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Late goals key 5-3 Stars' win

October 9, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


PORT HURON - It took almost 56 minutes to get it going, but just 44 seconds to transform defeat into victory on Saturday night at McMorran Arena.

The Traverse City North Stars were less than five minutes from becoming a somewhat dubious historical footnote in the second of a two-game series at Port Huron, trailing the yet-winless expansion Fighting Falcons by a 3-2 margin. Tim Opie (Troy, MI/TC North Stars) drifted to the high slot, collected a perfect pass from newest Stars forward Michal Toman (Slovakia/Cedar Rapids USHL) and blasted home the game-tying tally with 4:02 left in regulation.

A mere 44 seconds later, Toman was on the receiving end of a Michael Szmatula (Commerce Twp., MI/Lansing Capitals U18) pass from behind the Falcons' net, driving home the clincher and giving Traverse City (6-1) a third straight triumph.

For the second straight night, Port Huron (0-8) registered the game's opening salvo, but Taylor Burden (Carmel, IN/TC North Stars) posted a rejoinder less than 29 seconds later, sending the game into the first intermission deadlocked.

Kelin Ainsworth (Thunder Bay, ONT/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) gave TC a brief lead 13:39 into the middle frame on a power play effort, but the hosts answered less than two minutes later. The Falcons grabbed their third period lead with a power play marker of their won with 7:24 to go, setting up the Stars' late-game heroics. Alec Shields (Pittsburgh, PA/TC North Stars) put the proverbial cherry on top, potting an empty-netter with 10 ticks on the clock.

Tyler Marble (Howell, MI/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) turned aside 29 of 32 shots, and has worked each of the team's contests so far this season. He had to fend off 28 shots over the final 40 minutes, including a couple of harried sequences late in the third- period.

Stars captain Travis White (Sterling Hts., MI/TC North Stars) dished out a pair of assists, bringing his total to eight through seven games, while Opie, Matt Zaremba (Gaylord, MI/Cleveland CSHL), Ryan Amin (Canton, MI/TC North Stars), and Trevor Campbell (Kansas City, MO/TC North Stars) had one apiece.

The North Stars open the home portion of their schedule next weekend at Centre ICE Arena, hosting new North Division rival Springfield (Ill.) in a three-game series. Opening Night (Friday, Oct. 15) and ‘Turn the Rink Pink' night (Saturday, Oct. 16) contests face-off at 7 p.m., while Sunday's series finale gets underway at 1 p.m.

We thank you, our media partners, for your continued interest in Traverse City North Stars hockey. If there is anything we can do to help facilitate any aspect of your coverage, please do not hesitate to contact us. You are a valued component of North Stars hockey.

For more information, call Lance-Michael Correia at (231) 632-5047, the Traverse City North Stars office at (231) 941-9200 or visit the team's Web site at: www.traversecitynorthstars.com.



North American Hockey League Stories from October 9, 2010


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