North Stars to 'Bear' Down

Published on December 16, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


The Traverse City North Stars will host both this weekend at Centre ICE Arena, welcoming in the Jackets for a Friday-Saturday series, with jolly old Kris Kringle in the house as well to help collect teddy bears during Saturday's first intermission.

On the ice, the Stars and Metal Jackets are battling for position in the congested North Division. Fourth-place Traverse City is 16-10-1 after last weekend's two-game sweep of Port Huron, while Motor City is 19-8-0 and all alone in second place after knocking off those same Fighting Falcons on Thursday night, 7-3. Motown is the top-scoring team in the league in terms of raw goals (132) and goals per game (4.89), and boasts three of the NAHL's top five scorers in Cody Wydo (25 goals, 56 points), R. J. Kleiman (44 points), and Steve Brancheau (41 pts.). John Scorcia is also a scoring threat, and has 13 goals to go with 17 assists - including 10 powerplay goals for the league's top unit (26.32%).

"They're a talented team, no doubt about it," said Traverse City head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo, who coached Wydo, Brancheau, and stalwart defenseman Mike Monfredo at the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament earlier this month in suburban Boston. "We'll have to be solid in all three zones, limit their powerplay chances, and play with a lot of energy if we want to be successful against a team like that."

Tim Opie has been on a tear of his own for TC, with nine points in his last five games. He's tied his career high for goals (team- leading 12), and has four of those over that span. Stars captain Travis White leads the club with 16 assists after dishing out five last weekend at McMorran Arena.

While the competitors will bear down on the ice, fans can help 'bear down' during the first intermission of Saturday's series finale - and make some kids happy this holiday season. Fans who bring a new, unwrapped teddy bear to the second annual Holiday Teddy Toss game on Saturday will get $2 off their adult ticket, designate the recipient of their bear on a special North Stars tag (provided to fans at the game), toss their bear onto the ice after the first period, and they'll be collected for distribution to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan, the Father Fred Foundation, and the pediatric ward at Munson Medical Center.

The Stars travel to Flint on Sunday to take on the Michigan Warriors in the last game before the holiday break.

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