North Stars Shade Warriors, 4-3

Published on November 24, 2011 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - Mitchell Snider scored a pair of goals, his Traverse City North Stars teammates reeled off 37 shots, and the hosts held off the Michigan Warriors down the stretch on Wednesday evening at Centre ICE Arena, claiming a 4-3 victory in the Thanksgiving Eve affair.

The triumph halted a modest two-game skid, and pushed the Stars (10-5-4) into a third place tie with the Warriors (11-12-2) in the North Division standings a third of the way through the regular season.

"We played hard, we limited our mistakes, and Mitchell had a great game," said TC head coach Chad Fournier. "We still need to improve in our own end, and we still have yet to play that complete games, but we're playing good hockey and we keep pushing to learn and improve each time out."

The North Stars struck first, as Snider (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars NAHL) collected a pass at the far post and shoveled it into a small window with 6:54 to play in the first period. Michigan answered quickly, however, cashing in on its only power play of the game 2:40 later to knot the score.

Snider swiped a pass just inside the Warriors' blue line and potted a rooftop wrister a few strides later at 12:28 of the second period, but once again Michigan retorted quickly, tying the contest little more than two minutes later. Will Badner (Cadillac, MI/Motor City NAHL) restored the Stars' advantage in the waning seconds of the period, redirecting an Alexander Taulien (Crystal Lake, IL/TC North Stars) shot with 13 seconds left.

Traverse City captain Jared Van Wormer (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) doubled the lead a scant 1:12 into the third after hooking up with Eric Rivard (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars NAHL), but Michigan replied in four minutes, setting up some hotly-contested moments down the stretch before the Stars emerged with the two points.

Kyle Laslo (Fenton, MI/Osoyoos KIJHL) made 31 stops in claiming his 10th win of the season, while Rivard finished with a pair of assists. Van wormer, Taulien, and Nathan Harris (Fowlerville, MI/Lansing Capitals U18) had one apiece.

"We're still learning to play that inside-out game from our own zone," Fournier explained. "But we had a solid effort, and production from a lot of guys. (Chris) Waterstreet and Taulien were especially physical and effective tonight. In the end, we got a win and that's never a bad thing."

The North Stars won't have long to digest their holiday fare, as Port Huron comes to town for a Black Friday showdown. It's the second annual 'North Stars Never Forget' contest, which honors the U.S. Coast Guard, is a forum to stuff stockings for Michigan National Guardsmen currently deployed in Afghanistan, and benefits Operation American Soldier.

The game will feature the North Stars sporting special U.S. Coast Guard-themed jerseys (for auction during the game along with a number of silent auction items), and fans are asked to help stuff stockings for 1,200 Michigan National Guardsmen in Afghanistan through Operation American Soldier. Fans can bring small personal items, sundries, and non-perishables that will be packed and sent to the deployed troops.

In addition, it's an opportunity for the Stars to avenge a pair of 4-3 losses suffered at the hands of Port Huron last weekend at Centre ICE.

"We're looking for a 60-minute effort - a complete game," Fournier concluded. "They're a very good team, but we think we can be effective as well."

Friday's contest will wrap with a post-game skate with the team.

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North American Hockey League Stories from November 24, 2011


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