North Stars Rout Alpena, 5-2

December 31, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


ALPENA - The Traverse City North Stars rang in the new year with a third straight win on Thursday, toppling host Alpena by a 5-2 margin at Northern Lights Arena, and jumping back into the top spot in the NAHL North Division.

Kelin Ainsworth (Thunder Bay, ONT/Ft. William SIJHL/Lake Superior St.) had a goal and two assists, while nine other North Stars had a single point apiece. Drew Strandberg (Thunder Bay, ONT/Thunder Bay SIJHL) made 32 saves to help Traverse City improve to 19-11-2 and put two points between itself and second-place Marquette.

"A solid win," assessed Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. "Again, contributions from everybody helped us be successful. We started slow, but in the second and third (periods), our forecheck was effective, and created a lot of opportunities. Drew stood tall in net through seven power plays and the extra attacker toward the end."

Tim Opie (Troy, MI/TC North Stars) got the visitors on the scoresheet early, recording a power play goal 4:33 in, but a late-session Alpena rejoinder knotted the game into the first intermission. The North Stars combusted for a trio of goals in the middle period, with Dan Radke (Orinda, CA/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.), Ainsworth, and Matt Zaremba (Gaylord, MI/Cleveland CSHL) each potting markers. The Diggers (11-20-0) cut the deficit to 4-2 with five minutes to play, but Andy Huff (Howell, MI/Honeybaked U18/Ferris State) threw it in an empty net with :12 to go to make it a three-goal final spread.

Palumbo credits the Stars recent resurgence in part on the return of two-time all-star defenseman and team captain Travis White, who missed 11 games with an upper body injury. The club is 3-0 since his return.

"Absolutely, that's a key for us," Palumbo said. "We simply can't have him out of the lineup. He's one of the most important pieces of the puzzle, and having him back is just huge for us."

The North Stars will get back on the road Saturday, visiting Motor City for a two-game series that will culminate a five-game, seven-day stretch.

"I like the busy schedule," Palumbo added. "Especially when things are going well, you get in a bit of a rhythm."

The Stars and Diggers will meet up again at Centre Ice on Saturday, Jan. 9, and in a home-and-home series with Alpena the following weekend.



North American Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2009


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