Rangers edge TC, 4-3
Published on September 26, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release
MARQUETTE - The Traverse City North Stars didn't give Marquette many chances on Friday night, but the Rangers made the most of them, edging out the visiting Stars by a 4-3 margin in the home opener at Lakeview Arena. Traverse City peppered Rangers goalkeep Kevin Kissaw with 52 shots, while permitting just 24 attempts.
The Rangers raced to a 3-0 lead by the midway point of the second period before the Traverse City offense came alive. Tyler Stephens (Rockford, MI/TC North Stars) closed the middle stanza with a power play goal, and Nate Urbaniak (Perrysburg, OH/TC North Stars) opened the third with another to cut the Marquette lead to a single goal a scant 26 seconds in.
The Rangers re-claimed a two-goal bulge just over five minutes later as Kent Daavettila scooped up a turnover deep in the Stars end and registered an unassisted goal that turned out to be the game-winner. Traverse City did not go down without a fight, however, as Kyle Bonis (Lindsay, ONT/TC North Stars) struck for his fourth tally in five games this season with 9:44 to play. The Stars pressured Kissaw numerous times down the stretch, but the Rangers hung on for the one- goal victory.
Urbaniak, Chris Heineman (New Boston, MI/TC North Stars), and Chris Salomone (Homer Glen, IL/Chicago YA AAA) drew assists for Traverse City (3-2-0), while Brandon Stephenson (Saline, MI/TC North Stars) made 20 stops.
The Rangers took an early 2-0 lead in the SmithBarney Challenge Cup series, the winner of which claims the traveling trophy following a 12-contest season series. The clubs meet up again on Saturday in the North Stars' home opener at Centre ICE arena, an affair slated for a 7 p.m. face-off.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 26, 2008
- Blues Lose to Roadrunners in Shootout 4-3 - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Rangers edge TC, 4-3 - Traverse City North Stars
- Machine Downed by Bandits, 4-2 - Motor City Metal Jackets
- Phantoms Get Set to Volunteer at YMCA's Equalizer Race - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- U.S. National Under-18 Team Defeats the University of Alaska Anchorage, 4-3 - U.S. National Team
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