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IceDiggers host Phantoms Friday and Saturday

October 26, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Alpena IceDiggers News Release


Alpena MI: For the first time this season the Alpena IceDiggers (10-3-0) will play host to the Mahoning Valley Phantoms (6-7-1) at Northern Lights Arena. The two teams will tangle on Friday and Saturday face off's are set for 7:00PM.The IceDiggers and Phantoms play a total of 16 times during the 06-07 season.

With these two games the Mahoning Valley Phantoms are finishing up a road trip that has consisted of 16 straight games away from the Ice Zone in Boardman OH. The IceDiggers are playing their 5th and 6th home games of the year, Alpena is currently 4-0 inside NLA.

With the Phantoms coming to town head coach Kenny Miller and his team know they will have to be on their game in order to come away with two victories. "We are going to have to be at our best in order to win, they have a veteran team and their record is not an indication of what type of team they are. As for our team I feel this group is as good as any we have ever had since joining the league in 2003." said Miller

Mahoning Valley lead by head Coach Bob Mainhardt currently sits in the 5th place spot in the North division with a record of 6-7-1 for a total of 13 points only 7 points behind the 1st place Alpena IceDiggers who are currently 10-3-0 with 20 points.

The IceDiggers are coming off a two game road sweep of cross state rival Traverse City (7-7-1) on Friday Alpena came away with a 6-3 win and followed that up with a 4-3 come from behind win on Saturday. Mahoning Valley split with the NTDP USA (7-6-1) last weekend with a 4-3 shootout win against the U-17's and on Saturday the Phantoms were bounced by the U-18's 10-1 in Ann Arbor.

The IceDiggers currently have the best powerplay in the NAHL with a 21.37% Alpena has scored 28 goals on the man advantage. While Mahoning Valley ranks 6th in the league with a 15.25 rating scoring 18 PP goals. On the penalty kill the IceDiggers rank 8th among the 17 teams with a 86.36% and Mahoning Valley currently has the worst penalty kill percentage in the NAHL with a 78.99 rating.

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES:

BROADCAST:

Courtesy of the Mahoning Valley Phantoms and play-by-play announcer Ron Rinaldi fans can log onto www.mvpphantoms.com and listen to both games this weekend. The broadcast will begin at 6:45PM each night.

SCORERS:

Alpena IceDiggers forwards Nolan Craner (Plainwell MI) and Todd Rudasill (Powell OH) are currently one and two in NAHL scoring. Craner leads the NAHL with 10 goals, 17 assists for 27 points, 6 of Craner's goals have come on the powerplay. Rudasill is 2nd among skaters are the NAHL with 10 goals, 15 assists for 25 points, Rudasill has scored 5 powerplay goals and added 3 game winning goals. Line mate Drew Pierson (Pleasant Prairie WI) leads the NAHL in powerplay goals with 7, Pierson has 17 points on the season.

GOALTENDERS:

Shawn Hunwick (Sterling Hts. MI) has won 7 games for Alpena in 9 starts, Hunwick has a 2.67 goals against average with a .907 save percentage. Last weeks player of the week winner for the North division Mike Jarboe (Grosse Point Park MI) was played in and won all 3 games he has started Jarboe currently has a 3-0 record with a 2.33 GAA with a .918 save percentage.

ROLLING:

Alpena forward Erik Peterson (Alpena MI) broke out of his scoring slump last weekend scoring 1 goal and adding 3 assists in the two game sweep over Traverse City. Newcomer Mike DeGrazia (Novi MI) added two points in the two wins last weekend. DeGrazia assisted on Erik Peterson's goal Friday. On Saturday DeGrazia scored his first goal in an IceDiggers uniform, the goal was a breakaway that gave the IceDiggers a 3-2 lead late in the second period. Austin Seiple (Maumee OH) recorded his first Junior "A" goal on Friday night.

ROSTER MOVE:

Rookie forward Ryan King (Philadelphia PA) has decided to leave the team, with King leaving the IceDiggers roster is at 24 players.

INJURIES:

Veteran defenseman Korey O'Brien (Southgate MI) was injured in Saturday's 4-3 win in Traverse City, O'Brien will be sidelined for up to 3 weeks.

OPPONENTS:

Mahoning Valley is led offensively by Matt Quigley and Chris Fairbanks who both have 15 points in 14 games. Mike Fillinger is 3rd on the team with 11 points in the 14 games the Phantoms have played. The Phantoms are led in goal by Ryan Zapolski and Bryce Merriam, Zapolski has a 5-5-1 record with a 4.17 GAA while Meriam has played in 4 games and has a 1-2-0 record with a 3.82 GAA. Both goalies have identical save percentages at .868.

For tickets for this weekends games please be sure to check out our website at www.icediggers.com or call Bob Krafft at the main office at (989) 356-9812. Plenty of good seats remain for Friday and Saturday.



North American Hockey League Stories from October 26, 2006


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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