Stars fall in marathon shootout

Published on September 23, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


BLAINE, Minn. - The Traverse City North Stars enjoyed the North American Hockey League Showcase so much, they didn't want to leave, and neither did Saturday's opponent, the Alexandria Blizzard.

The teams battled to a 2-2 draw through three periods and an overtime session, then went at it in a 17-round shootout in which the Blizzard finally prevailed.

"I'm happy with our effort tonight - really, all week long," said Traverse City head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. "Our guys played hard, and while you'd certainly prefer to come out of game like this with the win - at the same time you can't really be that upset."

The North Stars, now 2-0-2 and one of only three teams in the league without a regulation loss, earned six of a possible eight points at the season-opening event and sit in a three-way tie for third place in the NAHL North Division with Marquette and Mahoning Valley.

"I'd call it a very positive start," Palumbo said. "We still have a long way to go, but we could also have come out of this week at 4-0 with just a couple bounces our way."

On Saturday, Traverse City got off to a first period lead on Sabastion Kimmel's first of the year - an even-strength marker set up by Zach Hitch and Ben Plocar - as TC outshot the Blizzard, 15-7. Alexandria struck back with 3:06 to play in the second, but the Stars issued a Joe Greener retort a mere 58 seconds later, and took a one- goal bulge into the second intermission. Harrison Niemann and Phil Wendecker drew assists on Greener's second tally of the season.

The only goal of the third stanza was Mikael Lickteig's equalizer with 6:00 left in regulation, setting up the scoreless OT session - two-fifths of which saw TC short-handed after a hooking penalty with : 01 left in the third - and subsequent shootout epic. Jarrod LaBelle (Stars' first shooter), Marc Thompson (10th), and Greener (16th) registered shootout markers, but Lane Bitz's 17th-rounder proved to be the difference.

The loss could not blunt the sterling showing by Stars goalkeeper Brandon Stephenson, who made 24 saves and 13 more in the shootout.

"Brandon was great tonight again," Palumbo said. "And Miles (Williams) also played well for us this week. Defensively, we did a nice job. We gave up five regulation goals and another in overtime over the course of four games. That's not bad."

The Stars get back to North Division action this week, traveling to regional rival Alpena on Friday before hosting the IceDiggers in Saturday's home opener at Centre ICE arena.

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