Stars Fade Late in 5-3 Loss
January 5, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release
FLINT - The holidays may be over, but the Traverse City North Stars extended the giving season a bit on Wednesday evening, surrendering a two-goal lead late in a 5-3 setback to the Michigan Warriors at Perani Arena.
The loss spoiled a second straight hat trick from Stars forward Kelin Ainsworth (Thunder Bay, ONT/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.), who had three goals in Traverse City's 4-3 victory on Dec. 19 in Flint in the club's last game before the Christmas/New Year's break. Ainsworth gave the visitors a 2-0 lead with a pair of powerplay goals in the first period, and a 3-1 edge with 6:23 to play in the second.
The Warriors got a late tally to close the middle period, and knotted the affair with 6:08 left in the game on a giftwrapped turnover- turned-breakaway goal. A pair of powerplay goals in the last 4:20 of regulation made it a 5-3 final. Veteran holdovers Scott Henegar and Andrew Kolb each had a pair of goals in the four-score spurt for Michigan, which improved to 18-10-3 with the victory.
The teams combined for 17 powerplay chances, with each club converting a trio of man-up opportunities. Tyler Marble (Howell, MI/ TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) worked the pipes for Traverse City (18-12-1), making 24 saves in his 26th appearance of the season. Michael Szmatula (Commerce Twp., MI/Lansing Capitals U18) and Eric Rivard (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) assisted on two of Ainsworth's goals, while Travis White (Sterling Hts., MI/TC North Stars) and Tim Opie (Troy, MI/TC North Stars) had one each.
The North Stars return to Centre ICE Arena this weekend, looking to scale the logjammed North Division standings with a Friday-Saturday series against Chicago (7-20-4). TC presently sits in fifth place, four points behind second-place Motor City; St. Louis currently enjoys a nine-point cushion atop the division table. Game time for the Stars-Hitmen series is 7 p.m.
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North American Hockey League Stories from January 5, 2011
- Stars Fade Late in 5-3 Loss - Traverse City North Stars
- Texas Back on Another Winning Streak - Texas Tornado
- Motor City Metal Jackets in 2nd Place North Division - Motor City Metal Jackets
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