Stars Ground Falcons, 7-1

Published on October 8, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


PORT HURON - After a three-week layoff, the Traverse City North Stars made their return to the frozen floor on Friday, shaking off some early rust and eventually returning to form in a 7-1 victory over Port Huron at McMorran Arena.

Michael Szmatula (Commerce Twp., MI/Lansing Capitals U18) scored his first two junior goals, including the game winner, while Tyler Marble (Howell, MI/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) continued his mastery between the pipes with 22 saves for his fifth victory of the young season.

"It had been a while, and we were a little rusty, a little sloppy and it showed," said TC head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. "Some of that was to be expected, and we did find a way to win while we weren't at our best, so I have to be happy about that."

Ryan Amin (Canton, MI/TC North Stars) got Traverse City on the board 7:55 into the first, converting on a power play wraparound tally to knot the contest - his team-high sixth marker of the year. Travis White (Sterling Hts., MI/TC North Stars) and Alec Shields (Pittsburgh, PA/TC North Stars) assisted. Szmatula put the Stars in front to stay with a little more than five minutes before the second intermission, stuffing home his first career goal at 14:59. Matt Zaremba (Gaylord, MI/Cleveland CSHL) set up the even-strength lamplighter.

There were no second-period goals after Taylor Burden (Carmel, IND/TC North Stars) made it 3-1 a mere 20 seconds into the frame, but White, Szmatula, Mitchell Snider (Traverse City, MI/Alpena NAHL), and Shields issued third stanza scores to make it a six-goal final spread. White's goal was especially artistic, as Shields found him in the high slot with a precision pass and White shoveled it home.

"We got contributions from a lot of guys - guys we don't always lean on for goal-scoring production," Palumbo added. "And Tyler was especially strong in the second period. It could have been a closer game but he was able to turn away some good chances."

Trevor Campbell (Kansas City, MO/TC North Stars) finished with a pair of assists, while Steve Behm (Grand Rapids, MI/Texas NAHL), Alex Wiese (White Lake, MI/Sioux Falls USHL), Zack Dorer (Holt, MI/Lansing Capitals U18), Tim Opie (Troy, MI/TC North Stars), and Kelin Ainsworth (Thunder Bay, ONT/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) drew an assist apiece.

The North Stars (5-1) outshot Port Huron by a 35-24 margin - including 14-7 in the first - and went 3-for-8 on the power play. They did, however, surrender just their second power play goal to the Falcons just 2:25 into the affair.

"Now that we're back in league play, and we do have a pretty good stretch of games coming up, we have to get back to getting better each and every time out," Palumbo concluded. "And that starts tomorrow night."

The Stars and Fighting Falcons (0-7) square off again on Saturday night at McMorran. Face-off is slated for 7:11 p.m.

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North American Hockey League Stories from October 8, 2010


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