Michigan UHL teams - News & Notes

Several United Hockey League clubs have benefited this season from players with game experience in the National Hockey League.

The Flint Generals and the Muskegon Fury lead the way with a trio of players on each of their current rosters that have spent time at the highest level of hockey.

Flint signed center Tony Tuzzolino last week, who has played nine games in the NHL with three different clubs. Tuzzolino quickly made a big impact for the Generals when he scored the game-winning goal in Friday’s 3-1 victory vs. Bloomington. He has four points (1g, 3a) in his first two games with the club. The Generals also are relying this season on winger Bobby Reynolds (7 NHL games) who has nine points (3g, 6a) in 12 games. The most significant NHL experience comes from goaltender Jason Muzzatti who has appeared in 64 games with four different NHL clubs.

The Kalamazoo Wings also have a goaltender with NHL games under his belt. Tom Askey played seven games plus a Stanley Cup Playoff game with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Askey currently ranks third in the UHL in both save percentage (.925) and goals against average (2.27). K-Wings defenseman Chris McAllister is the most experienced at the NHL level as he has totaled 301 games with five different clubs.

Muskegon left wing Mike Watt tallied 41 points (15g, 26a) in 157 career NHL games. He currently ranks third in UHL scoring with 28 points (15g, 13a). Fury defenseman Dave Van Drunen appeared in one NHL game during the 1999-2000 season. He currently leads the UHL with a plus-24 rating. Muskegon winger Ryan Barnes appeared in two games with the Detroit Red Wings. He has seen limited action this season for the Fury due to injury.

Fort Wayne defenseman Mario Larocque, a former Detroit Viper, suited up with the Tampa Bay Lightning for five games. He leads his club in scoring and currently ranks sixth in the UHL. Komets winger Daniel Goneau, another ex-Viper, played 53 NHL games for the New York Rangers. He is tied for 11th in UHL scoring.

Chicago Hounds center Kris Vernarsky spent 17 games with the Boston Bruins. The Warren native five points (2g, 3a) and a plus-1 rating in nine games with the Hounds this season.

APPROACHING 600 GOALS – Quad City forward Don Parsons is just six goals shy of 600 for his professional career. He will become just the third United States born player to reach 600 goals at any level of professional hockey. The last U.S. born player to reach that mark was Joe Burton, who accomplished this feat two seasons ago while playing in the UHL for the Motor City Mechanics.

BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS – Port Huron goaltender Dustin Traylen recorded his second consecutive shutout when he made 28 saves in the 4-0 win vs. Kalamazoo on Wednesday. He blanked the Bloomington PrairieThunder in his previous start. Traylen’s shutout streak ended just 51 seconds into Friday’s game with Kalamazoo. Over four games, his streak without allowing a goal was 157:49 of playing time.

Flint Generals - (2-1-0) – 12 of the first 19 games for the Generals have been decided by two goals or less… Seven of the first ten home games have been decided by two goals or less…Winger Bobby Reynolds is six points shy of 500 for his UHL career. He currently ranks 19th on the UHL all-time list…Flint handed Muskegon their first home loss of the season in Thursday’s 3-2 win…The Generals have scored more than three goals in a game just twice this season…Defenseman Gerard Miller has six points (2g, 4a) over his last six games.

Kalamazoo Wings - (2-2-0) – Kalamazoo scored a combined 11 goals in their two victories this week, but just one total in their two losses…Winger Justin Cross had four goals in three games this weekend. Five of his eight goals this season have come against Port Huron…Wednesday’s 4-0 loss to Port Huron was the first shutout of Kalamazoo in 142 games (12/26/04)…The K-Wings snapped a 0-for-32 power play drought when they started Friday’s game 3-for-3 on the power play…The squad leads the league on the penalty kill (91.9%).

Muskegon Fury - (2-1-0) – The Fury have won their last six road games...In the month of November over the past two seasons, Muskegon has compiled a 22-3-0 record…In the first two periods combined this season, the Fury have outscored the opposition 68-27…Nine of the team’s 30 power play goals have come in three games vs. Quad City…Rookie left wing Kelly Thomson scored his first professional goal in Saturday’s 7-2 win vs. Quad City… Rookie center Elias Godoy league high 12-game point streak was snapped in Friday’s 2-1 win vs. Fort Wayne.

Port Huron Flags - (1-2-0) – Wednesday’s 4-0 victory vs. Kalamazoo was the first time that Port Huron has won consecutive games this season...Defenseman Chris Bogas had three assists in the win. He had just one point in his previous six games with the team…Center Jeremy Tucker has four points (2g, 2a) in his last three games. He had scored four points in the previous 17 games…Rookie center T.J. Sakaluk scored his first professional goal in Wednesday’s victory…Defenseman Josh Elzinga netted his first goal of the season in Saturday’s 3-1 loss.

Taken from the official UHL website.