidable Generals.

RECORD RATING DATING: Through the first 22-games of the season, the first-place Fury have compiled a mark of a superlative 22(15-7-0) for 30-points. Their 15-victories tie them for the league-lead with Richmond and represent 3-more than all other teams in their own Western Conference alliance. At this hour of the season, the Fury are foster-ing a flourish winning 6 of their last 7-starts; 7(6-1-0) and 7 of their past 9-games; 9(7-2-0). Muskegon's longest win streak of the season has been 5-in a row. They have also assembled two 3-game win streaks. Longest losing skid has been only 2-in succession which has been incurred twice. Comparing to last year's mark of 22(13-6-3)29-points, the Fury are 2-wins and 1-point superior to last year's pace. The "Furious Ones" have compiled a December record of 4(3-1-0). Last December, they were 13(6-6-1). In the monthly review, the Fury were 14(9-5-0) in November and 4(3-1-0) in October.

WIZARDRY AT THE WALKER: Earning a 7-6 OTSO come back victory Saturday night against Missouri, the Fury have swelled their latest win streak at home to an impressive, season's best 4-in a row. That represents the third longest home win streak for the UHL this season. The last home setback was back on November 22nd when the Fury were foiled by nemesis Quad City, 7-5. For the season, the Fury home record has been elevated to a superb 9(7-2-0). Only Flint 12(8-2-2) has a better home mark than the Fury whose 2-home defeats tie them for the fewest in the loop. One year ago, the home mark stood at 9(5-2-2). The Fury are 2-wins and 2-points ahead of last year's home clip. Dating back to last regular season, the Fury are sporting a supreme mark of 18(14-3-1) through their last 18-home appearances.

JOURNEY JOURNAL: As has been the rich-tradition, the Fury, once again this season, have been the consummate road warriors in their journeys abroad to the UHL's more exotic burgs. With an overall foreign ice log of 13(8-5-0), the Fury are second in the league in road successes with 8, two behind Richmond's 10. Muskegon did have a 3-game road win streak severed Friday night in Port Huron where they were bested by the Beacons, 6-5. It was the Fury's first setback abroad since a 7-4 defeat in Missouri back on November 20th. Longest win skein away has been 4-in a row which ranks as the second best in the league thus far this season. One year ago, the Fury road slate showed a record of 13(6-5-2). Therefore, they are 2-wins and 2-points ahead of last year's clip.

CONFERENCE CLUBBING: With their late, dramatic 7-6 OTSO come back crescendo triumph Saturday night at home against Missouri, the first-place Fury have ballooned and mushroomed their winning streak within their own Western Conference to a healthy 5-in a row. In the process, they have upgraded their record to a stellar 16(12-4-0) against in-conference adversaries. The home record is the same as the road record in this category at 8(6-2-0). Muskegon has achieved a winning record against all Western Conference opposition. The breakdown: Fort Wayne 2(2-0-0); Missouri 4(3-1-0); Quad City 4(3-1-0); Kalamazoo 3(2-1-0); Rockford 3(2-1-0). Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, the Fury mark is a mundane 6(3-3-0) with 5 of those 6-bouts being played abroad. The breakdown: Adirondack 1(1-0-0); Columbus 1(1-0-0); Flint 1(1-0-0); Port Huron 1(0-1-0); Richmond 2(0-2-0). The lone team the Fury have yet to meet this season has been Elmira.

AMMO ARSENAL AWESOME: Though they finished the week with a .500 mark of 2(1-1-0), the high-tech, high-octane Fury generated a massive 12-goals' juggernaut. The highest scoring machine in the UHL, the Fury have blazed a blistering 95-GF in 22-games for a GFA of a league-foremost 4.32. In winning 6 of their last 7-games, they have engineered 36-GF for a GFA of a torrid 5.14. Moreover, in the last 10-games, the Fury have registered 50-GF for a GFA of an even 5.00. One more note; during their present tense 4-game win streak at home, the Fury offensive-minded technocrats have crafted a glitzy, glamorous 21-GF for a GFA of an awesome and then-some 5.25.

CHART CHAMPS: The most prolific scoring aggregation in the UHL nation boasts bodaciously of 3 of the top 8 and 4 of the top 17 point-virtuosos in the league. The Fury's Robin Bouchard 22(13-17-30) and Todd Robinson 22(3-27-30) are tied for 3rd in UHL scoring while Brant Blackned 22(13-14-27) ranks 8th and Scott Hollis 22(13-10-23) has climbed to 17th among the league's star-studded statesmen. Bouchard (13), Blackned (13), Hollis (13) are all tied for 5th in the league in goal-scoring cannoneering. Blackned's 7-PPG tie him for 2nd most in the league while Hollis (100) and Bouchard (99) rank 3rd and 4th respectively in shots on goal. Robinson's 27-total assists and 13-PP assists league the lead in both departments with his 27-helpers being 6-more than all other players in the league. Blackned's 14-PP points tie him for 2nd most. In the all-important plus/minus category, the Fury own the top two defensive gems in #1 Scott Feasby (+15) and talented rookie Dave Noel-Bernier #2 (+13). The latter leads all UHL rookies in this depart-ment while listed as a lofty runner-up in freshmen class scoring prowess, Noel-Bernier is 19(8-12-20) with his 8-goals rated 3rd and his 12-assists tied for the top for first-year standouts. Among the circuit's defensemen, though a recent acquisition, Garry Toor is already ranked 2nd in the league in PPG as all 3 of his strikes have been stoked with the extra man band. Toor is also tied for the league-leadership among the blue line brigade artisans with 2-SHG assists and 2-SHG points. In the goaltending department, Sylvain Daigle leads the league in WINS: 13. He is 2nd in MIN: 1107; 2nd in SAVES: 536; tied for 2nd in SOW: 3; 3rd in SHUTOUTS: 2 and 4th in SHOOTOUT PCT: .923 on 12/13; 2nd in GPI: 20.

HOLLY-HUMMING: Eleven-year veteran right wing Scott Hollis has Fury-found a zone all of his own as he begins to pile-up points with polish and precision. In the two games the past weekend, "Hot-Shot-Scott" authored a prolific 7-points on 4-goals, 3-assists, collecting 2-PIM, a strong +3 rating and a mammoth 12-SOG. Friday night in Port Huron, he was instrumental on all 3 of his team's third stanza strikes (2-1-3) in a 3-goals' resurgence which fell a mere 1-goal shy with one of those goals of the SHG variety. Then on Saturday night he was a supreme catalyst with (2-2-4) in the Fury's spellbinding and riveting 7-6 OTSO come back triumph over Missouri. In the latter contest, Hollis howitzered 2-GTG and 1-PPG, blistered 9-SOG and was hailed the game's #2 Star. With two consecutive 2-goal games, he has now cannonaded 5-goals; 3(5-3-8) in his last 3-starts. Hollis is the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week.

SLY'S SHOOTOUT SHUTDOWN: Making two more appearances this weekend, workhorse goalkeeper Sylvain Daigle posted a 2(1-1-0) mark, though his first performance came in a relief role Friday night in Port Huron. Where the two-time All-Star truly shined was in Saturday's OTSO win over Missouri. The "Net Detective" confounded the Missourians by rebuking all 4-shots in the extra session to raise his OTSO record this year to an impeccably perfect 3(3-0-0). For the season, "The Sly-Guy" has been virtually insuperable in extra time as he has brushed aside 12 of 13-shots for an OTSO / SPCT of a brilliant .923. Last week's UHL Goaltender of the Week gains the nod, again, this week for the nomination for Goalie of the Week.

SPEED-BURNING "BERNIE": Talented first-year center / left wing Dave Noel-Bernier continues to be a remark-able discovery for the Fury this season. The former U. Nebraska-Omaha standout enjoyed yet another extraordinary weekend of major impact, import and magnitude for the home town teal team. For the two games, the flashy Fury forward was 2(2-2-4), essaying (1-1-2) in each contest. Included in his numbers were one electrifying SHG/GTG Friday night in Port Huron as well as 6-SOG and an excellent +4 rating. In his last 3-games, Noel-Bernier has earned a stellar +5 rating.

DIGGING DOLYNY: Michigan State product Rustyn Dolyny is fashioning Fury flash and flair from both the right wing and center positions in recent action for his team. The three-year pro emerged prominently as the scoring hero of Saturday night's spellbinding, spine-tingling thrilling theatre against Missouri. "Rusto Bravissimo" fired a pair of strikes in his club's 4-goal third period come back counterattack including a key PPG and a late, dramatic GTG with the latter laced with only 1:40 remaining in regulation time. For his overall 3-points' performance, he was heralded as the game's #1 Star. In his last 10-games, Dolyny is (6-7-13).

THE GUIDED "TOOR": Defenseman Garry Toor has become a major mainstay for the Muskegon blue line despite his late entry. Although he has seen service in just 6-games, he has already climbed into the lead in team scoring among the defense, averaging over 1-point a game with 6(3-5-8). Toor has gained notoriety for his specialty team talents as 7 of his 8-points have been percolated in such fashion. All 3 of his goals have been blazed on the power play as well as 2 of his helpers. Meanwhile, he has also essayed a pair of SHG assists with the club. In addition, Toor has attained a sound and solid +3 rating.

THE "T. ROB" REGISTER: Slick, sleek center Todd Robinson continues to scale the heights of stardom with his playmaking magic. Friday night in Port Huron, he was the adept and adroit architect of 3-more goal arrangements before firing a touch-in-the-clutch goal in the Saturday night come back verdict over Missouri. For the week, he was 2(1-3-4). His league-high 27-assists have been brewed in just 22-games and are 6-more than all other players in the UHL. The Robinsonian point-producing parade has vaulted him into a 5th place tie with Paul Kelly (281) on the Fury's all-time career scoring list; 213(76-205-281). Robinson now stands within 2-points of 4th place and Mark Turner (283).

THE POWER PLAY PUNCH: The league's #1 power plant power play continues to belong to the "Furymen." Their 27-PPG tie them for the league-lead with Missouri; though Muskegon's man advantage ensemble cast is operating at a slightly better proficiency rating. The Fury are 27-115 for a rating of 23.4%. The Fury are 2 for the last 2 and 3 for the last 8 for a conversion ratio on the latter of 37.5%. They are 11 for the last 35 for a mark of 31.4%. Muskegon has ascended to 9th in the penalty-killing category at 86-109 for a 78.9 efficiency rating. Until Saturday night against Missouri, the Fury had defused 18-straight enemy opportunities. The Fury did connect on 2-more SHG this week, increasing their output to 5-SHG. They have allotted 6-SHGA.

MILESTONE MAKERS: Scott Hollis 643(252-244-496) is just 4-points from pro career 500. Todd Robinson 308(109-289-398) is 2-points away from pro career 400. Brant Blackned 549(331-365-696) stands 4-points from career 700. Robin Bouchard 633(403-386-789) is 11-points from career 800. Scott Feasby 755(56-233-289) is 11-points from 300. Rustyn Dolyny (194) is just 6-games away from pro career 200.

FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": The Fury are a perfect 3(3-0-0) in the OTSO; 1(1-0-0) at home and 2(2-0-0) on the road. In their last 4-games, the Fury have out-goaled the opposition in the third period convincingly, 11-3. When they bowed Friday night in Port Huron, 6-5, the Fury saw their 8-game undefeated streak against the Beacons halted; 8(5-0-3). It was only the Fury's 2nd setback in their last 16-chapters against the Beacons 16(11-2-3) and merely their third loss in the last 14-trips to Port Huron 14(9-3-2). With their thrilling theatre 7-6 OTSO triumph over Missouri Saturday, the Fury advanced their home win streak over the River Otters to 5-in a row and hiked their overall mark over the Missourians to 9 (8-1-0) in the last 9-games. Brant Blackned is on an 8-game point scoring streak with 8(6-7-13) in that span.

CAP-UP WRAP-UP: The Fury completed their condensed two-game work week with a 2(1-1-0) record; trembling abroad but pulling off an exciting and entertaining victory at home. Friday night in Port Huron, a 4-goal 2nd period assault victimized the Fury in a 6-5 defeat. Muskegon did make a major bid with a 3-goal unanswered 3rd period rally that fell 1-goal shy. Scott Hollis (2-1-3) SHG, Dave Noel-Bernier (1-1-2) SHG/GTG, Garry Toor (1-1-2)PPG and Brant Blackned (GTG) were the Muskegon marksmen. Todd Robinson served 3-assists with Sylvain Daigle supplanting Ryan Aschaber in goal at the 7:09 mark of the middle stanza. The Fury outshot Port Huron, 44-38. Saturday night, the Fury overcame 4-deficits and before finally overcoming Missouri in the OTSO, 7-6. It was a 4-goal 3rd period resurgence by the homestanding Fury that eventually knotted the proceedings at 6-6 in a game that saw the Fury never gain the lead until the ultimate final outcome. Hollis (2-2-4)PPG/GTG, Rustyn Dolyny (2-1-3)PPG/GTG with 1:40 remaining in regulation, Noel-Bernier (1-1-2)PG, and Robinson (GTG) were the sharpshooters with Robin Bouchard collecting 3-assists and Scott Feasby and Garry Toor each adding a pair of helpers. In the OTSO, the Fury blanked the River Otters, 2-0 with Blackned (GWG) and Noel-Bernier the goal-getters. Daigle rebuffed all 4-Missouri attempts.

THE FURY GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19TH QUAD CITY AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

The fifth of nine collisions between two long-time archenemies and the third of four bouts to be waged and staged in downtown Muskegon. The Fury lead the series 4(3-1-0), going 2(2-0-0) in Moline IL and 2(1-1-0) at the home stead. In that last meeting, the Fury prevailed on Thanksgiving night, 11/27 in Quad City, 5-4 for their third win in a row there dating back to last April's Western Conference Finals in the Colonial Cup Playoffs.. However, in the Mallards last fly-over to Muskegon back on November 22nd, they inflicted the Fury with their last home loss, 7-5.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20TH FLINT AT THE FURY 7:30 PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21ST THE FURY AT FLINT 4:00 PM

The second and third meetings of the year, also between two long ago and present-day adversaries. The Fury lead the series 1(1-0-0) on the strength of a 6-3 victory verdict back on November 29th in Muskegon. During the pre-season, Muskegon swept a pair of games in a home-and-home series; both by replica results of 6-5. At home, the Fury are 12(10-0-2) in their last dozen dates against the always ominous Generals.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from December 14, 2003


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