Diggers Drub North Stars; Marquette Up Next
January 8, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release
ALPENA - The Traverse City North Stars got into an early hole on Thursday night in Alpena, surrendering a pair of goals in the first 2:40 of the contest en route to a 5-1 setback to the host IceDiggers at Northern Lights Arena.
"Worst 60 minutes of the year," said Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. "We seemed genuinely disinterested in the fact that we had a hockey game tonight. You match that against a team that's playing well and you get ... something like a 5-1 game."
Traverse City cut its deficit in half at the 13:32 mark of the opening period, but could not find twine for the remainder of the evening. Alpena scored twice in the second half of the second stanza, and Mike DeGrazia scored his second goal of the contest with 2:16 to play and the North Stars' net vacant to make it a four-goal differential.
Bonis (Lindsay, ONT/TC North Stars) registered his team-best 15th goal of the season, and became the club's all-time leading goal- scorer with 40 career markers. Nate Urbaniak (Perrysburg, OH/TC North Stars) is second at the moment with 39 and counting. Phil Wendecker (Westland, MI/TC North Stars) drew his seventh assist of the season on Bonis' tally.
"This isn't a game tape that I'll be popping in any time soon," Palumbo said. "I didn't enjoy it much the first time, anyway. We'll have to come back and play like we have more than a passing interest in the games this weekend or we can expect more of the same."
The loss keeps the Stars (18-8-5) two points out of first place in the NAHL North Division, and Alpena (18-12-3) pulled to within two of the Stars in the densely-packed North table. Traverse City will play host to Marquette this weekend is a resumption of the SmithBarney Challenge Cup. The Rangers lead the series 6-4 (points) with eight meetings remaining this season. Both Friday and Saturday games face-off at 7 p.m.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2009
- Diggers Drub North Stars; Marquette Up Next - Traverse City North Stars
- Lemieux Charity Event Comes Full-Circle for Phantoms Staffer - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Division Play Continues for Phantoms as Machine Comes Calling - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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