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North Stars halt skid, 3-2

December 15, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - Finally. After a nine-game famine without the sweet taste of victory, the Traverse City North Stars feasted on Alpena at Centre ICE arena on Thursday, 3-2. Travis Paeth notched a pair of goals for the Stars, while fellow front-liner Jared Mullen added an assist to go with the game-clinching tally.

"Thank goodness," exhaled a relieved North Stars head coach/GM Scott Gardiner. "It's sort of like getting that first win of the season - you need good things to happen, like some timely plays, some lines to step up, and we got that tonight."

After Anthony McIntyre gave the visitors a 1-0 lead just 3:33 into the contest, Paeth leveled the equalizer at 14:40. Defensemen Ryan Reid and Jarrett Rush assisted.

Paeth gave the hosts a 2-1 edge just :18 into the second period on assists from Mullen and Adam Sponseller, but Eric Roman and the IceDiggers answered just over five minutes later, sending the game into the second intermission knotted at 2-all.

Paeth and Sponseller set Mullen up for the game-winner with 8:10 to play, snapping the roughest patch in the North Stars' brief history, and building some much-needed momentum heading into the second half of the season.

"Absolutely, we needed to build some (momentum)," Gardiner conceded. "When you're in a drought like we were, a win like this can really help turn it around." Paeth agreed.

"It was good tom come back home in front of our fans and get one (a win)," said Paeth, who now has eight goals and 19 points through 26 games. "But most of all, I think we just got back to having some fun."

Steven Oleksy says the team's week or work helped put the Stars back into the ‘W' column.

"We had a great week of practice," Oleksy explained. "We had to work on our chemistry a little bit, as is usually the case when you go on a losing streak, but we really ... came together this week."

Jeremy Kaleniecki worked the pipes for Traverse City (10-14-4), smothering 31 shots on 33 tries. Phil Greer made 31 saves of his own for the Diggers, now 6-20-3.

Another North Division rival, Cleveland, will visit Centre ICE arena for a Sunday matinee. Face-off is slated for noon. Fans who bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots program will get into the game for half-off admission.

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.



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