North Stars sack Marquette, 7-2

October 24, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - The Traverse City North Stars blew up the Centre ICE arena scoreboard on Saturday night - literally.

While a brief delay before the second period due to an electrical outage in the scorer's booth had nothing to do with the Stars' score-silly ways in a 7-2 rout of first-place Marquette, the hosts enjoyed their best outing of the season to pull within a point of the top spot in the NAHL North Division. Eric McLintock (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) recorded his first career hat trick, and assisted on two other goals as Traverse City improved to 9-4-1.

"It was our best 60-minute effort of the year, no question," said North Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. "We got off to a fast start, which is something we haven't been doing, we played with a focus, and we played much better positionally. Now we know we didn't get their (Rangers) best game tonight. When a team goes on a win streak like they were on, there's bound to be a letup sooner or later. We know they'll be much better tomorrow, and we have to be ready for that or they'll turn it right back around on us."

McLintock opened the scoring 5:21 in, but it was a play from Drew Strandberg (Thunder Bay, ONT/Thunder Bay SIJHL) that set the tone early on, as the TC goalie snuffed an early breakaway attempt on the first of the Rangers' five first period shots on net. Andy Huff (Howell, MI/Honeybaked U18) rocked his NAHL-leading 12th goal of the season with 2:57 to go in the opening frame to make it 2-0, and Kyle Jean (Sault Ste. Marie, MI/TC North Stars/Lake Superior State) pushed the advantage to three with a take-charge, crease-blitzing powerplay lamplighter a mere 1:32 into the second period. McLintock levied the next two home-team markers - the first just 13 ticks after Jean's tally - before Marquette got on the board with 2:53 left before the second intermission.

Josh Miller (Trenton, MI/TC North Stars) and Curtis Heinz (Grand Rapids, MI/Wichita Falls NAHL) made it 7-1 with back-to-back goals in the final stanza before a garbage-time goal made it a five-goal final margin.

"The energy was there, the big early saves helped get us going, and I think we may even have played with a little extra early-season urgency in going against the first place team in our division," Palumbo stated. "It's not exactly going out on a limb to say we can anticipate a much tougher battle tomorrow (Sunday)."

Strandberg was spectacular in net when called upon, which wasn't all that often. Marquette managed just 17 shots on goal to the Stars' 46, and didn't have more than six shots in any period. Eight Traverse City players had at least one assist, including Heinz, Miller, Chris Salomone (Homer Glen, IL/TC North Stars), Doug Clifford (Woodhaven, MI/Mahoning Valley NAHL), and Trevor Campbell (Kansas City, MO/Lansing Capitals U18). McLintock, Travis White (Sterling Heights, MI/TC North Stars), and Garrett Thompson (Traverse City, MI/ TC North Stars) had two assists apiece.

The Stars also grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the annual race for the Charter Communications Cup - a traveling trophy awarded to the winner of the season series. Traverse City has claimed the trophy - formerly called the SmithBarney Cup - in each of the previous two seasons. The North Stars (9-4-1) and Rangers (10-3-0) face off again on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.

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.



North American Hockey League Stories from October 24, 2009


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