Sports stats



IceDiggers start busy stretch with win

January 24, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Alpena IceDiggers News Release


Alpena MI: Wednesday's Alpena IceDiggers game against Traverse City began a stretch of four games in five days.

The IceDiggers are hoping they can get the same result for those next three contests that they had against the North Stars.

Alpena (27-10-2) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one period, watched as Traverse City got as close as one goal in the third period and managed to hold on for a 7-4 win at Northern Lights Arena.

Todd Rudasill (Powell OH), the leading scorer in the NAHL, led Alpena with two goals and also added an assist, while Taylor Doorlag (Kalamazoo MI), Justin Stadler (Livonia MI), Carl Nielsen (Lorain OH), Ricardo Yesue (Allen Park) and Drew Pierson (Pleasant Prairie WI) also found the back of the net to get Alpena off on the right track for its most grueling stretch of the season. Nolan Craner (Plainwell MI) contributed three assists for the IceDiggers

"It feels really good to get started on the right page," said defenseman Eric Roman (West Bloomfield MI), who had two assists and was presented with the team's hard hat for his solid play after the win. "It keeps our four-game winning streak going." Alpena's victory can certainly be chalked up to a blistering start that saw the IceDiggers score four goals in the first 12 minutes of the game. Rudasill scored a power play goal six minutes into the contest and was followed by scores from Doorlag (8:28), Stadler (11:00) and Nielsen (12:36).

"I guess, with the way we started, the guys had fresh legs," said Alpena head coach Kenny Miller, whose team was coming off a 10-day layoff. "I expected us to start slower and finish better. We've been known to get a big lead and not execute. We've got to get through to them that they need to keep doing what got them the lead to continue to have success."

The North Stars (13-24-5) picked themselves off the ice and came right back at Alpena, scoring the first two goals of the second period, but Alpena upped its lead back to three goals, 5-2, on Yesue's goal at the 10-minute mark.

The North Stars continued to put pressure on Alpena early in the third period as Zach Hitch scored back-to-back goals in the first five minutes to get Traverse City as close as it had been all night. But Pierson and Rudasill put the game away with a pair of scores that wrapped up a busy night of offense.

"When they cut the lead to one we doubled up the Rudasill line and got the sixth goal, then added an insurance goal," said Miller. "We knew if we threw pucks on net we could get a couple more."

Martin Iberer and Stefan Shively, part of a shaky Traverse City goaltending duo that came into the contest giving up an average of seven goals in their last three games, combined to make 38 saves.

Mike Jarboe (Grosse Pte. Park MI) picked up the win, stopping 25 shots.

Typical of many of the Traverse City-Alpena matchups, fighting marred the end of the contest. Three Traverse City players were ejected and 26 minutes in penalties were handed out in the last 15 seconds of the game.

"When you score seven goals on them it doesn't make them too happy," said Roman. "It's always that way between us and Traverse City and it always will be."

The IceDiggers head to Marquette for a game Friday, then host back-to-back games Saturday against the Rangers and Sunday against the U.S. Under-17 team.

For More information pleases call the main office at (989) 356-9812 or visit the website at www.icediggers.com.



North American Hockey League Stories from January 24, 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.

Other Recent Alpena IceDiggers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central