Stellar road record keeps Fury on top
December 18, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
TEAM TITLE TALES: Continuing to operate with a roster riddled, ravaged and wracked by recalls, injuries and other assorted interruptions and disruptions endemic of a long and demanding 76-games' schedule, the two-time defending Colonial Cup Champions of the United Hockey League, the Muskegon Fury, seem to be rather undaunted and unfazed by such adverse circumstances as demonstrated by their championship fortitude and fabric in recent action. Under the direction of third-year head coach Todd Nelson, the Fury have been the embodiment of solidarity in their quest with zest to not only maintain their Central Division and overall UHL league-leadership, but also to build on those aforementioned attained pinnacles. As the reigning Central Division and Tarry Cup regular season Champ-ions, the marauding men of the Fury have elevated their season's record to a league-supreme 24(19-3-2) totaling 40-points and a winning percentage of a gaudy .833. The Fury also lead the league with most wins and fewest defeats continuing on their best start-ever through the initial 24-games of the schedule. The Muskegon squadron is not lacking for fierce competition for the league's most hallowed supreme summit. In their own Central Division, Kalamazoo and Motor City have been lurking in the shadows while Rockford and resurgent Fort Wayne are also more-than-worthy forces and factors in the overall chase. In the Eastern Division, Adirondack and Danbury are certainly in the thick of the hunt for league supremacy and sovereignty. In this Christmas week coming up, the Fury team faces a significant pair of road offerings sure to test their title timber team mettle once more. Wednesday night, it is a long expedition to St. Charles, Mo., for a date with the Western Division rivals' River Otters before the conclusion of the pre-Christmas slate and a date in Kalamazoo for a showdown with the second-place Wings Friday night at Wings Stadium. Muskegon does not return home until Tuesday, December 27th when they host their annual, ever-popular "CARLOAD SPECIAL," at Walker Arena against their divisional foes, the Port Huron Flags.
THE BEST GET YET: In a somewhat abbreviated two games' work week, the Fury fashioned a 2(1-1-0) mark with both bouts staged and waged at home. In the process, the Fury overall season record has now proceeded to a magnifi-cent 24(19-3-2) for 40-points and a winning percentage of .833. Muskegon has now accrued 40 out of a possible 48-points in an extraordinary accomplishment. They are 4(3-1-0) in their last 4-starts; last 13(9-2-2). Dating back to last season, the Fury own a record of a brilliant 55(41-8-6) through the last 55-games and 74(54-13-7) in the past 74-outings. In a comparative analysis, the Fury are 6-wins and 11-points superior to one year ago after the first 24-games when they were 24(13-8-3) for 29-points. The longest win streaks thus far this season have been 10-in a row and 5-consecutively. Longest unbeaten skein has been 7(6-0-1). In 2004-05, the year of Colonial Cup IV, the Fury's longest victory streak was 9-in succession while also compiling a team-record and league-best 17-games undefeated streak; 17(14-0-3). Last season as well, the men from the Fury club attained two 10-game unblemished skeins; both being 10(9-0-1). For the monthly returns this season; October 3(3-0-0); November 12(11-1-0); December 9(5-2-2).
HOME TONIC TOPIC: The league-leaders made amends and atoned for a rare state of affairs in the form of back-to-back setbacks at home the past Saturday night at Walker Arena. After bowing for a second straight Friday night on home ice to division rival Motor City, 5-2, the "Furious Ones" rebounded with grand gusto the next night in dispatch-ing perennial archenemy Quad City, 4-1. In so doing, the Fury improved their home mark to an excellent 14(10-3-1). Although traditionally, the Fury have been always enviously looked upon as a home team power, this campaign, the kingpins actually have enjoyed a better record abroad as compared to on the friendlier ice of "The Hockey Barn of Bedlam." Nevertheless, in their last 30-home encounters, dating back to last season, they still maintain a sterling home mark of 30(24-5-1). They are a gleaming 72(57-11-4) in their last 72-home dates. The longest home win streak this season has been 6-in a row. The longest win streak last year was 10-consecutively.
BETTER ABOUT ABROAD: The two-time reigning champs have been better abroad thus far this season as compared to the home ice warfare department. In fact, Muskegon still stands alone as the lone unsullied supreme team in the circuit with a stellar record of 10(9-0-1). The 10-game road unblemished binge represents the best in the UHL this year. The Fury's longest road winning streak has been 7-in succession; the first 7-foreign ice installments of the current campaign. When Muskegon launched the season with that 7-game road win streak, they fell just one shy of the club's all-time record for both best road record from the start of the season as well as longest road win streak in franchise annals. Both of those standards were set at the inception of the 2001-02 season, the year of Colonial Cup II in 2002 and 8-straight; 8(8-0-0).
DIVISION POSITION: With an overall mark of an ornate 24(19-3-2), the local title team has reaped some real benefits in divisional activity; in particularly within the Western Division where they have assembled an impeccably perfect mark of 10(10-0-0), outscoring that division, 56-25. At home: 5(5-0-0)24-9; road: 5(5-0-0)32-16. The breakdown: Fort Wayne 4(4-0-0)24-14; home: 2(2-0-0)7-3; road: 2(2-0-0) 17-11; Missouri 2(2-0-0) 15-6; home: 1(1-0-0) 9-3; road: 1(1-0-0) 6-3; Quad City 2(2-0-0) 9-2; home: 1(1-0-0)4-1; road: 1(1-0-0)5-1; Rockford 2(2-0-0)8-3; home: 1(1-0-0)4-2; road: 1(1-0-0)4-1. In their own Central Division, the Fury have sustained all 3 of their setbacks thus far this season as well as the two OTSO outcomes; 12(7-3-2)47-39. Home: 7(3-3-1)21-24; road: 5(4-0-1) 22-15. The breakdown: Port Huron 5(3-0-2)22-17; home: 1(0-0-1)2-3; road: 4(3-0-1)20-14; Flint 1(1-0-0)6-2; home: 1(1-0-0)6-2. Motor City 4(2-2-0)14-14; home: 3(1-2-0)8-13; road: 1(1-0-0)6-1; Kalamazoo 2(1-1-0)5-6; home: 1(1-1-0)5-6. In the Eastern Division 2(2-0-0)8-5; home: 2(2-0-0)8-5. The breakdown: Danbury 1(1-0-0)5-4; home: 1(1-0-0)5-4; Elmira 1(1-0-0)3-1; home 1(1-0-0)3-1.
GF / GA PARLAY: The high-voltage, high-tech "Fury-men" remain on top of the circuit's summit in prolific goal production for a third year running. Through the first 24-games, the "Muskegonites" have engineered 111-GF for a GFA of a mighty 4.63 GFA. "Todd's Team" has been especially effective offensively when touching down in hostile territory where they have sizzled 58-GF in just 10-outings for a GFA of a prodigious 5.80. Already this season, the Fury high-powered attack has erupted for 9-goals twice, 8-goals once and 6-goals six times. Meanwhile, not to be overshadowed, is the Fury's unsung and unheralded defensive expertise. The past weekend, Muskegon grudgingly surrendered a scant single goal for a second straight meeting this season against Quad City.
LEADERS OF THE PACK ATTACK: For yet another week, the Fury possess the top three point-producing virtuosos in the UHL and 4 of the top 6 in the league-wide scoring race. Center Jeff Nelson 23(14-35-49) has assumed the point-scoring leadership with Robin Bouchard 24(26-22-48) ranked #2 and Todd Robinson 18(8-30-38) #3. Rookie standout David Wrigley 24(18-14-32) has climbed to #6. Bouchard's 26-goals lead the loop with Wrigley 3rd at 18. Nelson (35) and Robinson (30) are 1-2 in assists with Bouchard's 15-PPG foremost in the UHL and Nelson's 8-PPG ranked as 4th most. Bouchard also leads the league in SOG with 124 and Wrigley remains on top in GWG with 7. Ryan Keller is right behind his teammate with 5-GWG. Wrigley's 3-SHG tie him for 2nd most in the league. Nelson continues to lead the UHL in goal-marksmanship shooting percentage 15/53 for 28.3%. Dave Van Drunen (+17) is circuit 2nd in that category with Nelson (+16) right behind him. Wrigley is the UHL's top scoring rookie (18-14-32) with his 18-goals pacing the freshmen class. His +14 rating ranks 2nd among UHL rookies. For the defense, Trevor Johnson 24(5-16-21) is UHL 5th with Van Drunen 24(3-10-13) listed 13th. Johnson's 4-PPG tie him for 2nd most among the league's blue line brigade while rookie Brett Angel's 89-PIM rank 5th. In the goaltending department, rookie Kevin LaPointe is 3rd with a 2.40 GAA with Clayton Pool listed 11th at 2.94. LaPointe's SPCT of .915 ranks 4th best and Pool's 11-victories tying him for 3rd most in the UHL.
SMOOTH-MOVE MAVEN: The Fury's fluid center Jeff Nelson achieved another masterful week of total, complete and dominant play. The league's leading scorer attained such acclaim when he was integral and instrumental on all 6 of his team's goals the past 2-game weekend; 2(1-5-6). The 14-year veteran assisted on both Muskegon strikes Friday night in the setback inflicted by visiting Motor City before artfully authoring 3-first period PP/Assists and an ENG for a 4-points' masterpiece in the Fury's 4-1 defusing of Quad City on Saturday night. "J. Nel" was named the #2 Star Friday night and the #1 Star of the Game on Saturday. In his last 5-games; 5(3-10-13); in his last 19-games; 19(13-31-44). Nelson is the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week.
CLAYTON STATIN' HIS CASE: Second-year goaltender Clayton Pool was at the top of his game Saturday night in backstopping his team to an impressive 4-1 triumph over visiting Quad City. In his lone appearance of the weekend, he rebuked 29 of 30 Mallards' bids, earning kudos and plaudits as the game's #2 Star. For the week, he was 1(1-0-0) with a 1.00 GAA and SPCT of .967. With an updated overall Fury career record of a sterling 29-8-5 for a win percentage of .750, Pool is the Fury's nomination for Southern Sports Supply / UHL Goaltender of the Week.
AND STILL GOING GREAT GUNS: The Fury's all-time career scoring troubadour, right wing Rockin' Robin Bouchard continues to grow his legend as one of the all-time greats in both Muskegon and UHL pro hockey history. The "Gun-Sling King" peppered and pelted pucks to the tune of 2-more goals, one in each game the past weekend, to keep his remarkable, season-opening point-scoring streak alive. "Bouch Almighty" has crafted at least one point in each of his team's first 24-games; 24(26-22-48) and is currently on a 6-games' goal-scoring scourge and streak. The countdown is now on for Robin Bouchard to become the all-time greatest goal-scoring king in UHL history. The count is now at 457 which leave him 12-goals away from tying Kevin Kerr (469) for the most goals ever scored in the history of the UHL.
THE CAPTAIN OF THE CENTURY: The Fury captain Rustyn Dolyny kept his date with Muskegon's history of hockey excellence the past Saturday night. In his team's 4-1 subduing of Quad City, "Rusto Bravissimo" essayed 3-points, including the game's key FG/PPG to gain an early lead that was never relinquished. With that goal, the 5-year Fury standout became only the 11th player in club annals to reach the prestigious 100-goal plateau solely in a Muske-gon uniform. For the season, Dolyny is 16(8-9-17) with a +2 rating and 3-PPG.
WRIG'S RIG ROOKIE ROLLS: Prized rookie left wing David Wrigley is firing on all cylinders as if a high-performance, turbo-charged, sleek, silk roadster. On Saturday night, the league's leading scoring rookie struck with 1-PPG and 1-PP/Assist in his club's 4-1 dismissal of the Quad Citians. The former Mercyhurst College scoring kingpin's goal represented his UHL league-high 7th GWG for the season, accounting for more than one-third of the Fury's 19-victories thus far this season.
STEVE O' SUPREME-O: Unheralded and unsung defensive-minded defenseman Steve O'Rourke has been plying his trade with little flair nor fanfare but much dedication and perspiration. Always a positive, premium plus player, the 7-year pro produced some much-needed and welcomed offense Friday night when he delivered his very first goal ever as a member of the Fury family. For the season, "Steve O" is 24(1-2-3) with an excellent +6 rating.
SPECIAL TEAMS TOP-TUNED: The Fury potent power play has been at the top of the UHL mountain since the nativity of activity this season. Including their second 3-PPG performance in as many games against archrival Quad City Saturday night, the power play is #1 in the league at 45-157 for a proficiency rating of a healthy 28.7% which is over 8% superior to all other clubs in the league. In addition, their 45-PPG pace the UHL. Meanwhile, on the other side, the penalty-killing cast has been brilliant in recent action. Muskegon has risen to runner-up in the league with an efficiency rating of 87.4% with the opponents only 22-175 for the season. The Fury have been masterful lately; squelching 15-straight enemy man advantages and 31 of the last 32 for a rating of 96.9%. The Fury are tied with Fort Wayne for the league-leadership in SHG with 8.
HISTORY HALLMARKS: Jeff Nelson 979(299-599-898) is 1-goal from 300, 1-assist from 600 and 2-points from pro career 900 while being 21-games away from 1,000. Robin Bouchard (595) is 5-games from the Fury 600 and (395) 5-goals from the Fury 400 mark. Rusty Dolyny (282) has tied Brant Blackned for 8th place on the Fury's all-time games played list. Jon Insana (198) is just 2-games from pro career 200. Jason Lawmaster (394) is 6-games away from pro career 400. Dave Van Drunen (588) is 12-games from #600.
FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": The Fury are perfect in many aspects of the game this season; when they score the FG, they are 10(10-0-0); when they lead after the first period, 13(13-0-0); when they lead after the second period, 14(14-0-0). Dating back to last season, in the last 58-games in which they have scored 4-goals or more, the Fury are undefeated at 58(56-0-2). Outside of their own Central Division this season, the Fury have a perfect record of 12(12-0-0); at home: 7(7-0-0); road: 5(5-0-0).
ROSTER ROULETTE: The Fury are attempting to stay the steady course despite a somewhat inordinate number of interruptions, disruptions and otherwise. Presently, center Todd Robinson is on the IR with ace rookies Ryan Keller and Clay Wilson still in the AHL with Grand Rapids. Jason Lawmaster did return to the lineup Friday night after missing 16-games due to injury.
THE WRAP ON THE WEEK: The Fury faced an uncharacteristically abbreviated agenda the past week in the form of 2-home games in 2-nights, splitting the pair. For a second straight Friday night Motor City rode into town and dropped the Fury, 5-2. It was a game that Muskegon never led but did come back and tie at 2-2, surmounting an early 2-0 shortfall. Robin Bouchard (PPG) and Steve O'Rourke (GTG) connected for the vanquished Fury with Jeff Nelson assisting twice. Goalkeeper Kevin LaPointe sustained his first-ever pro setback following a 10(8-0-2) beginning of his pro career. Saturday night, the Fury prolific power play exploded for 3-first period strikes in a 4-1 conquest of Quad City. Nelson (1-3-4)ENG, Rustyn Dolyny (1-2-3)PPG/FG, David Wrigley (1-1-2)PPG/GWG and Bouchard (PPG) delivered the Muskegon mail and Clayton Pool was superb with 29-saves.
THE FURY GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21ST THE FURY AT MISSOURI 8:00 PM
The Fury and the River Otters are set for their third meeting of the season and the second in the St. Louis suburb of St. Charles. Muskegon has assumed a 2(2-0-0) advantage in the season series at this juncture on the impetus of a 9-3 demolition of the Missourians, October 29th in Muskegon and a 6-3 victory verdict in their lone previous sojourn to Mizzou on November 27th.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23RD THE FURY AT KALAMAZOO 7:30 PM
The last act before the brief Christmas recess for the top two teams in the Michigan-only Central Division and for the entire UHL. For the Fury, it's their first trip to Wings Stadium this season. Thus far, through the initial two decisions of the season, both in Muskegon, the season series is even at 2(1-1-0). Kalamazoo boasts the best home record in the UHL at 11(10-1-0) while the Fury begin the week with the best road record at 10(9-0-1). To add more spice to the proceedings, the Fury are the highest scoring machine in the league while the Wings sports the circuit's premiere defense.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27TH PORT HURON AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
One of the most popular promotions for the Fury is on the docket this date. It's the "Carload Special" as the Fury collide with divisional foe Port Huron for the sixth time this season but only the second time at Walker Arena. Muskegon leads the series 5(3-0-2) with all 3-victories extracted on the road at McMorran Place Arena. The Fury are 1(0-0-1) at home this year against the fledgling Flags.
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International Hockey League 2 Stories from December 18, 2005
- Stellar road record keeps Fury on top - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Trashers take over first place with 4-2 win over Roanoke - Danbury Trashers
- Mechanics Win Thriller In Shootout 3-2 - Motor City Mechanics
- Vipers Late Rally Not Enough to Defeat the Trashers - Roanoke Valley Vipers
- Vipers to Hold $5.00 Ticket Night on Tuesday vs. Richmond - Roanoke Valley Vipers
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Mechanic Brent Gretzky remains on Family Leave - Motor City Mechanics
- Muskegon Fury notes - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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