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Lumberjacks Start Strong

October 26, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


PINK THE RINK NIGHT / $1 BEER NIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT OCT. 30TH VS. DAYTON GEMS AT 7:00 PM TRACKS: The Lumberjacks have completed the second week of the embryonic 2009-10 IHL season as they did the inaugural week with a 2(1-1-0) record. In the process, through the initial 4-games of the campaign, they are right on the barrier at 4(2-2-0) totaling 4-points and a 4th place tie with Bloomington 4(2-2-0)4. Only 2-points distinguish the top 5-teams in the standings with Port Huron and Fort Wayne each at 4(3-1-0)6 and upstart, fledgling Dayton positioned 3rd at 5(2-2-1)5. Sharing 6th place are Quad City 2(1-1-0)2 and Flint 5(1-4-0) with the Generals in the throes and woes of a 4-game losing spell following their opening night success back on October 16th on home ice at the expense of the Lumberjacks. This week, the Lumberjacks face another abbreviated 2-game work load as they cap their 4-game homestand with an encore engagement against Dayton for the second straight Friday night. Then on Halloween night, it will be last seasons Turner Cup Finals reprised as Muskegon sojourns to Fort Wayne to tangle with the two-time reigning league sovereigns. Those two game will effectively conclude the Jacks 6-games October schedule.

PINK THE RINK NIGHT: This Friday night when the Jacks lock horns with visiting Dayton, it has been designated Pink the Rink Night. The Lumberjacks will don specially pink-trimmed jerseys which will be auctioned immediately following the game with a percentage of the proceeds earmarked for breast cancer awareness in our area. Every Friday night, it is also $1 Beer Night.

DUPLICATE & REPLICATE: Much like the opening week of their 50th Anniversary Season, Muskegon completed the second week of a half century of pro hockey downtown in our town with a 2(1-1-0) record, dropping the first and coming back strongly to capture convincingly the second and last one for the week. In the process, the Muskegon record stands at 4(2-2-0) totaling 4-points. One year ago after the initial quartet of games, the Muskegon mark was 4(3-1-0); at home: 2(2-0-0); on the road: 2(1-1-0). Last Octobers record was 4(3-1-0).

HOME HANGOUT CLOUT: The past weekend, the Lumberjacks divided a pair of home appearances, trembling to Dayton Friday night, 7-5 before rebounding Sunday in a 4-1 dousing of previously undefeated Port Huron. For the early season, the Jacks are 3(2-1-0) paralleling the initial 3-offerings of a 4-game homestand. Dating back to last season, Muskegon is 11(9-2-0) in its last 11-dates at home; last 14(11-3-0). ROAD TOLL: Having not seen the IHL roadways consisting of long runways at extremely low altitude since opening night, October 16th, the Jacks are 1(0-1-0) abroad. Incorporating late last season and the Turner Cup Playoffs, they are experiencing the travail of a 6-game skid in foreign territory with a mark of 12(1-11-0) in the last dozen dates away.

SONIC TONIC: Through the first 4-games of the inchoate campaign, the Lumberjacks have emerged as the top scoring kinetic contingent in the league. Head Coach Rich Kromms crew has propulsioned 19-GF for a GFA of a prolific 4.75. In 3-home games, they have fired and wired 18-GF for a GFA of a prodigious 6.00. The first ad second period have been Muskegons strong suits, outscoring the opposition, 15-7; in the first period, 7-3; in the second stanza, 8-4. The Jacks are the best first and second period teams in the IHL at this juncture of the season.

TOP POP POWER: The Lumberjacks John DiPace 4(2-5-7) is the IHLs #1 scoring troubadour; tied for #2, Todd Robin-son 4(2-4-6); Robin Bouchard 4(3-3-6); tied for 14th David Rohlfs 4(3-1-4); Matt Krug 4(1-3-4). Bouchard Rohlfs are tied for 3rd in goal-power while DiPaces 5-assists tie him for the league-lead. Rohlfs is tied for 2nd in PPG with 2. Krug is tied for 2nd in scoring for defensemen 4(1-3-4); Lubos Velebny 4(0-3-3) tied for 5th with Tom Galvin 2(2-0-2) and Jason Lawmaster 4(1-1-2) tied for 12th among the blueline brigade. In rookie scoring, Krug is tied for #1; 4th is Matt Robertson 4(2-1-3). Krug +5 and Lawmaster +5 share the league leadership in that category. In the goaltending department, Sebastien Centomo is tops in the loop in MIN: 239:21 and SAVES: 104. MAN CAN: Third year right wing David Rohlfs is enjoying an excellent start in his Muskegon and IHL debut this season. The past weekend, the former U. of Michigan team captain was at the top of his game in delivering 3-points in2-games on 2-goals, 1-assist with +2 rating. Earning a key assist in Friday nights setback inflicted by Dayton, he triggered a pair of monumental strikes in the Sunday defeat of Port Huron, being named the latter games #1 Star. In the Sunday contest, he connected on a PPG / GWG in the opening frame before blazing a pivotal early second period thrust at the :10 mark of the second stanza. Currently, one of 7-Lumberjacks players sporting 3-game point streaks; 3(3-1-4), Rohlfs is the Lumberjacks nomination for IHL Player of the Week.

TOMO BROMO: Sebastien Centomo has become the consummate workhorse in his goalkeeping duties for the Jacks. Having played every minute of every game thus far through 4-games on the docket, the 9-year pro posted his second consecutive 2(1-1-0) week with both decisions coming at home where he is 3(2-1-0) for the early season. For the weeks performance, he posted a GAA of 3.50. SPCT of and earned the games #2 Star Sunday in his teams 4-1 trumping of Port Huron. He made a season-high 32-saves in the latter contest. Centomo, again, is the Lumberjacks nomination for IHL Goaltender of the Week.

MATT THE CAT: Good-looking first year left wing Matt Robertson continues to impress with his precocious on-ice savvy and moxie. The past weekend, he pushed his personal point streak to 3-games; 3(2-1-3), by authoring 2(1-1-2) in a pair of affairs. He delivered the GWG in the third period of Friday nights 7-5 undoing against Dayton and added his first pro assist in Sundays dispatching of Port Huron. He was a plus player in each contest, posting +2 for the weekend. Robertson is the Lumberjacks nomination for IHL Rookie of the Week.

HES IN THE PACE CAR: Seven-year veteran left wing John DiPace has launched the current campaign in masterful fashion. Last seasons 6th top scoring sultan in the loop currently leads the league in point production after the first 2-weeks. He is 4(2-5-7) with a 3-game point skein of 3(2-5-7). His +4 rating also ranks as a lofty runner-up position in the circuit. He has also choreographed his teams lone SHG thus far in the early going.

GALVIN-IZED: Former Notre Dame standout, veteran defenseman Tom Galvin has made a successful second coming to Muskegon under the Lumberjacks moniker. Signed as a free agent the past week, the 7-year pro announced his return to Walker Arena in rather clarion tones Friday night, essaying a pair goals and PPG/GTG in his teams swoon against the newly-minted Gems of Dayton. He was named the Lumberjacks Star of the Game.

IMPROVE GROOVE: Head Coach Rich Kromm is seeking improvement in his special teams play and performance. Entering the third week of the season, Muskegons power play is listed a lofty #2 in the IHL at 21.7% proficiency; 5-23. They are 1 for the last 7-attempts for 14.3%. On the penalty-killing side, there is some work to be accomplished as the club is listed last in the league at 73.1% efficiency with opponents 7-26. The Jacks have 1-SHG and have yielded 0-SHGA thus far.

HARK HALLMARK: This past Sunday, Todd Robinson became only the fourth player to reach 500-games for Muskegon. Robin Bouchard is 8-points from 1,000 with Muskegon. Jason Lawmaster is 1-point away from pro career 300. Travis Banga is 4-points from 300. Sebastien Centomo is 4-games away from pro 300. John DiPace is 7-assists away from career 200. Tom Galvins next game will be the 350th of his pro career.

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM FIC: David Rohlfs 9-SOG in Sundays verdict over Port Huron represent the most of any player in a single game thus far this season. Of all the current Lumberjacks on the active roster, none is of a minus rating at this hour of the season. There are presently 7-different Jacks players on 3-game point streaks; John DiPace 3(2-5-7); Robin Bouchard 3(3-3-6); David Rohlfs 3(3-1-4); Matt Robertson 3(2-1-3); Travis Banga 3(1-2-3); Brian Bicek 3(1-2-3); Lubos Velebny 3(0-3-3). In his Jacks coming out party Friday night, Robin Big Snake notched his first-ever Muskegon goal.

REVIEW STEW: For the second straight weekend, the Lumberjacks posted a 2(1-1-0) record and for the second straight week, they bowe in the first outing before roaring back with a second game domination termination. Friday night at home, they succumbed to Dayton, 7-5. Muskegon led once early and did battle back to tie the contest 4-other times. Daytons 4-PPG were the demise of the home team. Tom Galvin scored twice for the Jacks while John DiPace and Robin Big Snake collected singletons. The Gems outshot the Jacks, 28-26. Sunday, the home squad avenged, atoned and otherwise made amends with an emphatic 4-1 decision over previously unblemished Port Huron. David Rohlfs stoked a pair of strikes with Robin Bouchard and Todd Robinson also connecting. DiPace assisted twice. The Lumberjacks outshot Port Huron, 36-33.

THE LUMBERJACKS GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30TH DAYTON AT THE LUMBERJACKS 7:00 PM

The second collision in the span of a week with both coming on consecutive Friday nights. Dayton leads the series 1(1-0-0) by virtue of its 7-5 surprise of the Jacks. Muskegons 2-setbacks thus far in this young season have come on back-to-back Friday nights.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31ST THE LUMBERJACKS AT FORT WAYNE 7:30 PM

It will be last seasons Turner Cup Finals revisited as the Jacks and Komets lock antlers for the first time in the regular season. During the pre-season, the two teams split a 2-game home-and-home series with the home team ultimately prevailing. In last springs post season classic, the Ks successfully defending their coveted crown with a 4-games to 1 verdict over the runners-up.

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 FRICANOS 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 VISA / MASTERCARD accepted. For great group rates and birthday parties with the Lumberjacks, phone the Lumberjacks office at 726-3879 or visit our website at www.muskegonlumberjacks.com. Once again, all this season at every home game, all youth tickets are only $5 as presented by Muskegon Community College.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 26, 2009


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