Todd Robinson inks new three-year deal
Published on June 23, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- As we move into the summer off-season months in celebrating Muskegon's second consecutive Colonial Cup crown and third such championship through the last 4-seasons, the two-time reigning kingpins have set their agenda with the standard bar raised even higher in their bid to become the first team ever to capture custody of three consecutive coveted crowns.
Major progress in that direction was realized today when Fury Team Owner and Club President Tony Lisman, in collaboration with Director of Hockey Operations / Head Coach Todd Nelson, announced that prolific, point-producing center TODD ROBINSON has agreed to terms and penned a new three-year contract with the Fury effective with the 2005-06 United Hockey League season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
ROBINSON, 27, will be ushering-in his seventh pro season and his sixth in both the UHL and with the Fury. Through his initial five years clad in the "Furious Ones" code of arms, the diminutive yet dynamic centerman has achieved masterful, magical majesty with his point-producing prowess and ultimate overall thrilling theatre. In the process, the Fury's supreme catalyst has emerged prominently and dominantly as one of the all-time leading scoring virtuosos and all-time greats in Fury and Muskegon pro hockey history. So much so that Robinson is one of only five Fury players who have been integral and instrumental as members of the last three Muskegon team championships through the past four seasons.
In the Fury's latest title timber season of 2004-05, the Trail B.C., native enjoyed yet another magnificent campaign with this one divided between his incumbent Muskegon club as well as the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. Playing some 40-games with the latter club, the 5-8, 175lb pivot fashioned 26-points on 7-goals, 19-assists with a +5 rating. How-ever, the Western Canada talent saved his best for last in igniting the Fury's engine express to a second straight surge to the circuit's summit. In 34-games with "Team Title," Robinson amassed 49-points on 15-goals, 34-assists, 28-PIM, 4-PPG, 2-GWG and a superb +16 rating. In the process "T. Rob" spurred the hometown team to its second-ever regular season Tarry Cup Championship with a scintillating mark of 80(51-20-9) for 111-points and a third divisional crown as well.
The post-season playoffs, once again, were shining Muskegon moments for the Fury's famous and fabled #19. In his team's inexorable ascent to Colonial Cup IV, Robinson captured his second UHL playoffs' scoring title, sharing this one with teammate Brant Blackned as he authored 22-points in 17-games on 6-goals 16-assists with a team-high 58-SOG. The Robinsonian playoffs numbers also produced UHL league-highs in power play assists (11); power play points (12) while his 16-overall arrangements tied for top total league-wide.
Head coach Nelson has always subscribed to the credo that strength down the middle is absolutely paramount in consistent, contending winning and overall on- ice success. The Robinson return underscores that conviction. "After our success of the past season, we want to make certain that our club remains in a top contending role for the next season. Today's signing of Todd Robinson represents only our first major step forward in our quest for a third consecutive championship. Todd is a proven winner who has been with us for three championships through his first five years in Muskegon. Having his presence in our lineup markedly increases our offensive production. In addition, the past season, he demonstrated his talents at the higher level through his outstanding 40-games' performance in the AHL with Grand Rapids. In âT. Rob,' the Fury have a talented player who sees the ice especially well. He has a very competitive spirit that makes him want to win every night, every game. Throughout his Fury career, his playoff numbers certainly validate his unwavering will to win. Also, we get more of Todd's expertise through this new contract as he will be adding Player / Assistant Coach to his title in the new season."
As for Robinson, he is elated to be returning to his favorite team in his favorite "Titletown" with his eyes, yet one more time, cast on the league's grand prize. "I am really looking forward to the challenge of a âthree-peat.' It is my intention to commit to a longer deal because of the overall strong stability of the Fury organization which has an excellent chance to win it all every year. Muskegon is my home now. I'm settled here and will be marrying and starting a family here. We're excited about that as well; especially since the fans and this great community have always made this feel like this is really my home. It is a real thrill to be such a part of the Fury organization and the Muskegon community. The organization has shown a great commitment to winning and I want to make a commitment to stay."
In the 2003-04 season, the year of Colonial Cup III, Robinson achieved his best-ever pro season, placing a lofty third in the UHL scoring race with a career-best 106-points on 25-goals and 81-assists. The playmaker extraordinaire shared the league-leadership in assists while establishing a Fury club record for helpers by a center in a single season. In that same season, he was proclaimed the UHL's scoring king on the road with 36(13-44-57). A major Muskegon marquee mainstay, "T. Rob's" 41-pp/points and 35-pp/assists ranked 4th and 2nd in the UHL respectively in those two important departments. The right-hand shooting star forward climaxed 2003-04 by being named to the UHL's First All-Star Team before fueling his Fury's phenomenal 11(11-0) unprecedented, undefeated climb to the 2004 Colonial Cup crown.
Playoff histrionics and heroics have become synonymous with the Robinson resume. His name will always own a prominent place on the pages of Fury franchise history and lore. In the year of Colonial Cup II in 2002, he forever achieved Fury infamy status when on May 4, 2002 he cemented his legacy with a spellbinding, electrifying breakaway goal at the 4:16 mark of overtime in Game #6 of the Colonial Cup Finals. The Robinsonian solo stoked strike fused a Fury spine-tingling victory, Muskegon's second league championship and the first and only one, to this day, under the Fury banner on home ice at Walker Arena. Robinson's stunning, dramatic theatre touched-off a spectacular, city-wide celebration as the Fury ousted the Elmira Jackals 4-games to 2 for the league's most coveted crown. The silk, sleek center also led the league in playoff scoring with (4-20-24) with 3 of those goals being GWG and two of those being OT/GWG. That remarkable playoff performance was crescendoed when he was proclaimed UHL MVP for his post-season prominence. In that same season of 2001-02, he claimed his second successive Fury scoring title, finishing 8th overall league-wide with 74(21-71-92) with a brilliant +30 rating. He ranked circuit second in assists and his plus rating ranked circuit seventh.
In his initial Fury season of 2000-01, Robinson was 6th in league point productivity with 61(36-64-100) with his 1.64 points per game average second best in the loop. In 1999-00, prior to his Fury advent, he was heralded as WCHL Rookie of the Year, again reaching the zenith of the century-point constellation with Idaho and Colorado Springs combined; 71(30-71-101). He finished 5th in league scoring and third in assists.
Through his first five seasons with the Fury, Robinson has made his momentous and monumental mark as one of the all-time leading scorers in franchise annals. He will embark on his sixth Fury season ranked 2nd all-time in scoring with 406-points in 297-games (5th), on 113-goals and 293-assists. His 293-assists in 297-games rank 2nd all-time while his 113-goals tie him for 5th in Fury history. His shorthanded bandit larceny also has become mystical and magical, having delivered a Fury all-time career-high of 13-SHG. He has averaged a mighty 1.38 points per game with the Fury. As far as the playoffs are concerned, Robinson also ranks 2nd all-time with 73-points in 59-games (5th), on 15-goals and 58-assists. He is #1 in career playoff assists.
For his overall six-year pro career, the Robinson record book reads as follows: 425(151-387-538) with 270-PIM and a points per game average of a lusty 1.27. In his first full six seasons as a pro, he has averaged a prolific 90-points per season on 25-goals and 65-assists.
Today's signing of center TODD ROBINSON is the first official signing announced by the two-time reigning Champions Fury for the 2005-06 UHL season.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from June 23, 2005
- Todd Robinson inks new three-year deal - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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