Muskegon Fury stay hot

January 16, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2) News Release


LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO --- The Muskegon Fury continued their winning streak and lead the overall standings in the United Hockey League (UHL). After winning seven straight, their record stands at 28-5-2 with a .829 winning percentage. The defending Colonial Cup Champions are 8-2-0 in their last ten games and are currently riding a five-game road winning streak and a four-game home win streak.

Special teams continue to be an asset for the Fury. They lead the UHL with a 25.7% power play conversion rate and 54 power play goals. The penalty killing unit currently ranks third with an 86.8% success rate.

There has been no lack of scoring as the team has a league high 162 goals and rank first with a 4.63 goals per game average. The Fury have tallied six or more goals in 14 games this season. The squad has the top two scorers in the league with center Jeff Nelson (22g, 43a) and right wing Robin Bouchard (33g, 31a). Muskegon has five of the top 12 scorers in the UHL and the top two rookie scorers with left wing David Wrigley (22g, 25a) and right wing Ryan Keller (17g, 23a).

A pair of rookie netminders have also played a key role for Muskegon. Clayton Pool ranks second among UHL goaltenders with 17 wins and Kevin LaPointe has a 2.43 GAA and a .915 SPCT to go along with his 11-2-2 record.

ALL-STAR CLASSIC JERSEYS UNVEILED - In a special press conference at St. Louis Children's Hospital on Thursday, January 12th, the UHL unveiled Team Aquafina and Team Gatorade jerseys for the 2006 UHL All-Star Classic. Three young patients at the hospital were on hand to display the jerseys. A game between the St. Louis Blues Alumni and a UHL Commissioner's Team will take place prior to the All-Star Classic. Jerseys worn during that game will placed in an online auction will all proceeds benefiting St. Louis Children's Hospital programs and services.

PORT HURON'S GILLIS ADDED TO ALL-STAR ROSTER - Port Huron defenseman Ryan Gillis has been added to Team Aquafina for the 2006 UHL All-Star Classic. Gillis will take the place of Danbury's Donny Grover who remains on call-up to Lowell (AHL). Gillis currently has 16 points (7g, 9a) and ranks fifth among UHL defensemen with 112 penalty minutes. It will be the second UHL All-Star selection for Gillis as he participated in the 2004 UHL All-Star Classic as a member of the Missouri River Otters.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Adirondack Frostbite - (0-0-0) - Adirondack ranks second in the UHL in home power play record (22.8%), overall power play record (19.3%), and overall penalty kill record (87.6%)...The Frostbite rank third in the UHL in both shootout percentage for (.459) and shootout percentage against (.316)...Adirondack is tied for second in the league in home wins (13).

Danbury Trashers - (2-0-0) - Danbury's power play is currently 8 of 35 (22.9%) in the month of January...With six game-winning goals this season, center Drew Omicioli has tied the team record set last season by Bruce Richardson...Drew Omicioli is riding a three-game goal streak. The Trashers are 12-1-2 when he scores a goal... Center David Hymovitz has a goal in four straight games and in ten of this last 12...Goaltender Sylvain Daigle has not lost in regulation in his last 11 games (9-0-2).

Elmira Jackals - (2-1-0) - Defenseman Bobby Gates scored a goal on his first shot in his first professional game in Friday's 4-0 victory vs. Port Huron...Defenseman Florian Iberer assisted on a four goals in Friday's win...The Jackals five-game win streak was snapped by Flint on Saturday...Left wing Kevin Cooper is riding a five-game point streak...Coming into the week, the Jackals had yet to record a shutout this season. Goaltenders Ryan McIntosh and Nick Boucher each recorded a shutout during the week.

Flint Generals - (1-3-0) - Flint went 1-4-0 during the recent five-game road stretch...After trailing 2-0 heading into the second period vs. Elmira on Saturday, the Generals scored the next five goals to win 5-2...Jason Saal ranks third among UHL goaltenders in minutes played (1651:20) and fourth in saves (776)...Flint is unbeaten in regulation when leading after two periods (12-0-2).

Fort Wayne Komets - (2-0-0) - The Komets have won five of their last six games and 13 of the last 17...Goaltender Kevin St. Pierre appeared in his 200th career UHL game on Friday...Center David Frawley scored in the 7th round of the shootout on Sunday to help the Komets earn a 3-2 shootout victory vs. Motor City. It was Frawley's first career shootout attempt...Center Colin Chaulk is riding a five-game point streak...Left wing P.C. Drouin and defenseman Guy Dupuis are both riding a six-game point streak.

Kalamazoo Wings - (1-0-1) - Center Tyler Rennette is on an 11-game point streak...Mark Reeds coached in his 700th career game on Wednesday...Defenseman Mark Vilneff became the second player to play in 200 or more games in a K-Wings UHL career when he suited up on Saturday vs. Motor City...Right wing Tyler Willis netted his 100th career goal on Saturday which also proved to be the game-winner...Center Kory Karlander is one point shy of 400 for his career.

Missouri River Otters - (1-2-0) - With his third period goal on Wednesday, left wing Jim Duhart set a new River Otters record by scoring a point in 15 straight games. He added a goal on Friday to extend his streak to 16, but it ended on Saturday as he was held scoreless in the 3-2 loss to Quad City...Center Lars Pettersen scored a "natural hat trick" in the third period of Wednesday's 5-2 win vs. Motor City...Right wing Joe Seroski scored his first goal in a Missouri uniform on Saturday.

Motor City Mechanics - (0-3-0) - Defensemen Matt Smith and Chris Bogas are both three assists shy of 100 for their career...Rod Branch currently leads UHL goaltenders in saves (905)...Defensemen Mike Burgoyne and Matt Smith have combined for 20 goals this season, including 13 power play goals...Midway through the 2004-05 season, the Mechanics were just 9-25-6. They have improved to 18-17-2 as they near the midway point of 2005-06.

Muskegon Fury - (2-0-0) - Muskegon is 17-1-0 outside their division this season...When scoring the first goal of the game this season, Muskegon is 17-0-0...The Fury have yet to sustain back-to-back losses this season as they are 5-0-0 in games following a loss...Right wing Robin Bouchard will play in his 800th professional game on Friday. It will also be the 600th career game for defenseman Dave Van Drunen...Muskegon leads the UHL with 11 shorthanded goals. They had 10 in 2004-05...Goaltender Clayton Pool is on a five-game win streak. He has a 2.20 GAA during that stretch.

Port Huron Flags - (0-3-0) - The Flags have lost three straight and their last five road games...Port Huron was outscored 15-3 during their three-game road trip through the Eastern Division and out-shot 112-85...Left wing Brett Lutes continues to lead the UHL with eight shootout goals...The Flags currently lead the league with 346 minor penalties and rank third with 30.05 penalty minutes per game.

Quad City Mallards - (2-0-0) - The Mallards 3-2 win vs. Rockford on Sunday was the 499th win in team history. Quad City plays Flint on Friday. Flint currently has 498 wins in their UHL team history...The win also marked the first win in regulation vs. Rockford this season...Defenseman Jami Yoder scored his first goal of the season on Sunday...The Mallards are on a three-game win streak...Jason Tapp currently ranks second among UHL goaltenders in GAA (2.28) and third in SPCT (.921).

Richmond RiverDogs - (3-0-0) - Richmond won three straight games during the week. It is just the second time this season they have accomplished that feat...In four games since his return from a call-up to Norfolk (AHL), goaltender Mike D'Alessandro is 3-1-0 with a 1.75 GAA and a .947 SPCT...Center Mike Oliveira is riding a six-game point streak and has points in 13 of his last 15 games...Newcomer Cody Doucette scored his first professional goal on Friday. It also proved to be the game-winner in the 4-2 victory vs. Roanoke.

Roanoke Valley Vipers - (0-2-0) - The Vipers lost to Richmond 3-1 on Saturday despite putting up a team season high 44 shots on goal...Left wing Michael Wiggins scored a goal in both games during the week to extend his point streak to three games...The Vipers rank second in the UHL in home penalty killing (87.9%)...Roanoke has lost their last five road contests.

Rockford IceHogs - (1-1-0) - Rockford had their 12-game unbeaten streak snapped in Sunday's 3-2 loss to Quad City. The IceHogs had not lost in regulation since December 10th...Rockford has allowed just five power play goals in their last 15 games. They lead the UHL in overall penalty killing (90%)...The goaltending tandem of Ronnie Vogel and Michel Robinson have combined for the best shootout save percentage in the UHL (.718)...Rockford lost for the first time on Sunday when leading at the end of a period. They led 2-1 at the end of the first.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from January 16, 2006


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