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Stars Bounce Back For 4-1 Triumph

January 3, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


WYANDOTTE - The Traverse City North Stars employed a balanced attack on Sunday afternoon, wrapping up a busy holiday slate with a 4-1 victory over Motor City in the finale of a two-game set in metropolitan Detroit.

Four different TC players scored goals, and five others drew one assist piece, as the Stars closed out a five-game, seven-day stretch with four wins in five tries.

"We weren't at our best on Saturday (a 2-1 loss at Motor City), but getting eight of the last 10 possible points is a pretty good run," said North Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. "Part of our recent success stems from getting contributions from so many guys, both on the scoresheet and those that don't show up there."

After the host Metal Jackets got on the board first Sunday a mere 5:29 into the contest, Traverse City erupted for the next three goals, with Taylor Burden (Carmel, IN/Indiana Ice U18) logging his first junior goal at 6:31, Nick Shkreli (Romeo, MI/Mahoning Valley NAHL) putting the Stars ahead for good just over two minutes later, and Doug Clifford (Woodhaven, MI/Mahoning Valley NAHL) making it 3-1 in the final minute of the first stanza. Andy Huff (Howell, MI/ Honeybaked U18) added a power play marker 7:25 into the final period, and Drew Strandberg (Thunder Bay, ONT/Thunder Bay SIJHL) and the TC defensive corps shut down the hosts throughout. Strandberg stopped 29 shots in 30 tries, while the Stars rebuffed all five of the Jackets power plays.

Bo Jacobs (Twin Lake, MI/TC North Stars) assisted on Burden's score, Garrett Thompson (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) and Dan Radke (Orinda, CA/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) set up Clifford, while Nilan Nagy (Canonsburg, PA/Pittsburgh Predators U18) and Kelin Ainsworth (Thunder Bay, ONT/Ft. William SIJHL/Lake Superior St.) drew helpers on Huff's team-leading 19th of the year. Shkreli's goal was unassisted.

Radke now has points in six of his last nine contests - with 11 points over that span. Clifford also has 11 points in his last nine outings, while Thompson has eight points over the past eight.

Traverse City improved to 20-12-2, and moved four points ahead of second-place Marquette and Janesville. The Rangers (19-12-0), who were idle this weekend, have played three fewer games than the North Stars, while the Jets (18-10-2) - 6-3 winners at Alpena on Sunday - have four games in hand. Traverse City will enjoy a one-game weekend, playing host to fifth-place Alpena (11-21-0) on Saturday at Centre ICE arena. Face-off is slated for 7 p.m.



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