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Lumberjacks Sweep Week

December 6, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


'JACKS TRACKS: The jammin', jazzed juggernaut of the IHL league leading Muskegon Lumberjacks seemingly is both unabated and unrelenting at this hour of the 2009-10 International Hockey League season. Under the leadership of head coach Rich Kromm, the "50th Anniversary Season Boys" have been extraordinary. The past weekend, the home team swept a pair of Walker Arena appearances in rather predominant fashion, outscoring Port Huron and Quad City combined, 9-2. In the process, Muskegon continues to strengthen and lengthen its lead atop the league alliance. Through the first 20-games of the campaign, Coach Kromm's kinetic crew has compiled a sterling record of 20(14-4-2) totaling 30-points and excellent .750 winning percentage. Against Port Huron 4(4-0-0), Quad City 3(3-0-0), Bloomington 2(2-0-0) and Fort Wayne 4(3-1-0), the league-leading team has achieved a masterful mark of a combined 13(12-1-0). At home, it is a combined, undefeated, 9(9-0-0). Having broached the month of December with a perfect 2(2-0-0) mark, the Lumberjacks confront the daunting assignment of 3-games in 3-days this weekend with the initial test abroad and the latter two in home territory. Friday night, the foreign ice sojourn is to Port Huron for a date with the Icehawks before they return to the friendly climes and environs of Walker Arena for bouts with nagging nemesis Dayton Saturday night followed by an encore presentation with Port Huron for another "$5 Sunday at 5."

NOTION FOR PROMOTION: With the holiday season certainly in vogue, the Lumberjacks promotional division is right in step. This Saturday night when the 'Jacks tangle with Dayton, it will be the annual "Toys for Tots" Christmas "Teddy Bear Toss." When the Lumberjacks score their first goal of the game, all fans are invited to pitch their teddy bears and assorted stuffed animals on the ice. The furry creatures will be collected and donated to the Muskegon area Toys for Tots Christmas program. Sunday, it's another "$5 Sunday at 5" with every seat for everyone specially priced for only $5. Following the game, "The MAC," The Muskegon Athletic Club will be hosting a Christmas party for all Lumberjacks fans and followers.

"#1 WITH A BULLET": With two more wins in two nights the past weekend, the Lumberjacks have enhanced their season record to a glistening 20(14-4-2) for 30-points. Their 14-victories are 3-more than the rest of the loop and their 4-setbacks are 2-fewer than the entire league. Muskegon's latest unblemished skein has reached 3(2-0-1) with Coach Kromm's contingent having not dropped back-to-back games yet this season. In their last 14-games, the 'Jacks have attained 24 of a possible 28-points through a gaudy mark of 14(11-1-2). The last 17-games; 17(13-2-2) for 28 of a possible 34-points. Since October 31st, the Lumberjacks have sustained a scant single setback. The longest win streak of the season has been an IHL best 9-in a row; longest overall undefeated streak has been an IHL best 10(9-0-1).

HOME BREW BRIMMING: In conquering both Port Huron Friday night in a 3-0 shutout success and Quad City, 6-2 Saturday night, the league-leaders elevated and upgraded their season home mark to a league-best 13(11-2-0), earning 22 of an available 26-points with their only 2-setbacks incurred against Dayton. Their 11-home triumphs are 4-more than the rest of the league with the latest home win skein now at 2-in a row. The 'Jacks are 11(10-1-0) in the last 11-home episodes with their longest win streak of the campaign at a league-best 8-straight; 8(8-0-0).

THE EXPEDITION CONDITION: Through their first 7-foreign ice affairs of the current campaign, the 'Jacks have raised their record 1-game above the .500 barrier at 7(3-2-2), gaining 7-points in 7-escapades. Muskegon is presently riding the rising tidal wave of a 5-game unsullied streak away from home bay at 5(3-0-2) with its last undoing abroad absorbed back on October 31st in Fort Wayne. The club's longest win streak in foreign ice warfare is a league's season best 3-consecutively while their current 5-games' unbeaten span is also foremost league-wide for this season.

BETTER OFFENSE FROM BETTER DEFENSE: Producing a prolific 9-GF in a pair of home triumphs the past week-end, the Lumberjacks have maintained their premiere pinnacle position as the circuit's supreme sovereigns offensively. In 20-tests, they have collected 74-GF for GFA of a proficient 3.70. Defensively, enormous improvement has been realized as the first place club has ascended to #2 in the IHL with a GA of 51 for a GAA of a frugal 2.52. Through the first 20-games, the 'Jacks have allotted more than 3-GA only twice, both at home and both in defeats inflicted by Dayton.

MAJOR MARQUEE MEN: The top 3 in the IHL scoring parade remain of the same line; 1- Robin Bouchard 20(17-18-35); 2- Todd Robinson 20(10-24-34); 3- John DiPace 20(10-22-32). In Goals: 1- Bouchard (17); 4- Robinson (10), DiPace (10). In Assists: 1- Robinson (24); 2- DiPace (22); 3- Bouchard (18). In PPG: 1- Bouchard (6); 3- Travis Banga (4). In PP/Assists: 1- Robinson (9); DiPace (9). In GWG: 1-Bouchard (5). In MG: 1- Bouchard (6). In SOG: 1- Bouchard (84); In OTSO Goals: 1- Robinson 2/2, 1.000. In Plus/Minus: 1- DiPace +26; 2- Robinson +21; 3- Bouchard +20; 4- Matt Krug +15; 5- Tom Galvin +10; J.T. Dahlinger +10; 7- Adam Welch (+9). In Rookie Scoring: 4- Krug 20(3-9-12); 8- Matt Robertson 20(4-4-8); 14- Dahlinger 19(2-3-5). In Minors: 1- Krug (14); 3- Mark Cody (7). In assists: T-1st Krug (9); in PIM: 1- Krug (63); 3- Cody (44). In Shooting Percentage: 1- Cody 3/14; .214; 2- Robertson 4/23; .174. In Defense Scoring: 3-Galvin 18(4-8-12); Krug 20(3-9-12); 15- Welch 12(2-3-5). In PP/Assists: 2- Galvin (5); In Goals: 2-Galvin (4); In Assists: 3- Krug (9); 4- Galvin (8). In PIM: 5- Krug (63). In Shooting Percentage: 1- Welch 2/13; .154; 2- Galvin 4/29; .138. In the Goaltending department: 2-Sebastien Centomo (2.26). Centomo leads the IHL in wins (9); he is #2 in MIN: 795:07; #3 in SAVES: 336; #4 SPCT: .918; #1 GPI: 14. Matt Lundin is #3 in the IHL with a 2.30 GAA and .922 SPCT. He also has the league's best winning record at 7(5-1-1).

ROCKIN' ROBIN TWEET SWEET: The "Gun-Sling King," right wing Rockin' Robin Bouchard continues keeping his steady-shooting eyes on the most princely prize. The past weekend, "Bouch Almighty" engineered 2-more 2-points' performances on 2(2-2-4) with a +2 rating and 9-SOG. He has now fashioned 3-consecutive 2-point nights; 3(4-2-6) while amassing an astronomical 26-points in the last 13-games on 13-goals, 13-assists. In Friday night's 3-0 vanquishing of always formidable Port Huron, Rockin' Robin rifled the game's FG/PP/GWG and IG with both being boomed in the middle frame of the same game. He crowned his enormous performance with the game's #2 Star. In his squadron's 6-2 verdict over Quad City Saturday night, he served up 2-sumptuous assists to complete another "Bouchardian" banner night. Last week's IHL Player of the Week, has, again, been nominated as this week's Meijer / IHL Player of the Week.

NET ZERO: Goaltender divine Sebastien Centomo has his game groove on for the first place team from Muskegon. The past weekend, the 9-year pro was larcenous-like in his goalkeeping wizardry. In the 'Jacks Friday night 3-0 subduing of Port Huron, he earned the game's #1 Star with his first Muskegon shutout, rebuking all 20-shots. On Saturday, he sustained his shutout sorcery through 2-more periods before surrendering his first GA in 103:10 in backstopping the hometown team to a convincing 6-2 conquest of the Quad City Mallards. For the week, Centomo was 2(2-0-0) with a miserly, microscopic GAA of 1.00 and SPCT of .955. Presently on a personal 7-game win streak; last 7(7-0-0-0) with a 1.81 GAA and .920 SPCT, Centomo is the Lumberjacks nomination for Meijer / IHL Goaltender of the Week. His last taste of defeat was back on October 31st.

THE MARK OF CODY: Left wing Mark Cody has emerged as a most pleasant surprise for the league-leading Lumberjacks at this juncture of the campaign. Though, sometimes not skating a regular shift, when called upon he has been especially effective. Serving his team in exemplary standing as the quintessential role player, he became an unexpected offensive catalyst the past weekend. In 2-games, he notched a goal in each contest; 2-goals in 2-games on 3-SOG with a +2 rating. Cody is the Lumberjacks nomination for Meijer / IHL Rookie of the Week.

FIRSTS FOR FIRST PLACE TEAM: In Saturday night's dominating 6-2 conquest of archrival Quad City, two touch-in-the-clutch firsts were fired for the first place team. Veteran center Billy Collins took and shook the slumber from his lumber when he fired a lightning-bolt shot early in the third period, a mere :28 after the Mallards had rallied with a pair of earlier goals 1:17 apart to diminish the Muskegon 3-0 lead to 3-2. It was a mighty Muskegon strike for "Billy C." who turned the game back into his team's favor while connecting on his first point through his first 11-games of the season. In that same game, Collins' new teammate, defenseman Iain McPhee roosted on his erstwhile team. The rookie defenseman delivered his first-ever pro goal, the ultimate GWG and later added an assist representing his first 2-pro points. The former OHL Windsor Spitfire and U. Prince Edward Island standout accomplished his initial pro milestones against a Quad City team which had released him only 2-weeks earlier.

"M. ROB" M-PORTANT: Rookie left wing Matt Robertson seems to be back on with his bright beams. In Saturday night's 6-2 defeat of Quad City, the former WHL star was the real sparkplug by delivering a much-needed injection for Lumberjacks balanced scoring. Sizzling the game's FG in his team's 3-goal unanswered second period powder keg, the 'Jacks #14 enjoyed an outstanding 3-points' night with 1-goal, 2-assists and scintillating +3 rating.

BINGO-BANGO-"BANGA!": Point-starved center Travis Banga seemed to have lightning coming out of his skate blades Saturday night in the victory over the Mallards. The 6-year pro was the master arranger as he orchestrated to the tune of 3-crafty assists, a 3-points' night and the game's #1 Star. To crown his night's masterpiece, he achieved an excellent +2 rating.

THE SPECIAL TEAMS TALES: The Lumberjacks power play seems to be holding steady and stabilizing at a percentile rating of 18.4%; 19-103, ranking them 4th in the IHL. Their 103-advantages are the 2nd most as are the 19-PPG which tie them for runner-up position with 2-other teams. The power play is 2 for the last 7; 28.6%. As for the penalty-killing cast, the 6th position is where they are slotted with the opposition being 21-102 for a Muskegon efficiency mark of 79.4%. The 21-PPGA are the most in the league. The opponents are 3 for the last 7; 42.9%.

MILESTONES STRUCK: With 2-more goals the past weekend, Robin Bouchard (644) has seen his magic number erode to 39 to become the greatest goal-scoring colossus ever in minor pro hockey history (683). With his 3-assists Saturday night, Travis Banga (302) reached the 300-points' plateau in his pro career. Bobby Bolt played in his 100th pro career game Saturday night against Quad City. Robin Bouchard (695) is just 5-assists away from pro career 700. Robin Big Snake (192) is 8-games from pro career 200. In 689 career games, Todd Robinson has 689-assists. Head Coach Rich Kromm(144) is 5-victories away from tying Todd Nelson (149) for most Muskegon coaching victories.

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": With weekend victories over Port Huron and Quad City, the 'Jacks have a combined mark against those 2-teams of 7(7-0-0). Excluding Dayton and Flint, the 'Jacks record against the rest of the IHL is 13(12-1-0) overall and a perfect personified 9(9-0-0) at home. The Lumberjacks are undefeated on home ice on Saturday 3(3-0-0) and Sunday this season 3(3-0-0) for a combined mark of 6(6-0-0). Todd Robinson is on the IHL's longest point streak this season at 11-games; 11(7-16-23).

THE LUMBERJACKS GAME CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK:

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11TH THE LUMBERJACKS AT PORT HURON 7:30 PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13TH PORT HURON AT THE LUMBERJACKS 5:00 PM

Muskegon leads the season series, 4(4-0-0), outscoring the Icehawks, 17-7. In their lone appearance in Port Huron, back on November 11th, the 'Jacks prevailed, 5-3. The Lumberjacks are 3(3-0-0) on home ice this season against their Port Huron competition.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12TH DAYTON AT THE LUMBERJACKS 7:00 PM

The expansionists, Gems have been a real thorny issue for the 'Jacks with Muskegon 4(1-2-1) against the Ohio squad which has garnered standings' points in all 4-previous encounters. In their lone previous trip to Hara Arena, back on Nov. 6th, Musk-egon extracted 1-point in a 3-2 OTSO affair. The 'Jacks lone win came on home ice in OT, October 30th, 3-2.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from December 6, 2009


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