Torrid Fury Continue League-Leading Pace
January 5, 2004 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
FURY FINDINGS: Completing a rather tortuous schedule consisting of 8-games in 10-days and 12-games in 17-days, the first-place, league- leading Muskegon Fury of the United Hockey League were the absolute epitome of class, character and fortitude. Under the direction of first-year head coach Todd Nelson, the Fury only sustained a scant single setback through the 8-games in 10-days rigorous regimen and actually culminated it with an impressive 7-game undefeated streak at 7(6-0-1). In fact, in those 12-games in 17-days, the Fury suffered a mere 2-setbacks as they were a gaudy 11(8-1-2) in the last 11 decisions in that strenuous stretch. In the process, the Fury have actually increased their advantage atop both the Western Conference and overall UHL standings. Having played a league-most 34-games, the men of the Fury have advanced and otherwise enhanced their season record to a superlative 34(23-9-2) totaling 48-points. The high-powered Muskegon club has engineered an 8-point first-place lead over defending champion Fort Wayne 32(19-11-2)40 in their own Western Conference though the Komets, 5(3-2-0) in their last 5-games, do have 2-games in hand on the somewhat game-weary Fury. The Fury are a perfect 3(3-0-0) against the K's thus far this season, including 2-consecutive triumphs in the Indiana city. "The Knights of Nelson" have swelled their advantage over third place Quad City 30(17-11-2)36 to 12-points with the Mallards, 4(3-1-0) in the first 4-games of a 6-game road trip, having 4-games in hand on Muskegon. The Fury have a 5(3-2-0) mark against the "Quad Squad" thus far this season. Though fourth place Kalamazoo 28(15-9-4)34 is 14-points in arrears of the Fury, the Wings have 6-games in hand and are unbeaten in their last 5-games; 5(4-0-1). The Fury lead that season series as well at 4(3-1-0). Concerning the overall UHL league-leadership, the molten-hot "Furious Ones" have gained a 6-points lead over Eastern Conference kingpin Columbus 33(19-10-4)42 with the Stars having 1-game in hand with their only 2-defeats in the last 7-games inflicted by the Fury. Muskegon is a perfect 3(3-0-0) against Columbus at this stage of the season. The Fury schedule will settle down somewhat more in this first full week of the New Year as they face a pair of home affairs against in-conference foes. Friday night the Missouri River Otters come to town before nearby archrival Kalamazoo comes calling on Saturday night at Walker Arena.
RECORD BEST ZEST: Through the initial 34-games of the current campaign, the Fury have achieved the UHL's premiere record at 34(23-9-2) 48-points and a stellar .706 winning percentage. Their 23-victories are the most in the league and represent 4-more than all other UHL clubs. Their 9-defeats equal Kalamazoo for the fewest in the league. Presently, the Fury are riding the rising rapids of their longest undefeated streak of the season at 7-in succession; 7(6-0-1) with their last loss incurred back on December 26th in Missouri, 4-2. Moreover, the Fury are 11(8-1-2) in their last 11-starts; 19(14-3-2) in the last 19-games. The longest win streak of the season has been 5-in a row, a feat accomplish-ed twice. Muskegon has also assembled two 3-game win streaks. The longest losing spell has been only 2-in a row which has happened merely twice. After 34-games last season, the Fury record was 34(17-13-4)38-points. Therefore, the Fury are 6-wins and 10-points superior to last year's pace. The monthly returns: January 3(2-0-1); December 13(9-3-1); November 14(9-5-0); October 4(3-1-0). Since Christmas, the record is 8(6-1-1).
HOME HEAVEN REVVIN': In three home appearances the past holiday week, the Fury posted a Walker Arena record of an unblemished 3(2-0-1), earning 5 of a maximum available 6-points. In so doing, they ran their overall unbeaten streak at the hallowed halls of "The LC" to 5-games at 5(3-0-2). Furthermore, the Fury are 10(7-1-2) in their last 10 home starts. Muskegon owns the best home record in the Western Conference and the second best home mark overall in the UHL at 15(10-3-2). The longest win streak at home has been 4-consecutively. The Fury have yet to sustain back-to-back defeats at home, facsimile to all of last season in that particular department. The Fury's last home defeat was back on December 19th against Quad City which is actually responsible for 2 of the team's 3-home setbacks this year. One year ago, after 15-home dates, the Fury record stood at 15(9-4-2)20. At this date of this season, the Fury are 1-win and 2-points ahead of last season at home.
BUS BUNCH BINGO: The show on the road has played to rave reviews for the hometown team. Muskegon has achieved the UHL's premiere record abroad at a supreme 19(13-6-0)26. They are currently on a 4-game win streak away from home bay. That matches their longest road win streak of the year. The last loss abroad was back on December 26th in Missouri, 4-2. The Fury are actually 6(5-1-0) in their last 6-starts and 10(8-2-0) in their last 10-outings in foreign territory. Their 13-road wins are the most in the loop and only one away from matching their total of road victories from all last season at 14; 38(14-20-4). One year ago on the road, the Fury record was 19(7-10-2)16. The Fury are 6-wins and 10-points ahead of last year's clip.
CONFERENCE CODING: The league-leading Fury have been thriving both inside and outside their conference this current campaign. Within their own Western Conference, they sport a supreme record of 23(16-6-1); at home 11(7-3-1) and on the road 12(9-3-0). Muskegon has attained a winning record against all comers in the conference. The breakdown: Fort Wayne 3(3-0-0); Rockford 6(4-1-1); Kalamazoo 4(3-1-0); Missouri 5(3-2-0); Quad City 5(3-2-0). In the Eastern Conference, the Fury mark is 11(7-3-1); at home: 4(3-0-1); on the road: 7(4-3-0). The breakdown: Columbus 3(3-0-0); Flint 3(2-0-1); Adirondack 2(2-0-0); Port Huron 1(0-1-0); Richmond 2(0-2-0). Elmira is the lone team that the Fury have yet to see thus far this season.
GOLD GOAL RUSH: Equipped with a high-tech, high-octane scoring ammo arsenal, the Fury registered 23-more goals in 5-games for a GFA of 4.60. The Fury continue as the highest scoring machine in the UHL, striking for 142-GF in 34-games for a GFA of 4.18. Muskegon has generated 33-more goals than all other UHL teams. The Fury have scored 3 or more goals, remarkably, in 30 of their first 34-games at this juncture of the season. The Fury have scored 4 or more goals in 22 of their 34-games. At home, they have made connection 64-times in 15-games for a GFA of 4.27. When on the road, the Fury have produced 78-GF in 19-games for a GFA of 4.10.
SCORING ACES OASIS: Robin Bouchard 34(28-28-56) continues to lead the UHL in scoring as the Fury actually have the top three point-makers in the league. Bouchard's linemates, Todd Robinson is 2nd 34(7-43-50) and Brant Blackned is 3rd 34(19-28-47). Meanwhile Scott Hollis 34(22-17-39) has climbed to 9th in the league scoring race. Bouchard's 28-goals lead the league while Hollis' 22 rank 3rd most in the loop. Robinson's 43-assists lead the UHL and are 11-more than all others in the league. Bouchard (28) and Blackned (28) have the 4th most helpers. Bouchard (11) and Blackned (11) are tied for the league-leadership in PPG. Hollis 4-GWG rank as 3rd best in the league. The Fury are also 1-2-3 in PP/Points with Blackned (25), Robinson (24) and Bouchard (22). Robinson's 23-PP/assists are foremost while Blackned's 14 rank as 4th highest in the circuit. Bouchard leads the league in SOG with 178. Scott Feasby is back on top with his +21 rating with Dave Noel-Bernier 3rd overall at +16 and #1 among all UHL rookies. Noel-Bernier 31(12-17-29) leads all league rookies in goals, assists and points as well as SHG (2). Garry Toor 18(5-10-15) has climbed into the top 20 in scoring among league defenseman at #15. Toor has the best shooting percentage among the blue line brigade at 5/38 and 13.2% proficiency. In the goaltending department, Sylvain Daigle leads the league in WINS: 20. He has 5-more wins than all other goaltenders. Daigle also leads the league in GPI: 30; MIN: 1687; SAVES: 855; his 4-SOW are 2nd best; his .913 SPCT ranks 5th and his 2.88 GAA is 6th in the UHL.
ROCKIN' ROBIN'S TWEET SWEET: The UHL scoring kingpin Rockin' Robin Bouchard has continued his torrid scoring scourge for yet one more week. In a hectic 5-games' in 6-nights week, the Fury's all-time "Gun-Sling King" amassed an astronomical 11-points, including 7-goals, 4-assists with 8-PIM and 24-SOG. Featured in his latest weekly act were 2-PPG, 1-FG, 1-TBG, 1-GTG, 1-GWG, 1-UG and 1-ENG. He was named one of the game's 3-stars in 4 of the 5-games, earning one #1 Star, two #2 Stars and one #3 Star. He produced two 2-goal games and delivered multiple point games in 4 of the 5-games. In the process, Bouchard has equaled his own Fury franchise record and once UHL all-time record for longest consecutive goal scoring at 11-games; 11(15-11-26). He is within one game of tying the new standard of 12-straight games of goal-scoring set earlier this season by Flint's Jim Duhart. In addition, Bouchard's next goal will be his 300th in his illustrious Fury career. Last week's Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week is once again, the Fury's nomination for Sher-wood / UHL Player of the Week for this week.
THE GUARDIAN OF GOAL: Goalkeeper Sylvain Daigle has been majestic for Muskegon with his tireless energy and paramount performance. Seeing duty in 3 of his team's 5-games for the busy week, the two-time All-Star was at the top of his game with his puck-stopping stupendo. He posted a perfect 3(3-0-0) record with a stellar 2.67 GAA and .939 SPCT. On New Year's Eve in Kalamazoo, he rebuked all 5 Wings' shots in the OTSO spearheading his team to the victory in the extra session. Sunday, he celebrated his 200th game as a member of the Fury by being accorded #2 Star honors in making 40-saves in a Muskegon 4-1 dousing of the Columbus Stars. Daigle is currently on a personal 5-game win streak; 5(5-0-0) with a 2.60 GAA and a SPCT of .935. He has been in goal for 30 of the Fury's 34-games this season. Daigle is, again, the Fury's nomination for UHL Goaltender of the Week.
IN THE "ROBINZONE": Center Todd Robinson is in a zone of his own as he continues to pile-up the points in prodigious fashion. In the 5-games the past week, "T.Rob" maestroed 11-points on 5(3-8-11) with 16-SOG. He adeptly and adroitly authored 4-multiple point games including two 3-points' masterpieces. Two of his 3-goals for the week were of the GWG variety as he also essayed 1-PPG and 1-FG. With his 3-assists in the Sunday triumph over Columbus, Robinson became only the 4th player in Fury franchise history to record 300 points as a member of Muskegon. There are two Robinsonian streaks of major impact, import and magnitude at this stage of the season. First, his overall point streak has reached 10-games with 20-points; 10(4-16-20); and second, his amazing point-scoring streak on the road that has reached 15-games and 31-points, an average of over 2-points per game; 15(3-28-31). The latter is the longest in the UHL all this season.
BIG BEAR BARRAGE ENTOURAGE: Left Wing Brant Blackned is also on a scoring rampage of resounding repute. The past week, he engineered 9-points in 5-games; 5(4-5-9) with 14-SOG, 2-PPG, -TBG and 1-GTG. He earned #1 Star rating Sunday in the 4-1 victory verdict over Columbus with 2-goals, 1-assist and +2 rating. The "Big Bear Barrage" has amassed 15-points in his last 7-games on 7(6-9-15). In his last 20-games, Blackned is 20(12-21-33).
THE "HOLLY" TROLLEY TRAIN: Right Wing Scott Hollis is unholstering humming howitzers, again, with his dead-eye stick and its telescopic lens. In 5-games the past week, "Hot-Shot-Scott" was 5(3-4-7) with a +3 rating, 15-SOG and 1-PPG. He was the "Star of the Game" Friday in Columbus where he stoked a pair of strikes among his trifecta of points in the 5-4 eclipse of the Stars. In his last 7-games abroad, Hollis has cannon-fired 10-goals while in his last 15-games overall, he is 15(14-9-23).
"STATE"-LY STAR STATUS: Normally a right wing and now a transplanted center, former Michigan State star and team captain Rustyn Dolyny has negotiated the transition and transformation with great aplomb and alacrity. In fact, in the past 5-games, he gathered 5-points on 1-goal, 4-assists and a superb +4 rating. Included in his output for the week was a 3-assists, +3 performance Friday in Columbus to fuel the Fury 5-4 triumph there. "Rusto Bravissimo" has ascen-ded to #3 for the Fury with his excellent +12 rating.
ON "TOOR" WITH GARRY: The Fury defenseman Garry Toor has been a magnet of opportunity with his offen-sive flair and his defensive savvy and stability. The Fury's top scoring blue line member composed a grand week of puck prevention attention as he recorded offensive numbers of 5(1-2-3) with 12-SOG and #2 Star status at home Saturday night against Rockford. However, transcending all of that special work was his defensive attributes, especially since he measured a masterful +6 on the ratings scale for the entire week.
THE PRESTIGE OF POWER: The Fury power play has been mammoth and magical all season long. It is still ranked #1 in the UHL with a brilliant rating of 26.7 proficiency on 44-165. The power play is 8 for the last 16; 50% and a remarkable 16 for the last 36 for a conversion rating of a dynamic 44.5%. Considering the penalty-killing, some improvement has been realized, though the Fury are still ranked a somewhat ordinary 10th at 133-170, 78.2% rating. Muskegon has produced 6-SHG while surrendering 7 of the same.
RECORD-BREAKING HISTORY-MAKING: Goaltender Sylvain Daigle appeared in his 200th game for the Fury on Sunday, backstopping his team to a 4-1 triumph over Columbus. Robin Bouchard (299) with his next goal will attain 300 with the Fury. Todd Robinson (225) is 3-games away from tying Paul Kelly for 9th place on the Fury's all-time games played list. Brant Blackned (91) is 9-goals from becoming only the 8th player in Fury history to score 100-goals for Muskegon. In addition, Blackned (35) is just 6-PPG away from tying Paul Kelly (41) for third place on the Fury's all-time PPG list. Sylvain Daigle's next Fury shutout will tie Joe Dimaline for most Fury career shutouts at 8.
FEW FUN FURY FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": Muskegon has posted a record of 18(16-2-0) when yielding 3-GA or less. The Fury are 17(15-1-1) when scoring the FG; they are 12(12-0-0) when leading after the first period and 15(14-0-1) when leading after the second period. When the Fury score 3 or more goals they are 30(23-5-2); when they score 4 or more, the record is 22(17-4-1). The Fury lead the UHL in third period goals with 50. For the season, Muskegon is 6(4-2-0) in the OTSO and a perfect 3(3-0-0) on the road in the extra session.
CAP-UP WRAP-UP: Playing an ambitious schedule of 5-games in 6-days, the Fury responded gigantically by going undefeated at 5(4-0-1) to earn 9 of the available 10-points. It all started last Tuesday, when the Fury disarmed Adirondack, 6-4 on the strength of 3-goal outbursts in the first and third periods respectively. Todd Robinson (2-1-3)FG/PPG/UG/GWG, Robin Bouchard (1-1-2)UG, Dave Noel-Bernier (PPG), Scott Hollis (PPG) and Rustyn Dolyny (ENG) all contributed for the victors while both Brant Blackned and Trevor Johnson assisted twice. Ryan Ascahber gained the victory in goal, making 22-saves. Wednesday night, New Year's Eve in Kalamazoo, the Fury outlasted the Wings in the OTSO, 4-3. Bouchard (2-1-3)2-PPG/FG and Blackned fired strikes for the Fury with Robinson gathering 2-more assists. Bouchard later notched the lone goal in the OTSO as Sylvain Daigle rebuffed all 5-shots in extra time. Friday in Columbus, the Fury defeated the Stars, 5-4, building a 5-1 advantage by erasing an early 1-0 deficit. Hollis (2-1-3)GTG, Noel-Bernier (1-1-2)TBG, Robinson (1-1-2)GWG and Bouchard (PPG) connected for the Fury with Dolyny serving 3-assists and Blackned a pair. Daigle was brilliant brushing aside 44-shots. Returning home Saturday night, the Fury earned 1-point in a 5-4 OTSO affair against Rockford. Bouchard (1-1-2)PPG/GTG, Garry Toor (1-1-2)FG, Blackned and Michal Pinc all delivered goals with Rockford out-goaling the Fury in the OTSO, 3-1. Aschaber was in goal for the Fury. Then on Sunday, the Fury finally reached the end of the long journey of many games in far too short of time as they saved their best for last in a 4-1 impeccable masterpiece over Columbus, again. Bouchard (2-1-3)TBG/GWG/ENG and Blackned (2-1-3)PPG/GTG furnished Fury firepower with Robinson assisting thrice. Daigle was divine in making 40-saves and blanking the Stars after the 1:26 mark of the opening period.
THE FURY GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9TH MISSOURI AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
The sixth session staged this season for the two in-conference foes and the third in Muskegon where the Fury have prevailed by results of 4-3 on November 9th and 7-6 in the OTSO back on December 13th. Muskegon leads the season series 5(3-2-0). In the last act between the two squads, the River Otters prevailed in St. Charles, 4-2 on December 26th, representing the Fury's last defeat.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10TH KALAMAZOO AT THE FURY 7:30 PM
This will be the fifth meeting of the season and the third in Muskegon where the Fury are 2(1-1-0), besting the Wings, 5-2 in the last action at Walker Arena back on December 5th. Overall, the Fury have captured the last 3-contests including 2-consecutively in Kalamazoo. This game will wrap-up an extended 4-game homestand for the Fury.
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International Hockey League 2 Stories from January 5, 2004
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- Muskegon Fury Notes - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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