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North Stars Outlast Michigan, 5-4

October 28, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


FLINT - In yet another classic chapter in the annuls of the Traverse City North Stars-Michigan Warriors rivalry, the Stars overcame a late equalizer on Friday before skating to a 5-4 shootout victory at Perani Arena.

Traverse City owned leads of 1-0, 2-1, and 4-3 in the single-game visit to Flint, but yielded a redirected goal with just 14.4 seconds left in regulation to force the extra stanza and subsequent shootout session. Jon Farkas (Brighton, MI/Compuware U18) and Michal Toman (Slovakia/TC North Stars NAHL) recorded shootout markers, and Kyle Laslo (Fenton, MI/Osoyoos KIJHL) slammed the door on all four Michigan shooters.

"Not exactly pretty - in fact, it was downright ugly at times," lamented Stars head coach Chad Fournier. "But we didn't give up, we kept battling, and found a way to get it done. Anytime you can take two points on the road against a team as good as Michigan, it's a successful trip."

Traverse City captain Jared Van Wormer (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars NAHL) got the visitors on the board first with the Stars on the penalty kill. He chased down a cleared puck, swiped it off the stick of Michigan goalie Brach Tiller, and tucked in the net 2:07 into the affair. After the Warriors evened things up early in the second, Eric Jones (Traverse City, MI/Lansing Capital U18) one-timed a perfect centering pass from Will Badner (Cadillac, MI/Motor City NAHL) to put TC back on top.

Michigan (10-4-2) closed out the second frame with a pair of goals in the final 1:20, but Kyle Schempp (Saginaw, MI/Compuware U18) evened things up just 1:18 into the third, and gave the Stars another lead a little more than eight minutes later. Schempp helped further validate his recent placement on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's Draft Watchlist with his third and fourth goals of the season.

"We've been struggling to score goals here and there, and Kyle put in two really big ones tonight," Fournier added. "We've talked about getting to the net and that's what helped him put those in. He's a talented player who is still developing in his own zone, but who is a very gifted offensive player. For a young guy being asked to play center for the first time in a long time, he's been playing a very big role for us."

Traverse City looked to close out the contest in regulation with the Warriors' net empty, but David Johnson redirected a shot into the goal in the waning seconds.

"I like that we found ways to regroup a couple times tonight," Fournier added. "We had some down guys after the second (period) and after the late goal, but they bounced back and did what had to be done to get the victory."

Laslo finished with 26 saves for his sixth win of the year, while Toman, Chris Waterstreet (Northville, MI/TC North Stars NAHL) and Robert Wiener (Williamston, MI/TC North Stars NAHL) chipped in with an assist apiece.

The North Stars are off until next Wednesday, Nov. 9 when they'll pay a midweek visit to Port Huron. The club will return to Centre ICE Arena for a Nov. 18-19 series with the Fighting Falcons.



North American Hockey League Stories from October 28, 2011


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