Sports stats



Revolving door for UHL top spot

March 6, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2) News Release


LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO --- The top spot for the overall lead in the United Hockey League (UHL) has been a case of musical chairs during the past week. Entering the week, the Rockford IceHogs held the top spot. However, a loss to the Flint Generals on Saturday and three straight wins during the week by the Kalamazoo Wings put the IceHogs into a tie with Kalamazoo for the overall standings lead (86 points). That lead would last less than 24 hours as the Muskegon Fury defeated Port Huron on Sunday to re-claim the top spot by one point in the standings (87 points) over Kalamazoo and Rockford who were idle on Sunday.

POINT PRODUCTION - Muskegon right wing Robin Bouchard was the first UHL player to reach the 100-point plateau this season when he dished out an assist on Friday vs. Elmira. He has 101 points (51g, 50a) in 56 games this year. He had 98 points (43g, 55a) in 73 games last season. If Bouchard maintains his current pace, he would end the season with 137 points. That would be the highest total since Adirondack's Hugo Belanger piled up 143 points in the 2002-03 season.

Muskegon center Jeff Nelson is four points shy of 100 with 96 points (28g, 68a) in 52 games, but has already eclipsed his point production from a year ago when he tallied 94 points (23g, 71a) in 73 games.

If they all maintain their current scoring pace, a total of six UHL players have a chance to reach the 100-point mark this season. Besides Bouchard and Nelson, Adirondack's Hugo Belanger, Richmond's Mike Oliveira, Roanoke's David Beauregard, and Muskegon's Todd Robinson all can surpass 100 points.

Three players achieved the 100-point plateau in the 2004-05 season; Adirondack's Hugo Belanger (106 points), Flint's Bobby Reynolds (103 points), and Richmond's David Hymovitz (100 points)

RACE FOR EIGHT - While several teams battle for the overall UHL lead, several more are chasing the eighth and final playoff berth. Quad City currently has possession of the eighth spot and sits just three points behind Motor City for the seventh spot. Richmond trails Quad City by two points and Flint is down five points to Richmond.

NINE TO GO - Colon cancer survivor Molly McMaster continues her tour of the league as part of the UHL Cross-Checks Colon Cancer initiative. She has played one shift for five teams (Adirondack, Danbury, Flint, Motor City, Port Huron) as a part of education and awareness through The Colon Club, an organization that she co-founded. McMaster hits the ice this week with Elmira, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, and Fort Wayne.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Adirondack Frostbite - (1-0-0) - In his last six starts, goaltender Derek Gustafson is 5-0-1 with a 2.33 GAA and a .912 SPCT...The Frostbite are 29-8-3 vs. their Eastern Division opponents...Left wing Hugo Belanger has a goal in each of his last three games...Adirondack has 10 shootout wins this season which ranks second in the UHL...The Frostbite are allowing the second fewest shots on goal per game (29.39).

Danbury Trashers - (1-1-1) - Brothers Mike and Drew Omicioli have combined for 25 points (10g, 15a) in the last five games...Danbury avoided a regulation loss on Saturday for the 11th time in 20 games this season when trailing after two periods. They are 7-9-4 when trailing after two periods...The Trashers had their eight-game unbeaten streak (6-0-2) snapped on Friday vs. Kalamazoo.

Elmira Jackals - (0-2-1) - Right wing Jason Sessa played his 100th game in a Jackals uniform on Saturday. He now has 104 points (51g, 53a) in 101 games played for Elmira...The line of Konstatin Kalmikov, Jason Sessa, and Jarrett Konkle accounted for 16 points (6g, 10a) of the team's 26 points (10g, 16a) during the week...Rookie defenseman Chris Mann surpassed the 250 penalty minute mark. He ranks third in the UHL with 272 PIM's.

Flint Generals - (1-1-0) - Center Terry Marchant had six assists in two games during the week. He is currently tied for sixth in UHL scoring with 69 points (23g, 46a)...The Generals are currently seven points out of the final playoff spot...Right wing Mike Kinnie ranks fifth in the league in shooting percentage (.228)...Goaltender Jason Saal has made five consecutive starts and ranks fourth among UHL goaltenders in minutes played (2484:23).

Fort Wayne Komets - (2-0-0) - Center Colin Chaulk is riding a seven-game assist streak. He reached the 20-goal mark on Friday. It is the third time in four seasons with the Komets that he has scored 20 or more goals...Left wing Lance Galbraith reached the 20-goal mark for the second time in his five-year career on Saturday...Fort Wayne wrapped up their season series with both Roanoke (4-0-1) and Port Huron (3-0-2).

Kalamazoo Wings - (3-0-0) - Center Jason Deitsch is riding a 17-game point streak and eight-game goal streak ...Kalamazoo is unbeaten in regulation in their last eight games (7-0-1)...In three games during the week, the K-Wings outscored their opponents 17-3...Defenseman Mark Vilneff set a K-Wings UHL record when he played his 216th game on Saturday...Center Kory Karlander played in his 600th professional game on Saturday.

Missouri River Otters - (1-2-0) - Rookie winger Brad MacMillan has four points in the last five games and 31 penalty minutes during that span...Winger Jim Duhart is ten goals shy of 500 for his career...The River Otters have a solid 11-11-2 record vs. Central Division opponents this season, but just a 7-23-2 combined record vs. the Eastern and Western Divisions...Missouri goaltenders lead the league with a .794 shootout save percentage.

Motor City Mechanics - (1-0-1) - Left wing Mel Angelstad played his 800th pro game on Friday...Defenseman Chris Bogas played his 400th pro game on Friday...Center Kris Vernarsky set a new team record for shorthanded goals in a season on Friday. Four of his seven goals have been shorthanded...The Mechanics are 25-12-1 and when rookie forward Peter Szabo registers a point.

Muskegon Fury - (2-1-0) - Muskegon has reached 40 wins for the third straight season...Right wing Rustyn Dolyny has 21 points (3g, 18a) in his last 17 games...Rookie winger Ryan Keller has 13 points (8g, 5a) in his last seven games. With two game-winning goals during the week, Keller is tied for the league lead with eight game-winning goals this season...Goaltender Clayton Pool is 4-0-0 with a 2.50 GAA and a .923 SPCT in his last four starts.

Port Huron Flags - (0-3-0) - The Flags are winless in their last five games...Petr Jelinek has six points (5g, 1a) in his first six games with Port Huron...Scott Hay is second among UHL goaltenders with 1,476 saves...The Flags lead the UHL with 526 minor penalties this season...Port Huron has been outscored on the road 142-70 this season...The Flags begin a four-game road trip this week.

Quad City Mallards - (2-0-0) - Goaltender Jason Tapp tied his career high on Sunday when he notched his 23rd win of the season...Rookie forwards Matt Radoslovich and Rafal Martynowski both had goals in each the Mallards two games during the week...Radoslovich leads Mallards rookies with 18 goals...Winger Chad Woollard is the first Quad City player to reach 100 penalty minutes for the season when he received a tripping minor on Saturday.

Richmond RiverDogs - (1-0-0) - Center Mike Oliveira had his impressive 23-game point streak come to an end when he was held scoreless in Sunday's 4-1 victory vs. Elmira...Forward Todd Grant dished out an assist in his first game with the RiverDogs since being acquired in a trade from Elmira. He assisted on the game-winning goal vs. his former team...Richmond is two points out of the final playoff spot.

Roanoke Valley Vipers - (0-2-0) - The Vipers are winless in their last six games...They have not won a road game in the last five attempts...Roanoke begins a four-game home stretch this week...Trevor Cunning currently ranks fourth among UHL goaltenders in shootout save percentage (.786) as he has stopped 11 of 14 attempts... Left wing Mike Wiggins is fifth among UHL rookies with 26 goals.

Rockford IceHogs - (1-1-0) - Winger Greg Barber is riding an 11-game point streak...Center Olivier Proulx recorded a penalty in 12 straight games, tying a Rockford team record. The streak came to an end on Saturday... The IceHogs make an road trip through the Eastern Division for the first time in three seasons. They will make their first ever visits to both Danbury and Roanoke...Center Yannick Tifu has four multi-point games in his last seven.

• Discuss this story on the International Hockey League 2 message board...

International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 6, 2006


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central