Rangers Rebound

November 29, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Marquette Rangers News Release


Boardman, Ohio - The Marquette Rangers Tier II Junior A hockey team rebounded nicely from Friday nights 4-0 shutout loss to St. Louis defeating the Mahoning Valley Phantoms Saturday by a final of 5-3 at the North American Hockey League's North Division Showcase.

After a scoreless first period, the Rangers (10-11-4, 24pts) scored the first two goals of the second period to take a lead they would never surrender.

With the win, coupled with an Alpena loss to Traverse City, Marquette has reclaimed sole possession of fourth place in the NAHL's North Division race.

Garrett Ladd opened the scoring for Marquette at 53 seconds of the second period with assists to Kevin Gravel and Collin Saint-Onge. Michael Thompson would score 59 seconds later from Dustin Partacz for a 2-0 Rangers lead over the North Division Showcase host team.

The Phantoms would get within one late in the period when Kyle Verbeek notched his fourth goal of the season from Nick Shkreli and Alex Lippincott at 18:46 cutting the lead in half.

A pair of Rangers goals in the third, one each from cousins Chad and Aaron Pietila would extend the advantage to 4-1 Marquette with less than 6 minutes remaining in the game. Mahoning Valley would cut the lead to 4-2 on an unassisted effort by Jordy Trottier at 15:33 of the third, but Aaron Pietila would add a power play goal with 27 seconds remaining to ice the win for Marquette.

The Rangers would finish the night 1-6 on the power play while holding Mahoning Valley 0 for 2 on the evening with the man advantage. In two games at the North Division Showcase so far the Rangers defense has held St. Louis and Mahoning Valley to a combined 0 for 7 on the power play.

Kevin Kissaw, seeing his first action in net for Marquette since playing at Alexandria in early November, picked up the win stopping 17 of 19 Phantoms shots on the evening. Garrett Bartus made 33 saves on 38 shots in net for Mahoning Valley.

The Rangers will play Alpena this afternoon at 2:00 this afternoon in their final game at the North Division Showcase.

Marquette returns home this Friday and Saturday battling the U.S. National Team Development Program U-17's at Lakeview Arena.



North American Hockey League Stories from November 29, 2008


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