Avalanche fell TC, 4-3

Published on September 18, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


BLAINE, Mn. - For the second day in a row, the Traverse City North Stars raced out to a two-goal lead at the 2008 North American Hockey League Showcase in suburban Minneapolis. And for the second straight day, the Stars saw their opponent answer back in the middle portions of the contest.

Unlike Wednesday's game - a 3-2 win over St. Louis - Traverse City was not able to recover from Alaska's second-period onslaught on Thursday, dropping a 4-3 decision to the Avalanche.

"Sometimes you get what you deserve, and we got what we deserved today," lamented Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. "We're not the kind of team that can just lace 'em up and go out and win without coming to work - I'm not sure that kind of team exists anywhere. We got a wake-up call today, and it might end up being a good thing given that it's so early (in the season)."

Kyle Bonis (Lindsay, ONT/TC North Stars) got the North Stars going with his second goal in as many days - he netted the game-winner on Wednesday - at 9:09 of the opening stanza. Travis White (Sterling Heights, MI/St. Louis NAHL) made it 2-0 with :34 left before the first intermission on a zero-angle backhander that slid along the goal line and deflected into the Alaska net. Mike Schenfeld (Littleton, CO/Lake Forest Academy Prep) assisted on the Bonis marker, while Phil Wendecker (Westland, MI/TC North Stars) set up White's.

The second period, however, was all Avalanche, as the Stars surrendered four consecutive goals in a span of just 5:25 to find themselves in a 4-2 hole heading into the third. David Johnstone (Grand Ledge, MI/Team nXi AAA) recorded his first junior goal 3:16 into the final period with the North Stars on the power play, but Traverse City could not levy the equalizer down the stretch. Ryan Amin (Madison Heights, MI/Compuware AAA) drew the assist on Johnstone's tally.

"I wonder if some guys are out there playing for a (college) scholarship rather than playing within the team dynamic," Palumbo added. "You come out and play for the team, for the love of the game - and those other things will follow. We have to remember that."

C.J. Motte (St. Clair, MI/Honeybaked AAA) stopped 20 of 24 shots for TC, while Avs counterpart Garrett Tinkam was 20-of-23.

The North Stars (1-1-0) face off against Bismarck (1-1-0) on Friday in the third installment of the four-day event. The Bobcats routed Motor City by a 4-1 count on Thursday after the USA-17s handed Bismarck a 5-1 setback in the Showcase opener.

"We'll have our hands full with Bismarck, they're a good team," Palumbo warned. "Our effort will have to dramatically improve, and we'll have to build on how we finished the third period (on Thursday)."

SHOWTIME III

WHAT: 2008 NAHL Showcase

WHERE: Schwan Super Rink - Blaine, Mn.

WHEN: Sept. 17-20

WEDNESDAY: Traverse City 3, St. Louis 2

THURSDAY: Alaska 4, Traverse City 3

FRIDAY: vs. Bismarck, 4:45 p.m. EST

SATURDAY: vs. Fairbanks, 10:30 a.m. EST

LIVE VIDEO: Link to b2 Network webcast at tcnorthstars.com

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North American Hockey League Stories from September 18, 2008


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