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IceDiggers rally to win in OT

November 10, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Alpena IceDiggers News Release


Alpena MI: Donning their camouflage jerseys, the Alpena IceDiggers were hunting for a win against North Division foe Traverse City Friday night at Northern Lights Arena.

The hunt was successful as the IceDiggers came away with a 6-5 win in overtime. Alpena defensemen Ben Kitzmiller (Lambertville MI) scored the game winner with 3:22 left in the extra period.

Kitzmiller sent a wrist shot on net just inside the faceoff circles that beat Stefan Shively. Shively took over the goaltending duties for Traverse City after Kyle Jendra allowed the game-tying goal with 46 second remaining in the third period.

"Good teams just find a way to win and that's what we did tonight," said Alpena head coach Kenny Miller. "We kept saying throw the puck on net so we could keep the offensive pressure going."

Chasing Jendra from the net was Alpena forward Todd Rudasill (Powell OH), who scored his second goal of the night from just inside the blue line with under a minute to go in the third period. It was the second time in the game he had beaten Jendra from the blue line in the game.

"We definitely didn't play good early," Miller said. "They set the tempo and in your own building that is bad, but we are a veteran type of club and the team got the job done. We didn't quit after going down."

Alpena responded just over a minute later when Justin Stadler (Livonia MI) converted a breakaway opportunity while shorthanded. Stadler stole the puck at the Alpena blue line and slid the puck through the legs of Jendra to cut the lead to 2-1.

"We kept preaching to them that once we got the first one that would get us going. When you score on a teams power play like that it takes the momentum right away from them," Miller said. "The goal gave us life."

After the Stadler goal Alpena, scored three of the next four goals in the second period. Nolan Craner (Plainwell OH), Ricardo Yesue (Allen Park MI) and Rudasill scored the next three for Alpena and Zach Hitch added a power-play goal for Traverse City making the score 3-3 heading into the third period.

Rudasill broke the tie just 2:20 second into the third period. It was a wrist shot in the middle of the ice from the blue line that surprised Jendra high on the glove side.

Getting the win in net was Mike Jarboe (Grosse Point Park MI), who made 25 saves on the night. The win over Traverse matches Alpena's win total from all of last season.

Alpena will travel to Traverse City on Saturday to start their 10 game road trip, faceoff is set for 7:00PM. Fans can keep up with all the action by visiting www.pointstreak.com.

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



North American Hockey League Stories from November 10, 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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