'Jacks News Release
February 7, 2010 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
`JACKS TRACKS: By virtue of their sweep of a two-game home stand series against IHL league rival Bloomington the past weekend, the high-tech, high octane league-leading Muskegon Lumberjacks have gained a 6-points advantage atop the league standings over second place Port Huron. Under the astute auspices of head coach Rich Kromm, the first place Lumberjacks have heightened their season record to a superlative 45(32-10-3) totaling 67-points. They have 1-game in hand on the Icehawks 46(29-14-3) 61-points as Port Huron has stagnated lately with a 6(1-5-0) mark through its last half-dozen dates. Meanwhile, Muskegon has attained a 13-points' cushion over two-time defending league titlist, third place Fort Wayne, 43(26-15-2) 54-points with the Komets having garnered 2-games in hand on the `Jacks. On the strength of a pair of victory verdicts the past weekend at the expense of 4th place Bloomington; 7-1 conquest Friday night, followed by a dramatic, dynamic, gigantic 4-3 OTSO success Saturday night, the Lumberjacks have launched the second-half of their schedule as the first half, compiling a superb mark of 7(6-1-0) for 12 out of a possible 14-points. This week, men of Muskegon pro hockey fame and fortune face a two-game home-and-home series against fifth place, playoff-aspiring Dayton. The kinetic Kromm contingent treks to the southern Ohio hamlet for a Friday night date before reciprocating in hosting the Gems Saturday night at Walker Arena on "NASCAR NIGHT!"
MAJESTIC "MOJO": Having completed the sweep of a two-games, home stand series the past weekend over Blooming-ton, the high-voltage, high-powered Lumberjacks have elevated their season record to a sterling 45(32-10-3) 67-points. Their 32-victories are 3-more than the rest of the league while their 10-defeats are 4-less than the entire league. Muskegon's win-ning percentage is a magnificent.744 as its latest overall win streak has progressed to 4-in a row; last 4(4-0-0). The Lumberjacks are 11(10-1-0) in their last 11-decisions and 14(12-2-0) through the last 14-episodes; last 22(17-5-0); last 28(20-6-2). Since inaugurating the current campaign with a rather mundane mark of 6(3-3-0), the `Jacks have been utterly flourishing with a brilliant record of 39(29-7-3). The longest win streaks of the season have been 9-in a row and 6-in succession with the longest unbeaten skein at 10(9-0-1). Remarkably, only once thus far this season have the Lumberjacks sustained back-to-back defeats. The monthly report cards: October 6(3-3-0); November 12(9-1-2); December 12(8-3-1); January 13(10-3-0); February 2(2-0-0).
HOME STAND STELLAR: By vanquishing Bloomington in a pair of Walker Arena appearances the past weekend, the league-leading Lumberjacks have established a new 50th Anniversary Season best with a 9-game win streak on home ice; last 9(9-0-0). This exceeds the previous season-high of 8-straight home wins. The `Jacks have yet to incur a home ice setback since the ushering-in of the new calendar year 2010 with their last home ice undoing occurring back on December 26th when Fort Wayne walloped them, 7-2. For the season "The Kromm Crew" has achieved the circuit's supreme sovereign home slate at 25(21-4-0), amassing 42 of a possible 50-points for a win percentage of a gaudy.840. Their 21-home wins are 4-more than all member clubs while their 4-home defeats represent the least in the league.
FOREIGN ICE AFFAIRS: The Lumberjacks have also achieved the IHL's foremost foreign ice composite record at 20(11-6-3) for a winning percentile of a remarkable.625. Their 6-away setbacks are 3-fewer than the rest of the IHL. They have won 2 of their last 3 and 3 of the most recent 5-alien ice adventures. The longest road win streak of the season has been 5-consecutively; 5(5-0-0), the longest in the IHL for this season as is their longest unsullied skein abroad of 11(8-0-3).
OFFENSE FROM DEFENSE: Percolating a prolific 11-GF the past weekend in their 2-games' home stand sweep of Bloomington, the Lumberjacks, are, once again, at the vanguard of offensive punch and pyrotechnics across the IHL land. They have registered 163-times in 45-games for a GFA of a prolific 3.62, having fired 53-GF in prevailing in 10 of their last 11-starts for a GFA of a prodigious 4.82. At the same time, Muskegon has remained stingy and stellar defensively, having allotted only 24-GA in that 11-games' expanse for a GAA of 2.16. During their present tense 9-game home ice win streak, they have yielded a mere 13-GA for a GAA of a minuscule, microscopic 1.44. For the season, Muskegon is rated runner-up defensively, behind only Fort Wayne with 122-GA in 45-games for a GAA of 2.61.
SVENGALI ALLEY: As has been the case since the opening night of the 2009-10 campaign back in mid-October, the Lumberjacks have sustained their domination in the IHL's principal top categories. In the IHL Scoring: 1- Robin Bouchard 45(39-33-72); 2- Todd Robinson 44(16-53-69); 11- John DiPace 27(12-26-38); 20- Matt Krug 45(11-20-31). In Goals: 1- Bouchard (39); In Assists: 1- Robinson (53); 3- (tied) Bouchard (33); In PPG: 1- (tied) Bouchard (10); In PP/Assists: 1- Robinson (22); In GWG: 1- Bouchard (7); 4- Brian Bicek (4); In GWG/OT: 1- Bouchard (3); 2- Damian Surma (2); In MG: 1- Bouchard (11); In SOG: 1- Bouchard (204); In Plus/Minus: 1- Bouchard (+26); 2- DiPace (+25); 4- Robinson (+22); 5- Krug (+19). In SPCT: 3- Bouchard 39/204;.191. In Minors: 1- Russ Smith (37); 5- Bouchard (26); In PIM: 3- Smith (159). In Rookie Scoring: 2- Krug 45(11-20-31); 9- Matt Robertson 45(8-14-22); 15- J.T. Dahlinger 44(7-11-18). In PPG: 2- Krug (6); In PP/Assists: 3- Krug (7); In Assists: 2- Krug (20); In PIM: 1- Krug (150); 3- Mark Cody (106); In Majors: 3- Krug (12); Cody (12). In Minors: 1- Krug (25). In Plus/Minus: 2- Krug (+19). In Defense Scoring: 2- Krug 45 (11-20-31); 12- Smith 44(4-11-15); 13- Adam Welch 37(5-9-14). In PPG: 2- Krug (6); In SOG: 2- Krug (105); In Goals; 1- Krug (11); In Plus/Minus: 1- Krug (+19). In the Goaltending Department: 2- Sebastien Centomo (2.42 GAA); 7- Matt Lundin (2.66 GAA). Centomo tops the IHL in WINS; (21); MIN: (1,812:11); GPI: (33); STARTS: (32): SAVES: (774); SHUTOUTS: (tied) (3). Lundin leads the league (tied) for best OTSO/SPCT at 9/12;.750. His 3-SOW rank tied for 2nd most in the loop.
THE MACHINE NEEDS 17: "The Gun-Sling King," right wing Rockin' Robin Bouchard continues his full frontal assault on the greatest goal-scoring record in minor pro hockey annals. The past week, "Bouch Almighty" cannonaded 3-more strikes in 2-games; 2(3-1-4) in attaining back-to-back 2-point performances. He fired a lightning-bolt shot (FG) at the :57 mark of the opening period Friday night in his club's 7-1 carnage of Bloomington before uncorking a pair of cannons in the Saturday night 4-3 OTSO verdict over the Prairie Thunder. In the latter contest, he was hailed the "Star of the Game" as he celebrated his 800th Muskegon career game in grand fashion. In the process, Muskegon's all-time premiere career cannoneer crept within 17-goals (666) of the all-time minor pro hockey record of 683. He has 31-games remaining to boom 17-more "Bouchardian Bazooka Blasts" to attain pro hockey majesty and immortality. In his last 15-games; 15(15-9-24); current 6-game point streak; 6(7-4-11). Bouchard is the Lumberjacks nomination for Meijer / IHL Player of the Week.
FRANCOPHONE ZONE: Nine-year pro goaltender Sebastien Centomo certainly seems to relish his role as the league-leaders #1 master of puck prevention attention. The former CHL Goaltender of the Year and NHL Toronto Maple Leaf earned his 8th consecutive victory overall and 6th straight at home when he backstopped his team to a 7-1 dismissal of Bloomington the past Friday night. Rebuking 31 of 32-shots, the Laval, PQ product enhanced his home record for the season to a glistening 17(14-3-0). His SPCT for the week was.969 and GAA 1.00. Centomo is the Lumberjacks nomination for Meijer / IHL Goaltender of the Week.
"M. ROBBY ROOKIE": High-stepping left wing Matt Robertson continues to blossom and grow in his initial pro season under the guidance of head coach Rich Kromm. In Friday night's 7-1 dispatching of Bloomington, "M.Robby," ESQ engineered a pair of points including the electrifying GWG in his club's victorious decision. For the night, he was (1-1-2) with an excellent +3 rating. He has averaged over a point a game in his last 9-outings with 9(4-6-10). Already a former winner, Robertson is the Lumberjacks nomination for Meijer / IHL Rookie of the Week.
FLYIN' BRIAN: Jet-streaming center Brian Bicek is enjoying a magnificent second half of the season. The diminutive, dynamic pivot is on the precipice of attaining the top 25-scoring elite in the league through his purveying of point-piling. In Friday night's emphatic conquest of visiting Bloomington, the suburban Chicago sparkplug spurred his team's fulminating firepower with his second 4-assists, +4 enormous performance in the span of barely over 2-weeks. Heralded the game's #1 Star, the second year speedster has bedazzled with lightning coming out of his skate blades as in his last 10-games, he has orchestrated 15-points on 5-goals, 10-assists; last 22-games; (10-13-23).
"T. ROB-T.RIFIC": Eleven-year veteran centerman Todd Robinson is doing what he does best; orchestrate as the conductor of his team's offense expressly through his extraordinarily resourceful, polished, playmaking prowess. In the weekend sweep of Bloomington, "T. Rob" engineered 5-points in 2-games on 2(1-4-5) with a +2 rating and 7-SOG. Friday night, he authored his second consecutive 3-assists' masterpiece while being anointed the game's #3 Star before the `Jacks imperial wizard sizzled the game's FG/PPG Saturday night and added 1-more helper in his club's OTSO success. In the latter affair, he took his bow as the game's #2 Star. The latest Robinsonian point scoring scourge has matched his and the league's longest of this season at 13-games; 13(3-20-23).
A "LITTLE" UNLIKELY: Rugged rearguard Jordan Little has always staked his reputation on sound, solid defensive effort and performance. However, the past weekend, the former U. of Manitoba standout emerged prominently as a rather improbable scoring source and hero. In his team's Friday night 7-1 blitz of Bloomington, Little ignited the `Jacks fastest 3-goals' outburst of the season in 1:57 in the second period when he connected on his first of 2-goals in a single game; his first 2-goals of the season. He later served-up a PPG and earned the game's #2 Star.
LUNDIN DEAN OF OT SCENE: First-year goaltender Matt Lundin is enjoying an exceptional debuting season. The former U. of Maine and Mercyhurst College backbone backstop seems to have found extra time suits him just fine. In his team's 4-3 OTSO success Saturday night over Bloomington, he upgraded his season record to a scintillating 17(11-3-1) with more than one-half of those victories gained in IHL extra time. Six times, the rookie has slain the dragon in the extra sessions; 3-wins in OT and 3-more wins in the OTSO. Moreover, he has raised his record at home to a masterful 8(7-1-0).
SYNOPSIS OF SPECIALTIES: The Muskegon special teams are holding steady at this stage of the season with consist-ency and continuity objectives gaining fruition. The power play arsenal is rated as #3 in the loop, operating at 19.5% conversion ratio; 45-215 with the 215-advantages being the most in the league. In the meantime, the penalty-killing ensemble cast is ranked a lofty #3 in the IHL as well as it is clicking along at 81.9% efficiency with the foes marching in at 39-216.
HALL OF HALLOWED HISTORY: Robin Bouchard played in his 800th Muskegon career game the past Saturday night on home ice against Bloomington. Todd Robinson (995) has closed to within 5-points of pro career 1,000. Michel Beausoleil (497) is 3-points shy of pro career 500. Robin Bouchard (223) is 2-PPG from 225 with Muskegon. Jordan Little (238) is 12-games away from pro 250. Damian Surma (282) is 18-points from pro career 300.
FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": The Lumberjacks have been dominating in the first period as the best first period team in the IHL, outscoring the opposition, 60-35 overall and 34-14 at home. Dating back to last season, the `Jacks have won 11-in a row over Bloomington and in going 8(8-0-0) this season, they have outscored the Thunder in the opening period, 20-4. The `Jacks are 9(8-1-0) on Friday and 8(7-1-0) on Saturdays on home ice this season. When they score 3-GF or more, the `Jacks are 29(26-1-2). Muskegon has won 4-in a row in the OTSO this year to improve their mark for the season to 7(4-3). Damian Surma's OTSO/GWG on Saturday night was his 2nd of the season in that department. He is 3/4 this season in the SO.
THE LUMBERJACKS GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH THE LUMBERJACKS AT DAYTON 7:30 PM
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH DAYTON AT THE LUMBERJACKS 7:00 PM
On the impetus of winning the last 4-meetings consecutively, Muskegon has gained control of the season series over the Gems at 8(5-2-1). In Dayton, they have recorded a mark of 3(2-0-1) with 2 of the trio of bouts determined in the OTSO with each team garnering the "bonus point." On home ice, the Lumberjacks are 5(3-2-0) with one of those wins via the OT route. Dayton has inflicted the league-leaders with 2 of their 4-home defeats so far this season.
LEGENDS, YOUNG GUNS AND LUMBERJACKS: All the Lumberjacks game broadcasts in the 50th Anniversary Season as well as the Monday Night "Jacks Jam" can be heard on exclusive flagship radio station WLAW 92.5 FM, "THE OUTLAW." The Monday night "Jacks Jam" is every Monday night from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, live from FRICANO'S MUSKEGON LAKE. The "Voice" of the Lumberjacks, Terry Ficorelli has all of the Jacks on radio action. The `Jacks game broadcasts can also be found on the world wide web at www.muskegonlumberjacks.com.
THE LUMBERJACKS DAILY UPDATE REPORTS: Tune in every day even when there is not a game, as Terry Ficorelli brings you up to date with the Lumberjacks Hockey Update, Monday through Friday at 5:57 pm on WEFG-FM 97.5, "THE CHAMP." There are also Lumberjacks daily reports throughout the day in Grand Haven on WGHN Radio, "Sports Radio 1370 ESPN."
LUMBERJACKS TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets for all Lumberjacks home games for the 2009-10 season are on sale at the Walker Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster Centers or by phone at (231)726-2400; VISA / MASTERCARD accepted. For great group rates and birthday parties with the Lumberjacks, phone the Lumberjacks office at (231) 726-3879 or visit our website at www.muskegonlumberjacks.com. Once again, all this season at every home game, all youth tickets (17-under) are only $5 as presented by Muskegon Community College.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 7, 2010
- 'Jacks News Release - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Lumberjacks Weekly Notes - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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