Lumberjacks launch new year on high note
January 4, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
LUMBERJACKS LINERS: Having completed their most rigorous regimen and most strenuous stretch thus far this season, consisting of 7-games in 9-nights, the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League have solidified their standing of a very strong and solid fourth place through the first 29-games of the season. Under the dogmas of third year head coach Bruce Ramsay, the men of Muskegon pro hockey posted an outstanding record of 7(4-2-1) in that grueling grind of 7-games. In the process they advanced and otherwise enhanced their overall season record to 29(17-10-2) totaling 36-points and a .621 winning percentage. This "Ramsay Rendition" has played the least number of games in the IHL at this stage of the campaign. Only 6-points distinguish the top 4-teams in the IHL standings with the Lumberjacks holding some significant games in hand on these other three contending clubs. As we get set to embark on the first full week of the new calendar year of 2009, the Lumberjacks trail first place, kinetic Kalamazoo 31(21-10-0) 42-points by those half-dozen points with 2-games in hand on the torrid Wings whose latest overall win streak has progressed to 4-consecutively. The Wings have won 9 of their last 10-outings with their lone loss during that propitious span inflicted by the Lumberjacks. Moreover, Kalamazoo is a sterling 23(19-4-0) in its last 23-games and has won a league season's best 9-consecutive games on home ice. As for second place Port Huron, 33(20-12-1) 41-points, the Icehawks appear to be almost as successful as Kalamazoo in recent vintage, having extended their latest unblemished skein to 5-games; 5(4-0-1). They are 8(6-1-1) in the last 8 and 15(11-3-1) in their last 15-starts. Abroad, they have been even better, winning 6-in a row and 11 of their last 13-games; 13(11-2-0). Muskegon does have 4-games in hand on their East Michigan rivals. The 'Jacks have crept within 1-point of third place Fort Wayne 31(17-11-3) 37-points with 2-games in hand on the Komets who are 8(3-3-2) in their last 8-dates. Embracing a much-welcomed respite following their demanding and daunting docket, Muskegon does not resume IHL league action until Friday night when they launch an extended 5-game home stand with 4 of those encounters against those top three teams in the league alliance. This Friday night, Port Huron comes calling followed by the Kalamazoo Wings on Saturday night. Then one week from this Tuesday, January 13th, Muskegon will play its annual "Education Day game at 10:30 am against Fort Wayne at Walker Arena.
RECORD REJUVENATED: This past holiday week, the Lumberjacks captured 3-conquests in 4-contests; 4(3-1-0) with the trio triumphs all coming at the expense of rival Bloomington. In the process, the 'Jacks upgraded and elevated their season mark to an impressive 29(17-10-2) for 36-points and .621 winning percentage. Currently, the 'Jacks have won 2-in a row and are 4(3-1-0) in their last 4-starts. In the last 8(5-2-1). The longest win streaks this season have been 4-in a row; 4(4-0-0) and 3-in succession 3(3-0-0). The longest undefeated streak has been 4-in succession; 4(3-0-1). The monthly numbers thus far have been: October 4(3-1-0); November 12(8-3-1); December 11(4-6-1); January 2(2-0-0).
ROAD SHOW SHABANG!: The first weekend of the New Year was a stellar one abroad for the Lumberjacks of our town. Sweeping a 2-game series in Bloomington on Friday night, 5-4 and, again, on Saturday night, 3-2 (OT), the 'Jacks raised their road record to a 14(7-5-2). Their 5-foreign ice setbacks represent the least in the IHL. They have won 2-in a row; last 2(2-0-0) and are 5(3-1-1) in their last 5-decisions and 8(4-2-2) in the last 8-dates in hostile territory. Remarkably, to enunciate and punctuate their road success, the 'Jacks, still, have yet to drop 2-in a row when traveling away from the homestead. Their current 2-game win streak equals their longest of the season. Muskegon has extracted victories on the road in every member club city with the exclusion of Kalamazoo 2(0-2-0).
THE GF / GA IN PLAY: It all began opening week and still continues to this day as the Lumberjacks continue as the highest-voltage scoring team in the IHL. They have produced a prodigious 121-GF in 29-games for a GFA of 4.17. The 'Jacks have scored 4 or more goals in 20 of their first 29-games this season. There are 7-Lumberjacks who have already attained double figures in goal-scoring productivity; Luke Stauffacher (18); Chad Woollard (18); Frank Littlejohn (14); Todd Robinson (13); Henry Kuster (12); Maxime Lincourt (11); Chad Costello (10).Defensively, Muskegon ranks 4th , surrendering a rather exorbitant, inordinate 119-GA in 29-games for a GAA of a 4.10. Only fifth place Flint and sixth place Bloomington have allotted more GA than have the 'Jacks.
ONE GOAL ROLL: The past week saw the Lumberjacks lay claim to 3-victories with each one richly earned and deserved by a minuscule 1-goal margin; 4-3 Tuesday night on home ice over Bloomington; 5-4 Friday night on the road in Bloomington and, once again Saturday night in OT in the Illinois exotic burg, 3-2. In all, the last 4-Muskegon triumphs have been the product of 1-goal decisions. At this juncture of the current campaign, for the second straight season, Muskegon has attained the league's superior record in 1-goal decisions, remaining unsullied at 11(9-0-2). At home, they are an impeccably perfect 5(5-0-0); on the road: 6(4-0-2). Perhaps, this should not be especially surprising as last year, Muskegon also achieved the circuit's supreme record in this department at 32(20-6-6) and a magnificent 15(10-1-4) on the road.
LUSTROUS LAUREATES: Todd Robinson 28(13-38-51) continues to lead the IHL in scoring with Luke Stauffach-er 29(18-16-34) 10th with Chad Woollard 26(18-11-29) and Henry Kuster 28(12-17-29) tied for 18th IHL. Stauffacher and Woollard's 18-goals rank tied for league-wide 4th while Robinson's 38-assists tie him for the league-leadership in that department. Robinson's 12-PP/Assists rank tied for 3rd most and Woollard's 8-PPG tie him for the league-lead. Robinson (2) and Frank Littlejohn (2) share the league-lead in SHG with Stauffacher's 18/79; .228 shooting percent-age circuit 2nd. Darryl McArthur (+17) ranks 3rd in the IHL. Littlejohn (95) is 4th and Steven Later (94) is 5th in the IHL in PIM. In IHL Rookie Scoring, Maxime Lincourt 26(11-13-24) is 4th, Chad Costello 28(10-12-22) is 6th, Alec Kirschner 28(2-12-14) ranks rookie 10th, Bill Bagron 23(2-8-10) is 14th. Costello (2) and Lincourt (2) are tied for the rookie's top spot in GWG. Lincourt's 11-goals are tied for #2; his 13-assists are 4th most. Costello is #1 in shooting percentage, 10/48; .208; Lincourt is 3rd 11/62; .177. Lincourt's +10 rating is 4th best. In the Defense department; Darryl McArthur 29(5-19-24)is 3rd; Matt Gens 27(4-13-17) is 9th and Adam Bartholomay 19(3-8-11) is 15th. McArthur's 19-assists are tied for 2nd most with Later leading all defenseman in PIM with 94 and newcomer Sam Miller 2nd with 90-PIM.
THE 91 RUN: High-powered left wing Chad Woollard has been binging bodaciously with his goal-scoring prowess. The past week, in 4-games, he sniped 6-goals and totaled 7-points with 22-SOG and +1 rating. Included in his New Year's week scoring scourge was the 3-goal "hat trick" which included the FG/PPG and third period GTG and TBG/GWG in his team's 4-3 comeback victory over visiting Bloomington back on Tuesday night. On New Year's Eve, he delivered the GTG in the 'Jacks setback at Kalamazoo. Friday night in Bloomington, he uncorked 2-more cannons (FG/PPG&TBG/PPG) in the 5-4 verdict over the Prairie Thunder. For the week; 2-FG; 3-PPG; 2-GTG; 2-TBG; 1-GWG. Furthermore, for the month of December, in 11-games, he was 11(9-2-11) with a team-high 49-SOG and +3 rating as his club's premiere cannoneer and second top scorer. In his last 8-games, he is 8(11-2-13) with 5-PPG and 4-multiplegoal games in that span. Woollard is the Lumberjacks nomination for both Pepsi / IHL Player of the Week and IHL Player of the Month for December.
PUCK PROFESSOR POOL: Veteran goalkeeper Clayton Pool is fully recovered and back between the red pipes for team Muskegon. The second winningest goaltender in franchise annals, he fashioned an extraordinary first full week of goaltending wizardry and refinery in seeing action in all 4-games including 3-starts. For the week, Pool was a "primo-perfecto" 3(3-0-0) with a frugal 2.86 GAA and superlative .928 SPCT. Twice he was hailed the game's #2 Star; 12/30/08 in a 4-3 home ice triumph over Bloomington and the past Saturday night in the Illinois hamlet in a 3-2 OT win for the 'Jacks. For the season, he is unblemished at 4(3-0-1) with a .920 SPCT. His 188-career games and 104-victories rank #2 on the franchise all-time list while his 8-career shutouts tie him for the club's all-time career high. Clayton Pool is the Lumberjacks nomination for Southern Sports Supply / IHL Goaltender of the Month and IHL Goaltender of the Week.
THE SPREE BY CHADLEY: Rocketing rookie right wing Chad Costello never knew it could be this good in Muskegon, in the IHL and in pro hockey but he knows now. The Northeastern U. prodigy enjoyed yet another sparkling week of point-production and supreme dream play. Engineering a 4-games point streak the past week, he was 4(2-5-7) with 15-SOG. He was named the #3 Star 12/30/08 on home ice where his team dispensed with Bloom-ington, 4-3 as he acted the role of playmaker extraordinaire with 2-third period primary assists on the GTG and later the TBG/GWG to gain the victory. In the past two games weekend series at Bloomington, he stoked strikes in both games including (1-2-3) Friday night in the team's 5-4 dismissal of the Prairie Thunder, being named the #1 Star. Then on Saturday night, he scored the key, touch-in-the-clutch GTG in his team's 3-2 comeback win in the Illini state. In his last 8-games, he is 8(5-8-13). Costello is the Lumberjacks nomination for both Aquafina /IHL Rookie of the Month for December and IHL Rookie of the Week.
"FRANK THE TANK" TIME: Effervescent right wing Frank Littlejohn's jammin' jazzed juggernaut is right on time as in "overtime." It was a banner week for "Frankie" as he sizzled goals in each of the last 3-games; 3(3-1-4) including the dramatic, suspenseful OT/GWG Saturday night in Bloomington to produce a 3-2 'Jacks triumph and complete the sweep of the 3-games' work week against the Thunder. Currently operating with his second 3-game goal-streak of the season, Littlejohn is 5(3-2-5) in his last 5-games with a +1 rating. The "Frank the Tank" OT strike at 1:10 of the extra session came on a cannon-shot that seemed to split the night's air and was heard all the way back to the Muskegon environs.
BETTER BEST: All-Star defenseman Dan Boeser's long-awaited and anticipated Muskegon debut was worth the wait. The former U. of Wisconsin standout had been on the shelf all season due to off-season knee surgery. Since his coming to the lineup, the Lumberjacks somewhat maligned back line appears to have coalesced, steadied and stabilized. Parlaying strong defense with stellar offense, Boeser collected 4-assists in 4-games the past week; 4(0-4-4). Included in his offensive output, in Saturday night's harrowing 3-2 OT triumph at Bloomington were 2-primary, monumental assists on the GTG/PPG and the ultimate GWG in the OT.
POWER PLAY PANACEA: Whatever has been ailing the erratic power play seems to have been cured at this hour of the campaign. For the 4-games' work week, the Muskegon extra man band blazed a roman candle strike in each outing, going a prolific and proficient 5-14 for a conversion rating of 35.3%.The Lumberjacks are 7 for the last 29 and 8 for the last 35 with the manpower advantage. For the season, they are IHL 5th at 22-133 for a proficiency rating of a gradually-improving 16.5%. The penalty-killing cast has not fared as successfully. Still rated 5th in the league, it is 113-148 for an efficiency mark of 76.4%. The opposition is 5 for the last 16; 12 for the last 39 and 14 for the last 43. Muskegon is tied for 2nd in SHG with 4 and continues to have the royal and regal distinction of being the lone team in the league not to permit a SHGA.
HISTORY MAKING MATTERS: When the Lumberjacks defeated Bloomington Friday night, 5-4, third year head coach Bruce Ramsay became only the third coach in the modern Muskegon pro hockey history to reach 100-victories. He was preceded by Rich Kromm and Todd Nelson. Billy Collins (298) is 2-games away from career 300; all in Muskegon. Darryl McArthur's next game will be the 450th of his pro career. Billy Collins (95) is 5-assists shy of career 100. Henry Kuster (547) is 3-games away from pro career 550. Frank Littlejohn (646) is 4-games away from 650 and (190) 10-assists from 200. Goaltender Clayton Pool (189) is 11-games from the Muskegon 200. Chad Woollard (273) is 2-goals away from career 275.
FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": In sweeping all 3-games from Bloomington the past week including two over the weekend in Illinois, Muskegon has hiked its lifetime record there to a gaudy 16(10-3-3). The Lumberjacks best period on the road this year is the third, outscoring the home standing team, 27-16. The 'Jacks have delivered 6-"hat tricks" this season; they are undefeated at 6(6-0-0) when they attain the feat. When either leading or tied after the second period, the 'Jacks are unbeaten this season at 16(15-0-1). The Lumberjacks are undefeated on the road on Friday nights this year; 4(3-0-1).
REPLAY THE DAY: Faced with the demanding, daunting docket of 4-games in 5-days the past holiday week, the 'Jacks responded in stellar fashion with 4(3-1-0) mark. Last Tuesday night, on home ice, Chad Woollard singularly rallied his club to a 4-3 comeback victory. Woollard delivered the 3-goal "hat trick" which included both the GTG and GWG in the form of a 2-goal third period rally that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Alex Lamontagne (FG) also connected with Chad Costello assisting twice. Clayton Pool was scintillating with 43-saves in the 'Jacks goal. New Year's Eve in Kalamazoo, the Wings waylaid the visitors, 7-3 on the impetus of a 4-goal second period powder keg. Billy Collins, Chad Woollard and Frank Littlejohn (PPG) connected for the vanquished "Lumbermen." Traveling to Bloomington for a 2-game weekend series to begin the New Year, Muskegon found its "Mojo" in 5-4 and 3-2 OT triumphs. Friday night, Steven Later scored his first-ever Muskegon goal with just 5:34 remaining in regulation time to gain the 5-4-victory. Chad Woollard (2-0-2)FG/PP & TBG/PP; Costello (1-2-3); Frank Littlejohn (1-1-2)TBG made connection with Luke Stauffacher and Alec Kirschner each assisting twice. Saturday night, Littlejohn's strike a 1:10 of OT lifted the 'Jacks into the victory circle. Costello and Darryl McArthur (PPG/TBG) also registered with Dan Boeser collecting 2-assists. Pool was stellar with 37-saves.
THE LUMBERJACKS GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9TH PORT HURON AT THE LUMBERJACKS 7:00 PM
Through the first six sessions staged, the series stands for Muskegon at 6(3-2-1). The 'Jacks are 3(2-1-0) at home. The second place Icehawks begin the week one point behind first place Kalamazoo; 4-points superior to third place Fort Wayne and 5-points ahead of fourth place Muskegon which has 4-games in hand on its East Michigan rival. Port Huron has the best road record in the IHL, having won 6-consecutively and 11 of their last 13-journeys away.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10TH KALAMAZOO AT THE LUMBERJACKS 7:00 PM
This will be the sixth time these two long-time inimical foes fight on. The Lumberjacks lead the series, 5(3-2-0) and are a perfect 3(3-0-0) on home ice. The Wings have been torrid winning 4-in a row and 9 of their last 10 with the sole setback in that span inflicted by the Jacks in the Wings last appearance here back on December 20th when the 'Jacks prevailed, 3-2.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from January 4, 2009
- Lumberjacks launch new year on high note - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Lumberjacks Weekly Notes - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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