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IceDiggers clinch playoff berth

February 19, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Alpena IceDiggers News Release


Alpena MI: For the first time since the Alpena IceDiggers exemption in the North American Hockey League the club is headed to the postseason.

On a nice feed from Mike DeGrazia (Novi M), Nolan Craner (Plainwell MI) scored in the final stages of last night's game in Ann Arbor to force overtime, neither team would cash in during the extra frame and the IceDiggers eventually dropped the contest 3-2 in a shootout, with the point and Traverse City's loss to south division leader St. Louis on Sunday the IceDiggers are on their way to the playoffs.

"When we set our goals at the beginning of the season everyone in this organization from the owners, coaches, players and support staff set our focus as a group to get to the playoffs" said 2nd year head coach Kenny Miller. "We are going through a rough period right now and for us to still be able to clinch a spot is a good feeling, we will get this turned around and start playing solid hockey heading into the postseason."

The IceDiggers have 11 games remaining in the regular season with 5 of those contests at Northern Lights Arena. Alpena trails first place Mahoning Valley by 14 points but lead third place Marquette by 19 points for second place.

"With the remaining games we have left this will be a good for us to work out the problems we are facing as a team and get back on track." added Miller "The division has really improved top to bottom since day one and any team can win on any giving night so we will need to be better in order to win these games we have left."

The top four teams in each division make the playoffs with the 1 seed playing the 4 seed and the 2nd seed playing the 3rd seed in a best of five series with the higher seed hosting 3 of the five games. After the first round the NAHL will reseed the winning teams and play the division finals in a best of five those winners will advance to the Robertson Cup finals in Fairbanks, Alaska.

After playing four games in five days the IceDiggers will only play one game this weekend at Ann Arbor versus the high powered USA U-18 team led by this years USA world junior coach Ron Rolston on Sunday at 3:00PM.

For more information on the IceDiggers log onto the website at www.icediggers.com or call the main office at (989) 356-9812.



North American Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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