Rustyn Dolyny inks new pact
Published on July 21, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.---The summer months of Colonial Cup IV continue to abound with plenty of off-ice activity for the United Hockey League's two-time reigning Champions, the Muskegon Fury. Captors of the coveted crown in three of the past four seasons and an all-time league record four times over the course of the past six calendar years, the Fury's management's thrust has been one that is bent on and committed to another story of glory for the next new season. Yet another step toward that objective was realized with the signing of another integral team member who has been paramount to the franchise extraordinary success.
Today, the Fury Team Owner and Club President Tony Lisman, in concert with Director of Hockey Operations / Head Coach Todd Nelson, have announced that standout right wing RUSTYN DOLYNY has agreed to terms and penned a new pact for the 2005-06 UHL season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
DOLYNY, 28, is set to embark on his fifth pro season with all of them clad in the armor of the Champions in Musk-egon where he has emerged prominently as one of the truly top-notch, touch-in-the-clutch performers for the Fury, and for that matter, the entire UHL. Through his initial four pro years, he has represented the embodiment of class, citizen-ship and leadership that have spawned a trio of titles for the hometown team in 2001-02, 2003-04 and, then again, in 2004-05; serving as the team captain for the Fury's most recent crowned coronation of this past May.
In the year of Colonial Cup IV in 2004-05, the strong and stellar 6-1, 198lb right-hand shooting forward was superb, finishing a lofty fourth in Fury team scoring with a career-best 63-points in 66-games on 23-goals and a career-high 40-assists. Included in his regular season output were 2-PPG, 5-GWG, 3-FG, a positive +6 rating and a sound and solid 4/9 marksmanship in the OTSO competition. An ace penalty-killing talent of the highest order, the Fort Frances, Ontario native led the Muskegon club in SHG with 5, ranking him tied for second-best overall in the UHL in that vital department.
In the Fury's relentless rise to the circuit's summit for the second time in a row, Dolyny authored 9-points in 17-playoff appearances on 2-goals, 7-assists, hoisting high the Colonial Cup crown on May 22nd in Fort Wayne in leading the Muskegon victory march around the Indiana ice.
The Dolyny signing was a top agenda item for Coach Nelson, acknowledging how important his captain and star right wing is for the Fury to remain and attain more future success. "Rustyn did an outstanding job in his first year as our captain. His presence on our club has become synonymous with winning as he has been an important part of three championships through his first four years here. His make-up is one of strong character and he demonstrates that quality every day in the dressing room with his teammates and on the ice through his team-oriented contributions. He is a solid citizen and in this upcoming season, he will become even more important to us. We look for him to continue to excel on our specialty teams, especially in the penalty-killing department and, in general, play a much bigger role on our club with his outstanding all-around play."
In the 2003-04 campaign, the year of Colonial Cup III, Dolyny ranked sixth in the team scoring derby with 50-points in 66-games on 22-goals, 28-assists as one of the Muskegonites' UHL league-foremost 20-goal sharpshooters. He culminated that particular season by capturing the Fury's annual "Mr. Hustle" Award." In Muskegon's unprecedented, unparalleled, undefeated 11(11-0) surge to the circuit's summit in the post-season playoffs, he essayed 4-goals, 5-total points with two of those strikes stoked as crucial game-winning goals.
"Rusto Bravissimo" has achieved a healthy and wealthy list of accolades and plaudits thus far in his Fury career. As a rookie, in the year of Colonial Cup II in 2001-02, he was named Fury Team Rookie of the Year as well as being named to the UHL All-Rookie Team. His 30-goals that season tied for second most among all UHL first-year pros and also ranked as second most for the Fury. In addition, his 55-points ranked as fifth best in the rookie class while his 6-GWG led all UHL rookies and tied for the Fury team leadership. Dolyny also achieved a masterful +21 rating which ranked as fourth best among the league's first-year performers. When the Fury celebrated the crowning custody of the "Cup" that year, the former Michigan State captain was the UHL's top scoring rookie with 17(4-7-11), also pacing the league in goals and assists.
Before his actual procurement by Muskegon, Dolyny was a four-year standout at Michigan State where he captained and was team scoring kingpin in his senior year of 2000-01, actually finishing a lofty 10th in CCHA conference scoring with 42(13-26-39).
He was acclaimed winner of the MSU hockey's Bill Burgess Award as Outstanding Senior and ranked in the top three in Spartans' scoring in all four of his seasons in competition there. In 1999-00, he led "State" and ranked fifth in the nation with 12-PPG and second in power play points with 23. In the 1998-99 season, his 4-SHG led the CCHA while his 44(20-24-44) led all CCHA freshmen in point-production.
Through his first four years under the Muskegon employ, in his constant, consistent fashion, Dolyny has accrued some significant career numbers in the Fury's record book lore. He will begin the 2005-06 season ranked 9th in games played (265), 12th in points (219), 7th in GWG (15) and 5th in SHG (9). He is only 8-goals away from becoming only the 11th player in club history to attain 100-Fury goals; (92).
His Fury career playoff numbers read: games: 48 (8th all-time); goals: 12 (tied 8th all-time); assists: 16; points: 28 (tied for 10th all-time).
For his entire pro career, the Dolyny numerology stands at 277(95-133-228) with 259-PIM.
Today's signing of RUSTYN DOLYNY brings to five the number of players signed by the Fury for the 2005-06 season. Previously, the Fury announced the signings of goaltender CLAYTON POOL; defenseman CLAY WILSON; center TODD ROBINSON and right wing ROBIN BOUCHARD.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from July 21, 2005
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- K-Wings Receive Reynaert From Flags - Kalamazoo Wings
- Vipers ink Beauregard to kick off new era in Roanoke Valley - Roanoke Valley Vipers
- RiverDogs play "Let's Make a Deal" - Richmond RiverDogs
- Rustyn Dolyny inks new pact - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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