Stars get Marquette, 3-0

Published on March 27, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


MARQUETTE - The Traverse City North Stars take no tangible pleasure in eliminating a geographic rival from the North American Hockey League playoffs, but will likely be able to derive some measure of solace from their 3-0 shutout victory at Marquette's Lakeview Arena on Friday.

The blanking - Traverse City's fifth of the season - eliminated the host Rangers from postseason contention in the NAHL North, and secured the traveling SmithBarney Challenge Cup for the North Stars for a second straight year. TC goalie C.J. Motte (St. Clair, MI/ Honeybaked AAA) engineered the effort with 36 saves to improve to 22-9-2, winning his sixth consecutive start, and recording his team- record third shutout of the season.

"Obviously we got some great goaltending once again," said North Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo said. "C.J. is a puck magnet right now. You pair that with opportunistic, timely goals and a lucky bounce here and there, and you're going to win some games."

Dan Radke (Orinda, CA/Soo Indians AAA) led the Traverse City offense with a goal and an assist, while Kyle Jean (Sault Ste. Marie, MI/TC North Stars) broke off yet another sleight-of-hand jaw-dropper to help vault TC to 34-17-6 with one game remaining in the regular season. Nate Urbaniak (Perrysburg, OH/TC North Stars) scored on a long-distance snipe nine minutes into the affair for what ultimately became the game-winner - Urbaniak's fourth clincher of the campaign.

Traverse City remains in third place following Friday's North Division developments - including second-place Team USA's 6-2 thrashing of sixth-place Motor City, and division leader Mahoning Valley dropping a 5-2 decision to final playoff qualifier Alpena. Mahoning finished its regular season slate with 77 points, Team USA still has two games remaining with 75 points, and the Stars are seemingly staring at the third seed at 74. Team USA hosts Motor City on Saturday and Alpena on Sunday and could well overtake the Phantoms for the regular season division crown.

"Ultimately, whatever we've done and whatever we've accomplished throughout the season means nothing at this point," Palumbo reasoned. "You have to beat whomever you're paired up with to move on, whether you're the first seed, fourth seed, or in-between."

With neither a playoff spot nor the SmithBarney Challenge Cup at stake in Saturday's regular-season finale, Palumbo won't ignore the mathematical potential of netting what could still be a home-ice playoff seed should Team USA fail to net a win in its final two games; He also sees value in getting his team ready for the postseason.

"We have to play well and go after the two points," he explained. "The possibility of moving into second place is still out there, and all we can control is getting those two (points). We have to continue working toward playing the kind of hockey that will win playoff games."

Six different North Stars recorded an assist apiece: Radke, Cody Walsh (Rolling Meadows, IL/Chicago Young Americans AAA), captain Kyle Bonis (Lindsay, ONT/TC North Stars), Eric McLintock (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars), Jarrod LaBelle (Bay City, MI/TC North Stars), and Phil Wendecker (Westland, MI/TC North Stars).

The Stars and Rangers finish off their series on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

We thank you, our media partners, for your continued interest in Traverse City North Stars hockey. If there is anything we can do to help facilitate any aspect of your coverage, please do not hesitate to contact us. You are a valued component of North Stars hockey.

For more information, call Lance-Michael Correia at (231) 632-5047, the Traverse City North Stars office at (231) 941-9200 or visit the team's Web site at: www.traversecitynorthstars.com.

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North American Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2009


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