IceDiggers bury North Stars
September 29, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release
ALPENA - The Traverse City North Stars' improved special teams play went sub-âspecial' on Friday night at Northern Lights Arena, giving up a quartet of power play goals and going 0-for-12 with the man advantage in a 5-1 loss to cross-state rival Alpena.
"They just plain wanted it more, and you could see that right away in how they beat us to pucks and outworked us all around," said disappointed Stars coach Scott Gardiner. "I was disappointed in our effort tonight. It was our first time on a real road trip this year and I didn't like how we responded."
Alpena native Erik Peterson opened the scoring at 9:53 of the first, then capped the Diggers' five-goal outburst with an empty-netter in the waning moments. Nolan Craner, the NAHL's leading scorer entering play on Friday, was held off the scoresheet until he drew an assist on Peterson's last tally.
After Ricardo Yesue and Ben Kitzmiller registered second period tallies to put the hosts on top by a 3-0 margin, Traverse City earned its lone marker while shorthanded, as Harrison Niemann scored his second of 2006-07 with 13:22 to play; Brett Englebright assisted. Drew Pierson answered Niemann to make it a three-goal bulge again at 15:50 before Peterson's capper.
"There isn't a whole lot to say," Gardiner added. "We'll have to regroup in our own building tomorrow and come out with a much, much better effort."
Ryan Donovan gave way in net to Stefan Shively after the first period, and two combined to make 27 saves. Brandon Stephenson went 20- for-21 in the Alpena pipes. Traverse City took 19 penalties totaling 41 minutes on Friday, while the IceDiggers were boxed in for 18 minors.
The teams square off again on Saturday, as the series shifts to Centre ICE arena for a 7:05 p.m. face-off.
We thank you, our media partners, for your continued interest in Traverse City North Stars hockey. If there is anything we can do to help facilitate any aspect of your coverage, please do not hesitate to contact us. You are a valued component of North Stars hockey.
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 September 29, 2006
- IceDiggers drop North Stars - Alpena IceDiggers
- IceDiggers bury North Stars - Traverse City North Stars
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