North Stars Storm Michigan, 5-1

Published on November 11, 2011 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


FLINT - The Traverse City North Stars are finding a road rhythm of late, scoring their third straight victory away from Centre ICE on Friday with a 5-1 triumph over the Michigan Warriors at Perani Arena. Across-the-board production, the continued stinginess of goalie Kyle Laslo, and a three-goal second-period outburst sparked the win.

"We're keeping things simple on the road," said Stars head coach Chad Fournier. "We're going to the net, and scoring goals in some tough places. We're still a young team still on a learning curve, but we have some veteran players who are really starting to fulfill their leadership roles."

Will Badner (Cadillac, MI/Motor City NAHL) levied the first of four straight TC goals with a power play marker 8:01 into the contest, parking himself atop the crease and cleaning up an Alexander Taulien (Crystal Lake, IL/TC North Stars NAHL) rebound.

Chris Leibinger (Saginaw, MI/TC North Stars NAHL/Michigan Tech), Jake Peacock (Traverse City, MI/Bay Reps HS), and Sean Murphy (Cary, NC/Tri-City USHL) potted the middle frame trio to give the visitors a four-score cushion at the second intermission. Zach Dorer (Holt, MI/Des Moines USHL) assisted on the period's final two goals, with Chris Waterstreet (Northville, MI/TC North Stars NAHL) and Kyle Schempp (Saginaw, MI/Compuware U18) also drawing assists in the spurt.

After the Warriors broke through at 8:36 of the third period, the Stars quickly restored the four-goal bulge, as Badner and Robert Wiener (Williamston, MI/TC North Stars NAHL) set up Taulien less than two minutes later. Laslo (Fenton, MI/Osoyoos KIJHL) helped close out the game, stopping 15 shots in the third period alone, and 37 shots overall.

"Kyle is just so good at controlling the game," Fournier explained. "He freezes it (the puck) when we need a face-off, he makes all the saves he's supposed to, and also the big timely saves. Tonight, he stopped a breakaway in a 0-0 game that helped set the tone. He's been a big part of our successes this year."

Murphy racked his second goal in as many games since re-joining the North Stars, something Fournier says will be a boon to the already-productive forward corps.

"Murphy has that innate ability to score goals, and he gives our offense just that much more confidence. You try to have a lot of different kinds of players on your team, and all of them generally have the ability score goals. But Murph is a goal-scorer - he just has that knack."

The North Stars (8-4-3) will travel to Port Huron for a Wednesday affair with the Fighting Falcons on Nov. 16, which will kick off a protracted three-game series between the teams. The scene shifts to Centre ICE Arena for the back end of the set on Nov. 18-19.

There is also extensive Thanksgiving Weekend hockey on tap: The club will face Michigan in a Thanksgiving Eve affair on Nov. 23, and the annual 'North Stars Never Forget' contest on Black Friday, Nov. 25. The latter 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 Michigan National Guardsmen in Afghanistan through Operation American Soldier.

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North American Hockey League Stories from November 11, 2011


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