Sports stats



Lumberjacks Explode For 22-Goals In Earning Five Of Six Points For Week

November 23, 2008 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


LUMBERJACKS LINES: Featuring an awesome goal-scoring artillery armada, the high-voltage, high-octane Muskegon Lumberjacks concluded yet another highly-successful week consisting of 3-games in 3-nights by earning 5 of a possible 6-points through a 3(2-0-1) mark. Under the auspices of third year head coach Bruce Ramsay, the men of Muskegon pro hockey have advanced and otherwise enhanced their season record to a league-supreme 13(9-3-1) for a total of 19-points and a winning percentage of a superlative .731. For the week's on-ice activities, the 'Jacks generated 22-GF in those 3-outings and 17-GF in the first two games of their current 4-game home stand. Waging a tight battle for the International Hockey League's supreme summit with last year's Turner Cup runner-up Port Huron, the Lumberjacks do hold 3-games in hand on the Icehawks who have been surging since launching the current campaign with a rather inauspicious 4-game losing streak. Proceeding to the Thanksgiving holiday week, Muskegon is immersed in a tight taut-fraught race for league sovereignty and superiority with three other teams very much within striking distance; namely, the aforementioned Port Huron squad as well as defending league kingpin Fort Wayne, which is winless in its last 4-starts; 4(0-3-1) and 8(2-5-1) in the last 8-games after beginning the season with a 5-game win streak, and red-hot, streaking Kalamazoo. On this holiday week, for a second consecutive week, the Lumberjacks confront the strenuous stretch of 3-games in 3-nights with the initial two of those on home ice to conclude an extended 4-game home stand. It has become a rich tradition in Muskegon, hockey night, Thanksgiving night at Walker Arena where the 'Jacks will clash with Port Huron Thursday night before Bloomington invades the hallowed halls of Walker Friday night. Then it's on to Fort Wayne Saturday night for a duel with the Komets to complete the week.

IT'S FUN AT 9-3-1!" Through the first 13-games of the 2008-09 IHL season, the Lumberjacks are fostering a flourish as their 13(9-3-1) record for 19-points would reflect. Their winning percentage of .731 is the best of the rest in the loop. Currently, the 'Jacks are enjoying a 3-games unblemished skein; 3(2-0-1); their second longest unsullied streak of the season as well as their second 2-game win streak of the year; 2(2-0-0). In their last 8-games, the 'Jacks stand at 8(6-1-1); last 10-games; 10(7-2-1). Muskegon tops the league in victories with 9 and have incurred 2-fewer setbacks than all others in the IHL with 3. The longest win streak of the season has been 4(4-0-0). Muskegon has yet to sustain back-to-back defeats at this hour of the season. The monthly returns at this stage: October 4(3-1-0); November 9(6-2-1). Muskegon has achieved major improvement from a year ago when its record stood at a rather mundane 13(5-7-1) 11-points. Presently, this year's Muskegon edition has 4-more wins, 4-less losses and 8-more points than last season at this time.

HOME ZONE ZERO: Launching their 4-game home stand with two triumphs, 8-7 Friday night over Flint and 9-5 Saturday night with Bloomington in town, the Lumberjacks have elevated their season-opening home winning streak to 6 in a row; 6(6-0-0). They are the last and lone undefeated home team in the IHL, attaining 2-more home victories than any other team in the league. Their home record represents a vast upgrade from last year at this very moment of the campaign when Muskegon was faltering with a languid, listless log of 6(1-5-0). This year, Muskegon is 5-wins and 10-points ahead of last year's clip.

ROADWAY PLAY: The past week, the 'Jacks extracted one more precious point in their quest with zest for the league's loftiest prominent perch. Thursday night in Flint, they, remarkably, surmounted a daunting third period deficit of 5-2 with an electric-like 3-goal voltage charge to gain the 5-5 regulation deadlock before the Generals landed the "bonus point" in overtime. Nevertheless, the Lumberjacks maintained a commendable, respectable road rating of 7(3-3-1). Muskegon's longest road win streak has been 2-in succession. Presently, the 'Jacks are 2(0-1-1) in their last 2-trips abroad. The Lakeshore "Icemen's" last trumping triumph on foreign ice was November 14th in Fort Wayne and a 5-4 victory verdict over the mighty Komets of Huber Trophy and Turner Cup repute.

ROCKETS RED GLARE: The Lumberjacks offensive firepower has been of enormous performance thus far this season. The past week, the 'Jacks erupted volcanically to the tune of 22-GF in 3-games for a GFA of a potent, predominant 7.33. In the latter two games to broach their 4-game home stand, the 'Jacks exploded for 17-GF in an 8-7 Friday night triumph over Flint followed by a 9-5 kinetic conquest of Bloomington. On each night, in back-to-back fashion, the 'Jacks set single game, season-highs for their revered, feared premiere cannoneers. Through their first 13-games of the current campaign, the Lumberjacks have propulsioned a minimum of 4-GF in every game. They have cannonaded 4-GF 4-times; 5-GF 6-times; 6-GF 1-time; 8-GF 1-time and 9-GF 1-time. For the season, the 'Jacks have amassed an astronomical 69-GF in 13-games to lead the league with a GFA of a prodigious 5.31. On home ice, in 6-games, the 'Jacks have produced 36-GF for a GFA of 6.00.

TOP TIMBER TOTE: Todd Robinson 13(9-23-32) continues to top the IHL in scoring. His linemate, Luke Stauffacher 13(13-8-21) has skyrocketed meteorically to #3 in the league with the third linemate, Henry Kuster 13(8-9-17) listed 13th. Rookie Maxime Lincourt 13(7-8-15) is 15th and Chad Woollard 12(7-7-14) is 18th among the top point-producing elite. Stauffacher's 13-goals lead the league with Robinson ranking 5th with 9-strikes. Robinson's 23-assists are IHL-best with his 8-PP/assists ranked runner-up. Stauffacher also leads the IHL in GWG with 3; Robinson and Frank Littlejohn share the league lead in SHG with 2-each. Stauffacher is #2 in the league goal-scoring shooting percentage with 13/39 for .333. Darryl McArthur and Lincourt are 1-2 in league-wide best plus players at +12 and +11 respectively. Lincourt is the IHL's top scoring rookie 13(7-8-15); Adam Bartholomay is 4th 13(3-7-10); Chad Costello is 5th 13(4-3-7); Alec Kirschner is 9th 12(2-3-5). Lincourt's 7-goals and 8-assists pace the rookie class as does his +11 rating. Bartholomay is right behind league-wide with +10. Costello's 2-GWG lead all league rookies. For the defense, McArthur remains #2 in scoring with 13(3-10-13) with Bartholomay 5th 13(3-7-10) and Matt Gens 8th 13(1-8-9). McArthur's 5-PP/Assists rank 3rd among defensemen and his 9-total assists are tied for 2nd best; Gens is 5th with 8-helpers. Bartholomay has the best goal-scoring percentage among this year's league defensemen at 3/15; .200. Steven Later's 11-minors are 3rd most as are his 47-PIM. Kyle Kos is tied for 3rd among league defensemen with a +10 rating. In the goaltending department, Isaac Reichmuth tops the league with the best record 10(8-2-0) and the most wins (8).

LUKE LIGHTS IT!: Irascible, irrepressible left wing Luke Stauffacher is a hot house ablazing at this juncture of the season. The league's premiere marksman with 13-goals attained a mammoth week of goal-scoring stupendo. In 3-games in 3-nights, Stauffacher stoked 3-straight multiple goal and multiple point games, totaling 7-goals, 2-assists, 9-points. Thursday night in Flint he was (2-1-3) with the 1-FG and 1-PG and 6-SOG. Friday night at home in an encore engagement with the Generals, he snapped a snazzy deuce with 1-PG and 1-TBG/PPG with 4-SOG and the game's #2 Star in his team's 8-7 vanquishing of their Friday foes. He climaxed his goal gush-rush with his second 3-goal "hat trick" of the season and 4-points overall, gaining the game's #1 Star in a 9-5 conquest of Bloomington. His 5-multiple goal games for the season, lead the IHL. A previous victor of the honors, Stauffacher is the Lumberjacks nomination for Pepsi / IHL Player of the Week.

THE BILL "Z" KEY: Second-year goaltender Bill Zaniboni gained the starting assignment in the first and third 'Jacks games the past week. In his second start Saturday night, his first-ever start at home, he posted that elusive initial victory to improve his record to 3(1-1-1). Thus far, the former standout at Northern Michigan U. has appeared in 4-Lumberjacks contests and has made 3-starts. Zaniboni is the Lumberjacks nomination for Southern Sports Supply / IHL Player of the Week.

THE JACKS MAX: Slick, sleek rookie center Maxime Lincourt continues to impress with his precocious play and performance. The past week, he recorded 3-consecutive plus games to run his streak to 8-straight plus premium games for the 'Jacks and a +11 rating in that superb span. The past week, he was 3(2-1-3) with 6-SOG and +4 rating. Leading all league yearlings in goals (7), assists (8), points (15) and plus (+11) and two-time reigning IHL Rookie of the Week, Lincourt, once again, is the Lumberjacks nomination for Aquafina / IHL Rookie of the Week.

THE PRINCE PERCOLATES: The IHL's premiere point-making maestro, Todd Robinson continues his full frontal offensive assault in '08-09. In the recently concluded 3-games in 3-nights week, the pre-eminent prince of points prolific, playmaking pivot authored two 4-assists masterpieces; Thursday night in the 6-5 OTL at Flint and, again, Saturday night in the 'Jacks 9-5 dismissal of Bloomington, being named the game's #2 Star. For the week, he was 3(0-9-9). Through 13-games, he has already fashioned three 4-assists playmaking performances and is currently on his second 4-games' assists streak of the campaign with an extraordinary 11-assists; last 4(0-11-11). Through his first 13-games this season "T. Rob" has already registered 9-multi-point games. In his last 10-games, he is averaging 2.70 points per game; 10(6-21-27).

TALL HENRY HUMMING: Veteran right wing Henry Kuster is experiencing a re-awakening of an already outstanding pro career. In 3-games the past week, he collected a highly-productive 8-points on 2-goals, 6-assists, including a 3-points game (1-2-3) Thursday night at Flint and a sparkling 4-points' output (1-3-4) in the Saturday night domination of Bloomington. Kuster is currently on a scintillating 4-games point streak; 4(3-6-9).

TWO IN TIME: Diminutive, dynamic LW/RW Alec Kirschner waited awhile for it to come but when it did he did it not once but twice in lightning-like fashion. The rookie from U-Conn had been thirsting for that elusive first-ever pro goal when it finally came in the form of a proficient pair Saturday night in the victory over Bloomington. The American-bred from Dix Hills, NY fired a pair of roman candles to emanate and culminate his club's 3-goal blitz in 1:39 as part of a 'Jacks 5-goal second period onslaught. Kirschner was acclaimed the game's #3 Star.

FRANK THE TANK TICKS: Eleven-year veteran right wing Frank Littlejohn is relishing his role and his present state of affairs with the Lumberjacks. Through the first 2-games of their extended 4-games' home stand, he has been masterfully majestic, delivering 6-points on (4-2-6) and +6 rating. In Friday night's 8-7 decision over Flint, he was named the game's #1 Star for authoring his second 3-goal "hat trick" including his league tying best 2nd SHG of the year. He capped the weekend with (1-2-3) and brilliant +4 rating in the 9-5 verdict over Bloomington. In his last 6-games. Littlejohn has been a lightning bolt with 6(7-3-10) and magnificent +13 rating.

THE KYLE PLUS PROFILE: Ten-year veteran defenseman Kyle Kos has never been better on the blue line for his team. The past week, in 3-games in 3-nights, he earned a healthy +4 rating, going +2 in each of the 'Jacks first 2-games of their 4-game home stand. In his last 8-games, Kos is a stellar +12.

THE FIRST & THE WORST: The league's highest-scoring machine, the Lumberjacks possess the circuit's supreme power play power plant despite being presented only 54-advantages which are nearly 20-fewer than any other team in the IHL. They are 12-54 for 22.2% proficiency. The 'Jacks are 8 for the last 26 for a conversion rating of 30.8%. However, the penalty-killing unit is ranked 6th and last, operating at 76.1% efficiency with the opposition going 17-71.

The opponents are 16 for the last 52 for a Muskegon penalty-killing rating of 69.2%.

MINING MILESTONES: Matt Gens (199) will play his 200th pro career game Thanksgiving night against Port Huron. Todd Robinson's next assist will be the 600th of his pro career (599). Kyle Kos (492) is 8-games from pro career 500. Frank Littlejohn (443) is 7-points from career 450. Henry Kuster (490) is 10-points away from 500. Matt Gens (93) is 7-points away from career 100. Billy Collins (90) is 10-assists shy of 100 for his pro career. The two newest members of the 'Jacks, defenseman Alex Lamontagne and left wing Travis Hanson earned their first pro points by assisting on the same goal Friday night against Flint.

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": In Saturday night's 9-5 triumph over Bloomington, the 'Jacks 5-goal second period was their best single period output of the season. The 'Jacks have delivered the game's FG in 10 of 13-games, posting a 10(8-1-1) record. The 'Jacks are a perfect 6(6-0-0) entering the third period with the lead. Muskegon is unblemished in 1-goal outcomes at 6(5-0-1). The 'Jacks are still undefeated on Friday nights at 5(5-0-0). While the 'Jacks have incurred all 3 of their defeats on Saturday night 6(3-3-0), they remain unsullied on home ice at 3(3-0-0). In 3-meetings with Bloomington this year, the 'Jacks have outscored the Prairie Thunder 7-1 in the opening period. Muskegon is undefeated when scoring a SHG at 4(4-0-0). They are also undefeated when scoring a 'hat trick" at 5(5-0-0.

WEEKEND REPLAY: Facing 3-games in 3-nights, the Lumberjacks responded by gaining 5 of an available 6-points through a 3(2-0-1) record. Thursday night at Flint, the 'Jacks concluded a 3-game road mission with a 3(1-1-1) log in a 6-5 OTL against the Generals. Muskegon made a remarkable resurgence rallying from a third period 5-2 deficit to spirit away the one precious point in the standings. Luke Stauffacher (2-1-3)FG, Henry Kuster (1-2-3)GTG Chad Woollard (PPG) and Maxime Lincourt each connected with Todd Robinson engineering 4-assists. Bill Zaniboni rebuked 29-shots in goal. Returning home following a 2-weeks' absence to begin a 4-game home stand, the Jacks, on Friday night, outlasted Flint, 8-7. Frank Littlejohn propelled the 3-goal hat trick (FG/SHG/UG) and 2 second period strikes stoked less than 4-minutes apart. Stauffacher scored twice (PPG), Woollard (1-2-3), Billy Collins (1-1-2) and Matt Gens (1-1-2) also delivered the mail with Adam Bartholomay assisting twice. Isaac Reichmuth had 29-saves in goal. Saturday night, the 'Jacks raced into a 9-0 lead before ultimately prevailing over Bloomington, 9-5. Stauffacher sizzled 4-points, including the 3-goal hat trick, which included the FG and GWG. Alec Kirschner ripped a pair 1:39 apart in the 5-goal second period avalanche while Kuster (1-3-4) PPG, Bartholomay (1-2-3), Littlejohn (1-2-3) and Lincourt (1-1-2) also uncorked cannons. Robinson had another 4-assists night of excellence. Zaniboni was in goal to make 29-saves.

THE LUMBERJACKS GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH PORT HURON AT THE LUMBERJACKS 7:00 PM

It has become a rich tradition in Muskegon, hockey night Thanksgiving night at Walker Arena. The torrid Port Huron Icehawks will celebrate the holiday with the 'Jacks in the form of the third meeting of the season between the two fractious foes with the series balanced at 2(1-1-0). Home ice advantage has been tantamount to success with Muskegon prevailing on opening night, October 18th, 4-3 and the Turner Cup runners-up exacting retribution one week later on October 25th, 6-4.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH BLOOMINGTON AT THE LUMBERJACKS 7:00 PM

The conclusion of their 4-game home stand with their second offering against the Prairie Thunder in Muskegon in the span of a week.. The 'Jacks lead the series 3(2-1-0) by virtue of their 9-5 triumph last Saturday night in the first clash of the teams in Walker Arena. The two teams had divided a pair of games previously in the Central Illinois hamlet.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH THE LUMBERJACKS AT FORT WAYNE 7:30 PM

Muskegon makes its second sojourn to the Indiana city where the Komets lost only 3 of 38-home games in their championship season of 2007-08. However, in their first appearance in Fort Wayne this season, back on November 14th, the 'Jacks prevailed, 5-4. Muskegon is 2(2-0-0) against the Komets, including a 6-4 win in the lone date at Muskegon back on November 7th.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from November 23, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Muskegon Lumberjacks Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central