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Rangers Win In Shootout

February 4, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Marquette Rangers News Release


Marquette - Jimmy McCusker, welcome to Marquette.

McCusker, a recent acquisition from the Alpena IceDiggers scored a pair of goals for the Marquette Rangers junior hockey team Thursday night; and added the winning tally in the shootout as the Rangers came from behind to upend Traverse City 5 - 4 at Lakeview Arena.

With the win, Kenny Miller's club gains a point on the first place North Stars in the North American Hockey League North Division race. The lead is now down to four points as Marquette will now entertain Motor City Friday and Saturday at Lakeview Arena.

"This was a big win for our guys on a lot of levels," Miller said afterward. "Jimmy played great for sure, but what I'm pleased with the most is how we responded as a team to tonight's game. We give up a late goal, they take the lead; we come back and tie it to send it to overtime and then we win it in the shootout. We fought through some tough times tonight and our guys really responded to it. It will hopefully set the tone for the rest of the weekend."

McCusker scored the first goal of the night at 4:46 from Andrew Kolb and Brent Bain, only to see Traverse City tie the game at 7:32 when Eric McClintock scored from Phil Wendecker and Nick Shkreli.

Two goals by Traverse City in the second sandwiched a goal by Marquette's Brent Bain to set the stage for the third period, where McCusker scored his second of the night to tie the game at the 8:53 mark. Bain and Kolb assisted again, but the North Stars grabbed a late lead when Wendecker beat Kevin Kissaw on a rebound shot at 17:34.

Traverse City would take a late hooking penalty, giving the Rangers the man advantage with less than two minutes remaining in regulation. After pulling Kissaw for a sixth skater, Hancock native Tanner Kero scored his team leading 27th goal of the year with forty-five seconds on the clock forcing the overtime; and eventually McCuskers shootout heroics.

Kissaw stopped 39 of 43 shots in the win, his counterpart Chris Paliafito made 25 saves on 29 Rangers shots in a losing effort.

The games between Marquette and Motor City Friday and Saturday night start at 7:30.

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