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Quick Start Turns to Quick Loss for Motor City, 6-3

October 23, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Motor City Metal Jackets News Release


Marquette, Mich. - Marco Ruggeri (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) struck for a goal and an assist in the 6-3 loss as Josh Bussell rounded up a hat-trick for the Marquette Rangers.

With a long bus ride on their side, the Machine moved the puck well and effectively leading to their first goal just 3:02 in from Ruggeri as he fell down.

The lead would inflate as Ryan Misiak (Shelby Township, Mich.) took a rebound from Matt Brooker and put it home and the route was on, right? Wrong, the Machine would give up three consecutive goals with Bussell collecting two and Mike Lennon to make it 3-2 Marquette closing out the first period of action from Lakeview Arena.

Another rocky start in net would lead to Mike Thompson getting a power-play floater from the point just: 14 seconds in and the Rangers would take the 4-2 lead never looking back. Adam Kuhn (Southgate, Mich.) put home a goal that was a scramble out in front out of Kevin Kissaw to pull the Machine within one at 4-3.

That would be all the scoring Motor City would do as Zach Hansen hit the showers early after giving up five goals on just 13 shots.

It was Bussell who would send Hansen packing by barely clearing the line for the 5-3 lead.

Joe Rogers would relieve and try to bandage the wounded crease but he didn't fair much better as Thompson snagged another power-play goal siphoning gas from the Machine's tank.

A scoreless third would play out and Motor City dropped its ninth straight game and remaining in last place at 3-10. Meanwhile the Rangers got two much needed points staying in fourth place in a rigorous North division. Bussell had three goals and an assist as Thompson put home a pair of his own while assisting on another. Ruggeri added a goal and assist while Misiak found the net for his first of season. One bright spot was that the Machine finally started to use the body with the addition of Anthony Iaquinto from the OHL's London Knights

The Motor City Machine is in their first season in Michigan as members of the North American Hockey League. The Motor City Machine are formerly the Southern MN Express in which they made the playoffs three straight years and twice into the Robertson Cup finals. The NAHL is the nation's largest Junior A hockey league and is now in its 33rd year of operation. For more information, visit machinehockey.com or call (734) 642-0544.

Machine home games will be played at the Yack Arena in Wyandotte, Mich. All games are broadcast on machinehockey.com and video broadcast through B/2 Network.

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North American Hockey League Stories from October 23, 2008


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