North Stars broom Barons

November 5, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - The North Stars scored early, then they scored late - and that was just the first period.

Traverse City used a three-goal outburst in the first 20 minutes of action and cruised to a 6-2 triumph over Cleveland on Nov. 5 to effect a sweep of the Barons in the two-game series at Centre ICE arena. Josh Sorenson scored on a breakaway just 2:10 into Saturday's contest on passes from Zeke Costello and Jonathan Juliano as the hosts drew first blood.

After Aaron Pietila knotted the score at 1-all at 6:33, Matthew Larke put the Stars ahead for good with just under five minutes left in the first stanza as Travis Paeth and Luc Du Bay assisted. Adam Sponseller capped the productive opening session with just :09 on the clock with what turned out to be the game-winning tally. Du Bay and Patrick Nagorsen were credited with assists on the play.

"Just a good solid weekend," said North Stars head coach/GM Scott Gardiner. "Cleveland didn't play that poorly - I mean, it wasn't a 6-2 game. We just got some bounces and some breaks and we were able to take advantage of them. We just played with a little more heart this weekend than we have been. It's a different team right now."

Paeth's power play effort at 7:25 of the second period made it 4-1 before Tomas Petruska registered Cleveland's second - and final - goal of the contest at 9:08 of the same session. Steven Oleksy assisted for the Stars (8-7-3).

The teams traded possessions for much of the second and well into the third stanza before Adam Sponseller recorded his eighth goal of the season with 2:06 to play. Traverse City threw a sixth goal into the Cleveland twine with just over a minute remaining, as Nagorsen found the back of an empty net to end the evening's scoring.

"That's what we needed after last weekend at Mahoning Valley," said Nagorsen, who now has eight goals and eight assists through 17 games. "We're playing smarter, and playing to our system. If we shut them down in the defensive zone, it only helps us in the offensive end." Jeremy Kaleniecki was superb in net for the Stars once again, smothering 28 shots, while Bobby Jarosz made 14 stops for Cleveland. Kenny Reiter made seven saves on 10 shots for the Barons in the opening period before being chased at the first intermission.

The North Stars return to Centre ICE arena next Friday when North Division rival Alpena comes to Traverse City for the front end of a home-and-home series. Game time on Nov. 11 is slated for 7:30 p.m.



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