Jacks Sweep Two on the Road
February 16, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
LUMBERJACKS LINES: Having completed another highly successful week of 4-games in 5-nights the past week with a superb 4(3-1-0) record, the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League have inched to within a scant single point of the league's premiere pinnacle palace and its occupant, first place, league-leading Port Huron. Under the tutelage of third year head coach Bruce Ramsay, the Lumberjacks have elevated and upgraded their overall season mark to an excellent 49(28-15-6) totaling 62-points. Boasting the overall best record in the league at 49(28-15-6) totaling 62-points and league-premiere .633 winning percentage. Muskegon will launch the new week barely one point behind Port Huron with one game in hand on the Icehawks who have posted a 8(4-2-2) mark in their last 8-dates and 22(13-5-4) in the last 22-offerings. Muskegon has one game in hand on the Icehawks. With a minuscule 3-points delineating the top 4-teams in the circuit, the Lumberjacks have gained a slim one point advantage over third place Kalamazoo 50(30-19-1) 61-points. Muskegon also has one game in hand on the Wings who are 7(5-1-1) in their last 7-games and 19(9-9-1) in their last 19-outings. It's a Lumberjacks 2-points' lead over fourth place Fort Wayne 50(25-15-10). Muskegon has garnered one game in hand as well on the Komets. The Fort Wayners are 14(7-1-6) in their last 14-outings and 7(4-0-3) in their 7-adventures on the road. This week, the Lumberjacks face 3-games in 3-nights with the middle one at home and the first and third ones being abroad. Friday night, the 'Jacks travel to Kalamazoo for a session with the Wings before returning home to entertain Flint Saturday night on the Lumberjacks annual, ever popular "Beach Night." Then on Sunday, the Lumberjacks reciprocate as they journey to Flint to be hosted by the Generals in a 4:00 pm matinee affair.
BEACH NIGHT/SATURDAY NIGHT: It is one of the most popular annual promotional nights the Lumberjacks present and it is back on tap this Saturday night when they host the annual "Beach Night." Contestants in both female and male divisions will compete for a veritable plethora of prizes on this special night.
MAJOR MOVE MAKING: The high-tech, high-powered Lumberjacks achieved yet another banner week of wins and points in the overall IHL standings. Posting a superlative 4(3-1-0) record for the week, the 'Jacks have advanced and otherwise enhanced their season mark to an excellent 49(28-15-6) for 62-points and a lofty second place position in the IHL standings. Their winning percentage of a glistening and glittering .633 represents the best of the rest in the league. The 'Jacks have won 2-in a row; both on the road the past weekend. In their last 5-games, the "men of lumber" are a sound and solid 5(4-1-0); last 10-games; 10(6-2-2); in their last 22-games; 22(13-5-4); last 28-games; 28(16-6-6). Muskegon's 15-setbacks equal Fort Wayne for the least in the league. Thus far in the second half, their record stands at 11(6-3-2) 14-points; the record since the beginning of the new year; 22(13-5-4). The Lumberjacks longest undefeated streak of the season is 8(6-0-2). The longest win streaks have been 4- in row and a pair of 3-game win streaks. The 'Jacks have demonstrated much improvement from one year ago. Last year at this time after 49-games, Muskegon had a mark of 49(25-21-3)53-points. At this hour of the campaign, the Lumberjacks are already 3-wins better, 6-losses less and 9-points superior to last year's club. The monthly records: October 4(3-1-0); November 12(8-3-1); December 11(4-6-1); January 14(9-3-2); February 8(4-2-2).
HOME ZONE ZOOMING: The past week saw the 'Jacks in action on a pair of occasions at their "Hockey Barn of Bedlam." The home standing team divided the two affairs, trumping reigning coronated kingpin Fort Wayne Wednesday night in the drama and suspense of the OTSO, 4-3. However, on Friday the 13th, it was the falling of the sky as the 'Jacks were sent to Robespierre and the gallows by nemesis Bloomington, 7-1. For the season, the Muskegon home log reads, 27(16-8-3), having played the most home games in the league. In recent home perform-ances, the Lumberjacks have been uncharacteristically inconsistent as their 4(1-2-1) mark through their last 4-home appearances would seem to testify. Since launching the current campaign with their season's best 7-game home win streak, the Lumberjacks have assembled a rather mundane home mark of 20(9-8-3). Last 13 at home; 13(7-3-3); last 15 at home; 15(8-4-3), It is interesting to note nonetheless that Muskegon needs only 2-more victories to match all of last season's total home ice win output of 18.
THE VICTORY INVASION: The past weekend, the surging 'Jacks swept a pair of games abroad in as many nights. In the process, the Lumberjacks not only ascended augustly to within a single point of the IHL leadership but also set a new season standard for longest undefeated streak in the territory of the inimical enemy. With those 8-7 and 2-1 (OT) triumphs over Flint and Port Huron respectively, the "Ramsay Rendition" swelled its unbeaten streak away from home bay to a season's best 5-ganes at 5(4-0-1). Moreover, they are 12(8-2-2) in their past dozen decisions and 15(9-3-3) through their past 15-away dates. For the season, the road record reads; 22(12-7-3) with the longest win streak at 3- in a row; 3(3-0-0). Only once thus far this season have the Lumberjacks sustained back-to-back setbacks when traveling the exotic burgs of the IHL.
HIGH OCTANE GAIN: Since opening night way back in October, the high-tech, high-voltage Lumberjacks have retained and maintained their pinnacle prominent perch as the circuit's supreme super power of offensive weaponry. Having ripped the chords to the tune of 196-GF in 49-games, the men of Muskegon pro hockey adventure are averaging exactly 4.00 GFA. Remarkably, the 'Jacks have scored 4 or more goals in 32 of their first 49-games of the season or an extraordinary 65% of all games. Highest single game goal output has been 9-GF. Three times, they have cannonaded 8-GF and twice more they have engineered 7-strikes.
MAJOR MARQUEE MEN: Center Todd Robinson 48(20-62-82) continues to enjoy a comfortable lead atop all IHL scoring boards. Luke Stauffacher 43(25-21-46) is 12th and Chad Woollard 33(22-15-37) is listed 24th. Stauffacher's 25-goals rank 4th most while Robinson's 62-assists lead the league. Woollard continues to pace the league in PPG with 12 while Robin Bouchard (9) has already skyrocketed meteorically to 3rd. Robinson's 21-PP/Assists rank tied for #1; McArthur's 15-PPA rank #2 among all defensemen and 4th best in the IHL overall. Robinson's 4-GWG rank 4th in the league. Robinson (2) and Frank Littlejohn (2) share the league lead in SHG. Bouchard 21/88; .239 leads the IHL in shooting percentage with Stauffacher 25/120; 20.8 ranked runner-up. Steven Later (203) leads the IHL in PIM with Littlejohn (151) ranked fifth highest. Littlejohn's 34-minors rank as 4th most IHL. In rookie scoring, Maxime Lincourt 46(15-17-32) is ranked 5th; Chad Costello 48(10-20-30) is 6th; Alec Kirschner 45(3-20-23) is 10th; Adam Bartholomay 39(7-15-22) is 11th. Lincourt's 15-goals rank as 3rd most; Kirschner and Costello's 20-assists tie them for 4th most. Lincourt leads all rookies in shooting percentage; 15-101; .149. Alex Lamontagne (112) is #2 in the IHL in rookies/PIM with 112. For the defense, Matt Gens is 3rd 47(9-27-36); Darryl McArthur 49(7-28-35) 4th. McArthur's 28-assists lead all IHL defensemen with Gens right behind with 27-helpers. In the goaltending department, Clayton Pool is ranked 4th this week with a GAA of 3.21. His SPCT of .913 is 2nd best in the loop. He also has the best win percentage in the IHL at 21(13-4-4) and .714.
ROBIN IN RHYTHYM: The "Gun-Sling King," right wing Rockin' Robin Bouchard is firing on all cylinders at this stage of the season and, for that matter, his career. The past week, "Bouch Almighty" advanced his league-best and team season's best point scoring streak to 10-games; 14-goals and 8-assists for 22-points in that lightning-bolt shot Bouchard binge. For the week, he was 4(3-4-7) with 15-SOG, two third period GTG in consecutive games and nights to lead his team to ultimate victory success. His week included a 3-games goal-scoring streak and 3-multiple point games. In his last 17-games, he is a brilliant 17(21-9-30). For the season, he is 20(21-12-33), averaging slightly over 1-goal per game and a healthy 1.65 points per game. Having captured the coveted honor last week, Bouchard, once again, is the Lumberjacks nomination for Pepsi / IHL Player of the Week.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 16, 2009
- PrairieThunder Double Up Flint - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- K-Wings Weekly - Kalamazoo Wings
- Two Icehawks Receive Weekly Honors - Port Huron Icehawks
- Booras Earns Award - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- IHL Weekly Honors For Week Eighteen - IHL 2
- K-Wings Keep Productive During Busy Schedule - Kalamazoo Wings
- Komets extend unbeaten streak to six games - Fort Wayne Komets
- Jacks Sweep Two on the Road - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Lumberjacks Weekly Notes - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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