Spirits high in Alpena

December 19, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release

After falling victim to streaking Mahoning Valley the week prior, the Alpena IceDiggers were happy to head into the holiday break on a winning note with two victories over Traverse City last week.

"Those were two big wins for us," said IceDiggers coach Kenny Miller, whose team improved to 22-8-1. "We responded well and got the job done."

The IceDiggers began their week on Wednesday with a 5-2 win over the North Stars. Justin Stadler scored two goals in the victory, with Erik Peterson assisting on both. Between the pipes, Shawn Hunwick turned aside 21 shots.

Alpena met up with Traverse City again on Sunday, this time skating away with a 6-1 victory. Todd Rudasill added to his league-leading point totals with two goals and two assists, while Drew Pierson and Chad Billins each rang up a goal and two assists. In goal, Mike Jarboe made 23 saves.

"We're getting good play from everyone and, in order to win in the NAHL, all 20 guys have to be going every night," said Miller. "The guys are really confident every time we step on the ice and that's a big plus for us."

Rudasill, who has sat atop the NAHL's scoring chart for most of the season, has been a key contributor to Alpena's success and is a bona fide Division I prospect.

"Todd has been our go-to guy all year," raved Miller. "He has an eye for the net and he's been burying his chances.

"Wherever Todd ends up playing college hockey, that program will be very lucky because not only is he a great player, but he's also a great kid."

The goaltending tandem of Hunwick and Jarboe has been equally impressive.

"I've said it before that I feel we have one of the best one-two punches in the league, and Mike and Shawn have proved that so far," said Miller. "They've given us a chance to win every night and that's all you can ask for in your goaltending."

Miller has few complaints about his team's first half and is looking forward to more good things to come in 2007.

"As a group, we need to get better everyday," said the coach. "It's important that we work hard - that will pay off for us."

But before the IceDiggers ring in the New Year, they'll host an exhibition game against the Swedish National Under-17 Team on Dec. 27.

"Having a chance to play a team like Sweden will not only be special for our players, but also all of our fans in and around the Alpena area," said Miller. "The boys are really looking forward to the chance to play some of the best 17-year-olds in the world."

STANDINGS/LEADERS

North Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Mahoning Valley 32 24-7-1 49 .766 143 88
Alpena 31 22-8-1 45 .726 119 89
Traverse City 33 11-17-5 27 .409 94 129
USNTDP 29 11-16-2 24 .414 99 109
Marquette 30 10-18-2 22 .367 84 109

South Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Santa Fe 30 21-5-4 46 .767 110 62
St. Louis 28 22-5-1 45 .804 109 63
Texas 30 19-8-3 41 .683 107 87
Fairbanks 32 15-16-1 31 .484 108 112
Wichita Falls 30 11-16-3 25 .417 84 104
Alaska 31 10-17-4 24 .387 76 108

Central Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Fargo-Moorhead 29 19-9-1 39 .672 100 85
So. Minnesota 31 16-14-1 33 .532 98 84
Springfield 31 14-14-3 31 .500 93 100
Bismarck 31 12-13-6 30 .484 92 115
North Iowa 30 13-16-1 27 .450 84 110
Alexandria 30 11-18-1 23 .383 80 103

LEADING SCORERS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G A PTS
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 31 19 35 54
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 32 27 17 44
Echternach, Jesse FMH F 29 19 23 42
Pierson, Drew ALP F 31 16 25 41
Craner, Nolan ALP F 28 16 23 39
Maroon, Pat STL F 25 14 24 38
Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 29 21 16 37
Shean, Joe FBX F 32 14 23 37
Longpre, Nathan MVY F 32 13 21 34
(four players tied with 33)

LEADING GOALTENDERS
PLAYER TEAM GPI MINS W-L-OTL GAA SPCT
Hopper, Nick SFE 26 1530:36 18-5-3 1.84 .917
Nagle, Pat STL 15 884:31 12-2-1 1.97 .931
Zapolski, Ryan MVY 29 1677:02 23-5-1 2.36 .928
Lee, Austin FMH 17 982:52 12-3-1 2.38 .929
Tragust, Thomas TXS 24 1396:41 15-5-3 2.53 .897

GOALS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 32 27
Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 29 21
(three players ties with 19)

ASSISTS
PLAYER TEAM P GP A
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 31 35
Pierson, Drew ALP F 31 25
(two players tied with 24)

PENALTY MINUTES
PLAYER TEAM P GP PIM
Belanger, Neeco MAR F 30 130
Flink, Adam TXS F 24 124
Yovanic, Paul TXS F 24 124

Rudasill, Fuller, Nesper named Sherwood Players of the Week

NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alpena forward Todd Rudasill struck for two goals and three assists last week as the IceDiggers skated to a pair of wins over Traverse City. On Wednesday, the 18-year-old recorded an assist in Alpena's 5-2 win. The Powell, Ohio, native followed that up with a two-goal, two assist effort in the IceDiggers' 6-1 triumph over the North Stars on Sunday.

Rudasill leads the NAHL in scoring with 54 points (19 goals) after 31 games.

SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Texas forward Ryan Fuller notched four goals and an assist as the Tornado swept a home-and-home series with Wichita Falls last week. On Friday, the 20-year-old recorded a hat trick in Texas' 6-4 win over the Wildcats. The next night, the Morgan Hill, Calif., native scored a goal and an assist in the Tornado's 5-1 victory.

In 27 games this season, Fuller has 19 goals for 33 points.

CENTRAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alexandria forward Luke Nesper scored four goals and an assist in three games last week as the Blizzard went 2-1. On Friday, the 19-year-old rang up two goals and an assist in Alexandria's 12-1 win over Fargo-Moorhead. The next night, the Eagle River, Wis., native notched the Blizzard's lone tally in a 3-1 loss to Springfield. Nesper wrapped up his weekend by scoring the game-winning goal in Alexandria's 2-1 win over the Jr. Blues on Sunday.

Nesper has seven goals for 12 points in 24 games this season.

OTHER NOMINEES: Alexandria defenseman Matt Erickson; Alpena forward Justin Stadler; Bismarck Jeremy Robert; Marquette goaltender Stephen Ritter; Southern Minnesota forward Mike Montgomery and goaltender Lars Paulgaard; Texas defenseman Lyon Messier

LAST WEEK'S SCORES/HIGHLIGHTS

Wednesday, December 13
Traverse City 2 @ Alpena 5 (ALP: Stadler, G, GWG)

Thursday, December 14
Springfield 2 @ St. Louis 6 (STL: Anderson, G, 2A)

Friday, December 15
Alexandria 12 @ Fargo-Moorhead 1 (ALX: Nesper, 2G, A)
Santa Fe 3 @ Fairbanks 4 (SO) (FBX: Schmidt, 2G, A)
Wichita Falls 4 @ Texas 6 (TEX: Fuller, 3G)
North Iowa 1 @ Southern Minnesota 7 (SM: Kozlak, 2G)
Mahoning Valley 5 @ Traverse City 1 (MV: Ringel, GWG)
Marquette 3 @ USNTDP 0 (MAR: Ritter, 29 saves)

Saturday, December 16
Fargo-Moorhead 5 @ Bismarck 1 (FM: Morland, 2G)
Santa Fe 4 @ Fairbanks 0 (SF: Hopper, 18 saves)
So. Minnesota 3 @ North Iowa 2 (OT) (SM: Montgomery, GWG, A)
Texas 5 @ Wichita Falls 1 (TEX: De Costa, G, GWG)
Springfield 3 @ Alexandria 1 (SPR: Mohler, GWG, A)
Mahoning Valley 7 @ Traverse City 1 (MV: Cloutier, 2G, 2A)
Marquette 2 @ USNTDP 4 (USA: Schroeder, 2G, A)

Sunday, December 17
Springfield 1 @ Alexandria 2 (ALX: Nesper, GWG)
Santa Fe 1 @ Fairbanks 3 (FBX: McRae, 2G)
Traverse City 1 @ Alpena 6 (ALP: Rudasill, 2G, 2A)

AROUND THE NAHL

FAIRBANKS TO HOST ROBERTSON CUP: The Fairbanks Ice Dogs will host the 2007 Robertson Cup National Championship Tournament from May 1-6 at Big Dipper Arena in Fairbanks, Alaska. The four-team Robertson Cup Championship crowns the NAHL's playoff champion (USA Hockey's Junior A national champion).

SAMUELS HEADED TO UCONN: Fairbanks forward Eddie Samuels, 20, has committed to the University of Connecticut (Atlantic Hockey) for the 2007-08 season. After 32 games this year, the Las Vegas native has nine goals for 24 points.

PAIR OF BANDITS COMMIT: Two Bandits have committed to Division I schools for next season, with defenseman Scooter Vaughan, 17, heading to the University of Michigan (CCHA) and goaltender Pat Nagle, 19, off to Ferris State University (CCHA).

ON THE RIGHT TRACK: Southern Minnesota forward Mike Montgomery, 20, scored a goal - the overtime game-winner on Saturday - and two assists as the Express swept a two-game set over North Iowa. "He's been outstanding and is a kid that has a real good shot at getting a Division I scholarship," said Express coach-GM Pat Cullen.

PHANTOMS' WIN STREAK AT 18: Mahoning Valley goaltender Ryan Zapolski, a 20-year-old Mercyhurst College recruit, picked up his league-leading 22nd and 23rd wins of the season as the Phantoms extended their winning streak to 18 games with two victories over Traverse City.

WHAT A MESS: Texas defenseman Lyon Messier recorded a power-play goal and three assists in two Tornado wins over Wichita Falls last weekend. "Lyon played very well and was very good at both ends of the rink," said Tornado coach-GM Tony Curtale. "He's developed into a very good two-way defenseman and is always getting better."

THE WEEK AHEAD

Tuesday, December 19
Santa Fe @ Alaska, 7:30 pm

Wednesday, December 20
Santa Fe @ Alaska, 7:30 pm
USNTDP @ Mahoning Valley, 7:30 pm

Thursday, December 21
Alaska @ Fairbanks, 7:30 pm
Fargo-Moorhead @ Alexandria, 7:30 pm

Friday, December 22
Alaska @ Fairbanks, 7:00 pm
Wichita Falls @ St. Louis, 7:30 pm
Bismarck @ Southern Minnesota, 7:05 pm
Mahoning Valley @ Marquette, 7:00 pm

Saturday, December 23
Alaska @ Fairbanks, 7:30 pm
Wichita Falls @ St. Louis, 7:30 pm
Bismarck @ Southern Minnesota, 7:05 pm
Mahoning Valley @ Marquette, 7:00 pm

(all times local)

North American Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2006

• Spirits high in Alpena - NAHL
• Rudasill named Player of the Week - Alpena IceDiggers

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