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Alpena Earns Weekend Sweep

December 16, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Alpena IceDiggers News Release


Alpena MI: The Alpena IceDiggers came away with an important two game sweep from division rival Marquette this weekend picking up a 3-2 OT win on Friday in Alpena and exploding for six goals last night in a 6-1 drubbing of the Rangers in Marquette.

"That was a big weekend for us, we needed those four points. said head coach Kenny Miller "We were able to get good goaltending and great team defense both nights."

On Friday Jimmy McCusker led the way with two goals earning the first star of the game award. Bryan Ross scored an overtime power play goal to seal the win at Northern Lights Arena.

Nick Graves picked up his second straight win between the pipes since being acquired in a trade two weeks ago.

Saturday the Diggers' traveled to Marquette and jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two periods before adding a power play goal in the third to come away with four out of a possible four points on the weekend.

Alpena had six different players score last night, Ryan Timar, Isaac Viau, Bryan Ross, Jon Puskar, Mike DeGrazia and Kerry Bence lit the lamp for Alpena.

Evan West, Russ Anderson and Nick Grasso each picked up two assists while Tyler Pilmore, Tristan Harper, McCusker, Viau and Puskar each chipped in an assist.

Nate Pellegrino earned his 11th victory of the year making 30 saves.

The IceDiggers will finish up with a home and home series versus Traverse City this Friday and Saturday before heading out on holiday break for a much needed seven day break. The two teams will do battle at Northern Lights Arena on Friday with a 7:00PM face before heading to Traverse City on Saturday for a 7:05PM start.

NOTES:

STREAK - The IceDiggers have won three straight and four of their last five games. They have won three straight road games.

OVERALL RECORD - Alpena is 15-12-1 overall and 6-8-0 at home and have a 9-4-1 record away from Northern Lights Arena.

POWER PLAY - Alpena has the top ranked power play in the NAHL with a 21.35, the IceDiggers have scored the most power play goals with 38. Division leader St. Louis is in second with 37 goals with the man advantage.

MAN DOWN - The penalty kill unit has successfully killed off 24 straight shorthanded situations. It has been three games since an opponent has scored with the man advantage against Alpena.

INJURIES - Leading scorer Erik Peterson and defensemen Jerrod Hartman both missed the two game set this weekend with lower body injuries. The IceDiggers training staff thinks both players should return to the lineup for the Traverse City series.

+/- - Assistant captain Isaac Viau leads the club with a + 6 rating.



North American Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2007


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