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September 29, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Motor City Metal Jackets News Release


It was a tough weekend as the Machine was outscored 8-2 in their home debut in Michigan.

Friday Yack Arena was rocking for the Motor City Machine's first home game. Despite a wild third period that saw the Machine dominate the action, it wasn't enough, as St. Louis spoiled the Machine's Michigan debut, 4-2, Friday night.

After a pre-game ceremony that saw Wyandotte Mayor James DeSana drop the ceremonial first puck, it was the Bandits that came out on fire, scoring the game's first goal 29 seconds in.

"I thought we came out slow," Machine head coach Matt Romaniski said. "We let up a goal 30 seconds into the game. It's never easy when that happens."

But the Machine struck back later in the period, as defenseman Reed Rushing put one on the board from the point. Nick Taurence and Marco Ruggeri assisted.

The Bandits scored two goals in the second period to take a 3-1 lead, but a different Machine team came out in the third period, pressuring St. Louis from the start.

After a checking-from-behind penalty, the Machine converted on the power play to cut the lead to one, 3-2, as Jared Williams scored from in close. Ruggeri and Taurence picked up the assists once again.

Rejuvenated, the Machine tacked on more pressure, but it was Bandits goaltender Keith Kinkaid who stood tall, making several huge saves as Motor City was unable to convert on its chances.

"We fought hard," Romaniski said. "We missed two breakaways, we missed a wide-open backdoor two feet from the net, we missed the net on a tap-in goal. We could've easily been up two goals there with five minutes to play if we just finished our opportunities, but that's just how the puck bounces some nights."

Kinkaid made 37 saves on the night.

With the Machine pressing late for the tying goal, St. Louis took advantage with just under three minutes to play. That would spell the end of Motor City's comeback attempt.

Despite the loss, Wyandotte and Yack Arena got a great taste of Junior A Hockey.

"We had a pretty good crowd in here with it being Friday night and a big football game going on next door," Romaniski said. "It's only going to become better hockey as the season goes on."

Saturday Despite racking up shot after shot once again, the Motor City Machine found itself on the tough end of a 4-0 loss to St. Louis on Saturday night at Yack Arena.

St. Louis goaltender Erick Cinotti earned No. 1 Star honors with a 32 save performance, including several key saves in the third period.

"The boys are snake-bitten a little bit," Machine head coach Matt Romaniski said. "We've just got to work hard and get ready for Mahoning."

Once again, the Bandits caught Motor City off-guard early on, as Kyle Greco scored a power play goal 1:56 into the contest. Machine goaltender Joe Rogers had little chance on the skilled goal.

Grant Gorczyca scored his third goal of the weekend later in the period, also on the power play, to give St. Louis a 2-0 lead.

The Machine fought to get back into the game in the second period, but Cinotti stood tall with 12 saves in the period.

The Bandits struck the game's decisive blow early in the third period, as Greco scored his second goal of the game just 62 seconds into the period.

St. Louis struck again at 14:30 when Soren Jonzzon scored his third of the season. Bandits defenseman Kyle Quick picked up his third assist of the game on the goal. He earned No. 3 Star honors.

But the star of the period was Cinotti, who made a sprawling leg save on Motor City's Jared Williams among others to preserve his shutout.

Rogers made 17 saves for the Machine (3-3-0-0), while Cinotti was a key cog in holding Motor City's power play to 0-for-8.

Non-Power-Play The Machine saw their man advantage struggle at times to create good second and even third efforts all weekend going just 1 of 15. Meanwhile the Bandits boosted a 3 for 10 PP attack.

Out Shootin', Boot-Scootin' Boogie It was another case of getting shots on net but not much on the board for Motor City as they went off on St. Louis goaltenders for a 69-41 advantage.

Phantoms of the Yack The Machine is off until Friday when they host division rival Mahoning Valley at 7:10 p.m. at Yack. General admission tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children. Gates open at 6 p.m.

The Motor City Machine is in their first season in Michigan as members of the North American Hockey League. The Motor City Machine are formerly the Southern MN Express, a team that made the playoffs three straight years and twice into the Robertson Cup finals. The NAHL is the nation's largest Junior A hockey league and is now in its 33rd year of operation. For more information, visit machinehockey.com or call (734) 642-0544.

Machine home games will be played at the Yack Arena in Wyandotte, Mich. All games are broadcast on machinehockey.com and video broadcast through B/2 Network.

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North American Hockey League Stories from September 29, 2008


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