North Stars strike back, 3-2

Published on September 27, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - The Traverse City North Stars capped a symmetrical weekend of hockey on Saturday night, claiming their home opener with a 3-2 triumph over Marquette in front of more than 900 at Centre ICE arena.

The Stars - who fell behind by three goals on Friday in Marquette - turned the tables on the Rangers with an unrequited trio of their own on Saturday. And like Friday's affair, the visiting team battled back before leaving town with a one-goal setback.

"I chalk that up to the fact that our guys lost on Friday, it was the home opener, and they wanted to come out flying," said Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo, whose team dumped in two goals in the first 2:49 of the series-capper. "These home and home series - when you lose the first one you feel a lot of pressure to at least get a split."

David Johnstone (Grand Ledge, MI/Team nXi AAA) got Traverse City out front early on (2:13 in) on an even-strength tally, followed 36 seconds later by another off the stick of Marc Thompson (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars). Kyle Jean (Sault Ste. Marie, MI/TC North Stars) and Eric O'Hearn (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) set up Johnstone's fourth of the season, while Jarrod LaBelle (Bay City, MI/ TC North Stars) assisted on Thompson's first.

After Nate Urbaniak (Perrysburg, OH/TC North Stars) bagged a power play goal 3:47 into the second stanza to give the home fans a 3-0 lead - on assists from O'Hearn and Chris Heineman (New Boston, MI/ TC North Stars) - the hosts began to play ‘follow-the-leader' into the penalty box. Traverse City (4-2-0) was assessed seven minors within about 16 minutes of action, including the final five consecutive calls to close the period.

"We stopped moving our feet, and when you do that against a good team, the penalties are going to come," said Palumbo. "We stopped doing all the things that had made us successful in the first period. Luckily for us, our penalty kill was outstanding tonight."

While Marquette (2-4-0) went 0-for-8 with the man advantage, the Stars made good on one of their trio of chances. The Traverse City defense was forced to ratchet up the pressure, North Stars goalie C.J. Motte (St. Clair, MI/Honeybaked AAA) quashed 30 shots to notch his second consecutive victory.

With the win, Traverse City assumes sole possession of second place in the NAHL North Division early going with Mahoning Valley inactive, one point behind first-place Team USA.

"It was a good team win, with a lot of contributions from a lot of guys," Palumbo added. "And that's what it's gonna take for us to be successful. For the most part, we battled hard, and I thought we really came back and controlled the play in the third (period)."

The North Stars head to Alpena next Friday before the IceDiggers visit Centre ICE arena on Saturday to close out the home-and-home set.

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North American Hockey League Stories from September 27, 2008


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