Diggers edge TC, 1-0
Published on October 12, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release
ALPENA - New season, same flavor.
For the fifth time in five meetings this year - including two in the preseason - the Traverse City North Stars and Alpena IceDiggers played to a one-goal differential, with the Diggers claiming the latest stalemate, 1-0 on Friday at Northern Lights Arena. However, tight games are nothing new to the rivalry, with the geographic foes dueling to seven one-goal contests in 2005-06, and another five last season. The teams will have another chance to buck or entrench the trend on Saturday night, when Alpena visits Centre ICE arena for the home-and-home capstone.
Jimmy McCusker's even-strength marker 1:34 into the second period proved to be all the offense Alpena would need - or that Stars netkeep Brandon Stephenson would permit, as Stephenson and Diggers counterpart Nate Pellegrino took turns stonewalling the respective offenses. Stephenson stopped 33 of the 34 shots he faced - good enough for 2nd Star honors - while Pellegrino sent the Alpena faithful home happy with a 30-for-30 performance.
One thing that seems a departure from the adversarial clashes of the past is the noticeable absence of box time. The clubs combined for just nine infractions on Friday, and both rank near the bottom of the North American Hockey League in penalty minutes.
The win helped Alpena (5-4-1) leapfrog Mahoning Valley and idle Marquette into fourth place in the NAHL North. The Stars (5-2-3) remain in third place, just two points ahead of the Diggers. Saturday's return engagement is slated for a 7 p.m. face-off.
For more information, call Lance-Michael Correia at (231) 632-5047, the Traverse City North Stars office at (231) 941-9200 or visit the team's Web site at: www.traversecitynorthstars.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from October 12, 2007
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Defeats Mahoning Valley, 4-3 - U.S. National Team
- Blizzard win home opener 6-3 over Alaska - Alexandria Blizzard
- Diggers edge TC, 1-0 - Traverse City North Stars
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