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Shields strikes again

March 5, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - Call Alec Shields ‘The Closer.'

For the second time in as many nights, Shields issued the decisive blow, batting home a clutch game-winner with seven-tenths of a second remaining in the game on Saturday to give the Traverse City North Stars a 3-2 victory over Michigan. Shields levied the clincher in Friday's series opener in Flint as well, roofing a fifth-round shootout tally.

"It's an exciting way to finish it, that's for sure," said North Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. "And even though we did give up a goal in the third (period), I thought it was the best period we've played this weekend. We carried much of the play, and finished it off with a couple of huge goals."

Before Shields (Pittsburgh, PA/TC North Stars/Mercyhurst College) could navigate a scrum at the crease and slide the puck over the goal line, Jared Van Wormer (Traverse City, MI/TC Central HS) knotted the affair with just 2:45 to play, bringing the hosts back from their second one-goal deficit of the evening. The North Stars improved to 32-15-1 and moved five points ahead of fourth-place Michigan in the NAHL North Division standings; The teams wrap up their series on Sunday afternoon. Second-place Janesville remained four points ahead of Traverse City with a 4-3 win over Port Huron on Saturday.

"It's already been a somewhat successful weekend, but we do have a three-game series at St. Louis next weekend, which is always a challenge," added Palumbo. "So we have to try to get every win we can, while we can. That's not to say we're thinking about games that are still down the road. On the contrary - I have a ton of respect for Michigan, their coaching staff, and how they play the game. They play hard and play the game the way it's supposed to be played, and Sunday should be no different."

The Warriors (27-15-6) jumped out to a 1-0 lead late in the first period on the power play, but Sean Murphy (Cary, NC/Austin NAHL) bagged the lone goal of the second period at 9:18 to even things up. Michigan regained its advantage 5:38 into the final frame, setting up the Stars' late-game dramatics. Steve Bolton (Las Vegas, NV/Amarillo NAHL) upped his personal mark to 6-0 since joining TC, making 16 saves in 18 chances.

Six North Stars - Curtis Heinz (Grand Rapids, MI/TC North Stars), Tim Opie (Troy, MI/TC North Stars), Alexander Taulien (Crystal Lake, IL/Lansing Capitals U18), Michael Szmatula (Commerce Twp., MI/Lansing Capitals U18), Connor Schmidt (Flat Rock, MI/Little Caesar's U18/Ferris State), and Kelin Ainsworth (Thunder Bay, ONT/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) - had one assist apiece, with Opie and Ainsworth setting up Shields' coup de grace. The game-cincher came after an icing call set up a face-off deep in the Michigan zone with :07.8 on the clock.

"I think it's a couple of pretty evenly-matched teams going at it here, and we've been fortunate in the last couple to get some bounces and some big goals late," Palumbo assessed. "They'll be hungry for a win tomorrow (Sunday)."

Sunday's matinee showdown is the 11th and final meeting of the regular season between the clubs; Traverse City owns a slight 6-4 edge through the first 10 matchups. Face-off is slated for 1 p.m.

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