North Stars erupt, 7-1

Published on October 21, 2005 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


BLAINE, Minn. The Traverse City North Stars bounced back from three straight defeats in high style on Friday at the North American Hockey League Showcase, handing West Division foe Billings a 7-1 setback at Schwan Super Rink in Blaine. Forward Adam Sponseller scored a pair of goals for Traverse City, including a power play tally in the first period that gave the team a 3-0 edge, while fellow center Zeke Costello registered a goal and a pair of assists for the Stars.

We came out and play for a full three periods tonight, TC head coach Scott Gardiner, referring to his teams 6-1 loss to Bozeman the night before. We took care of our own zone first, and we got our offense going finally after getting just four (goals) in the last three games. Costello got it started just :20 into the affair on a pass from defenseman- come-forward Anthony Sarno. Twelve and a half minutes later, Steven Oleksy poked home his first of the year before Sponsellers first goal made it 3-0. Defenseman Richie Zobak and Costello assisted on Oleksys lamplighter, while Zobak and Jonathan Juliano earned helpers on Sponsellers first. After Jeff Stones power play goal got the Bulls on the board with 3:07 to go in the opening period, but Patrick Nagorsen answered for Traverse City about two minutes later after being set up by Travis Paeth and Jared Mullen.

Defenseman Luc Du Bay opened the second stanza with a man-advantage goal Costello assisted Sponseller made it 6-1 at 18:00 of the second (Juliano, Larke) before forward Matthew Larke capped the scoring on an unassisted goal with 1:35 to play before the second intermission. I think we came out on Thursday (6-1 loss) with a combo of bus legs and nerves, Gardiner explained. ?But the focus was there tonight and there werent all the mental mistakes. Jeremy Kaleniecki steered aside 39 of the 40 shots he was offered, while Mike Reilly (11 saves on 15 shots) got the hook in the first intermission in favor of Aaron Damjonivich, who surrendered a trio of second period goals before settling down for the scoreless third. NAHL Showcase action continues on Friday, as the Stars (5-4-2) square off with Wasilla (Ak.) at 2:30 p.m. EST at the multi-sheet facility in the Minneapolis suburb of Blaine. All 20 NAHL clubs are taking part in the annual event, the largest such hockey smorgasbord in the league?s 30-year history. On Saturday, TC takes on Fairbanks in a 1 p.m. affair. 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.

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North American Hockey League Stories from October 21, 2005


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