Alpena completes sweep of Stars

October 17, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release

TRAVERSE CITY - For the second straight night, the Alpena IceDiggers were just a little bit better then the Traverse City North Stars. On Saturday, the host Diggers evened up the game late in the third period and survived an overtime period en route to a 3-2 shootout win over the Stars at Northern Lights Arena. The victory gave Alpena a clean sweep of their rivals to the west, the team's first in the series, and first of the season. "They say we get two points for these two games, but it sure doesn't feel like we're coming away with much," North Stars coach Scott Gardiner said, referring to the one point award for the overtime/shootout losses on Friday and Saturday. "We played a little better tonight (than Friday), but it just wasn't good enough." Alpena's Drew Pierson scored the lone goal of the opening stanza with the man advantage at 17:59 on a pass from Richard Yesue. Traverse City's Mathew Larke answered at 2:27 of the second period, as goalie Ryan Donovan and forward Travis Paeth drew assists on the play. With the score knotted at 1-all entering the third period, Zeke Costello gave the visitors a 2-1 edge just 1:20 into action. Patrick Nagorsen assisted on the power play tally. But with under five minutes to play, Yesue and Friday night hero Zach Barron set up Justin Stadler for an even strength equalizer. Gardiner says that goal took some wind out of the Stars' collective sails. "It did. We were outplaying them and outshooting them, and then they come down and get one. Then they had the momentum and they carried it right on through the overtime and into the shootout." The North Stars (4-3-2) travel to the North American Hockey League Showcase in Blaine, Mn. this week, with games Oct. 19-22 before visiting Mahoning Valley Oct. 29-30.

North American Hockey League Stories from October 17, 2005

• IceDiggers head to showcase with momentum - NAHL
• U.S. National Under-17 Team Travels To NAHL Showcase - U.S. National Team
• Jets take perfect record into NAHL Showcase this week - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
• Cats fall to Junior Blues - Wichita Falls Wildcats
• Phantoms top Barons 4-2 - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
• Blizzard drops Outlaws for third straight win - North Iowa Outlaws
• Alpena completes sweep of Stars - Traverse City North Stars

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