Late goals :18 apart save Stars

Published on January 3, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - North Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo called it the most exciting win of his tenure behind the TC bench. Almost a thousand fans would likely agree.

Down by two goals with little more than a minute left in regulation - and their goalie on the bench - the Traverse City North Stars rallied to tie Friday's showdown at Centre ICE arena in the final seconds, then survived a scoreless overtime before capturing a 5-4 shootout win over first-place Mahoning Valley.

"You just don't see it too often where you get a goal with your goalie pulled - let alone two goals," Palumbo said. "And we're especially fortunate to get them against such a high-quality opponent. We just kept working hard and made it happen. It's the most exciting win we've pulled out since I've been here."

The North Stars played well in the first period despite heading into intermission down 1-0. They outshot the Phantoms by a 12-5 margin but were thwarted repeatedly by Mahoning netkeep Jordan Tibbett. After Dean Pawlaczyk (Madison Heights, MI/Belle Tire AAA) put the hosts on even footing a mere 3:23 into the second stanza, Mahoning banged out a pair of goals in a span of just 31 seconds to stake a 3-1 lead. Marc Thompson (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) pared the Stars' deficit to one goal 54 ticks later, but the Phantoms doubled their advantage again mid-way through the third, setting up the late-game heroics.

Phil Wendecker (Westland, MI/TC North Stars) began the comeback with 1:09 left, and North Stars captain Kyle Bonis (Lindsay, ONT/TC North Stars) roofed the equalizer with :51.8 on the clock.

"Down 3-2, I thought we became a little impatient," Palumbo assessed. "We got sloppy in the neutral zone when we tried to force it on the offensive end like we were. We got a couple big saves from Brandon (Stephenson), and were able to hang around there until we finally broke through."

Mahoning opened the shootout with a goal, but had to stave off elimination in the fifth round after Kyle Jean (Sault Ste. Marie, MI/ TC North Stars) and Josh Miller (Trenton, MI/Trenton HS) tallied for Traverse City, and David Johnstone (Grand Ledge, MI/Team nXi AAA) levied the coup de grace as the sixth shooter. Stephenson (Saline, MI/ TC North Stars) snuffed the Phantoms' final attempt, sending the raucous Centre ICE contingent home happy. Stephenson, already the Stars' career leader in wins (18), claimed his 10th victory of the season - two off Jeremy Kaleniecki's team mark (12 in 2005-06). He made 27 saves on 31 attempts.

"It was a playoff atmosphere out there tonight, no question," Palumbo said. "It'll be that way the rest of the weekend, probably the rest of the season for that matter with the way the division is setting up. I liked how we responded to that, especially with a full house and having the fans so into it. I'd say they got their money's worth."

Six different North Stars registered an assist apiece on Friday, including Bonis, Jean, Miller, Tyler Stephens (Rockford, MI/TC North Stars), Mike Schenfeld (Littleton, CO/Lake Forest Academy Prep), and Eric O'Hearn (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars).

Traverse City, now 17-6-5, pulled to within two points of the Phantoms (19-7-3) in the NAHL North Division with the victory. The teams will meet again on Saturday night at Centre ICE arena (7 p.m.) before Sunday's series-capping matinee at 12:35 p.m.

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North American Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2009


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