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North Stars blank Bandits, 3-0

March 11, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


CHESTERFIELD, Mo. - The Traverse City North Stars opened an all-important three-game series at St. Louis in style, riding the 26-save performance of goalie Steve Bolton to a 3-0 victory over the Bandits on Friday evening at the Hardees Iceplex.

The North Stars (34-15-1) climbed into a second-place tie with Janesville - which dropped a 3-1 decision to Port Huron on Friday - and to within seven points of the first-place Bandits - in the NAHL North Division standings.

Michael Szmatula (Commerce Twp., MI/Lansing Capitals U18) registered the only goal of the first period, 4:38 before intermission, while James Albrecht (Geneva, IL/Chicago NAHL) and Kelin Ainsworth (Thunder Bay, ONT/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) added second period markers a little more than two minutes apart. Bolton (Las Vegas, NV/Amarillo NAHL) took care of the rest, improving to 7-0 on the strength of his second shutout since being dealt to Traverse City.

Sean Murphy (Cary, NC/Austin NAHL) and Zack Dorer (Holt, MI/Lansing Capital U18/Ferris State) assisted on Szmatula's 15th goal of the season, while Travis White (Sterling Hts., MI/TC North Stars/Ferris State) and Connor Schmidt (Flat Rock, MI/Little Caesars U18/Ferris State) set up Ainsworth. Albrecht's tally was an unassisted effort.

The clubs will meet again on Saturday evening in suburban St. Louis before wrapping the critical series on Sunday afternoon.

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