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Rangers top Metal Jackets

February 5, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Marquette Rangers News Release


Marquette - The Marquette Rangers junior hockey team now sits just two points out of first place in the North American Hockey League North Division after beating the Motor City Metal Jackets 4 - 2 Friday night at Lakeview Arena.

With a win Saturday, Marquette would catch Traverse City for the top spot in the North Division as the North Stars are idle this weekend.

"I thought we played well enough to win," Rangers head coach Kenny Miller said. "Our forwards were good, Kevin Kissaw was strong in goal but we'll have our hands full with these guys tomorrow so we'll need to be ready."

As with Thursday's win over Traverse City, newly acquired forward Jimmy McCusker made a huge difference offensively for the Rangers Friday night. The downstate Novi native scored twice, once in the second period and then on a penalty shot late in the third period after Motor City had cut the Rangers lead to one.

"The penalty shot was huge," Miller added. They were outplaying us in long stretches before that and I think that goal kind of took the wind out of their sails."

Motor City opened the scoring at 17:19 of the first period when Billy Balent beat Kissaw from point-blank range. Mike Bourgon registered the only assist, and the first period ended 1 - 0.

Tanner Kero and McCusker scored early in the second period to give the Rangers a one goal lead midway through the period. The Rangers would end the period with a 3 - 1 lead when Marquette native Collin Saint-Onge received a pinpoint pass from Scott Henegar and went in all alone on Motor City goaltender Phillip Graveline. Kissaw would receive the second assist on Saint-Onge's 15th of the year.

Motor City would make it 3 - 2 at 4:52, but then McCusker was tripped from behind going in on Graveline forcing the successful penalty shot attempt for the final score.

The same two teams play Saturday night at 7:30 at Lakeview. The team will auction-off their special racing themed jerseys that they wore Friday and will wear again Saturday evening. The live auction will take place immediately after the game.

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