Stars lose 4-1 lead, game in OT

Published on November 26, 2006 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


ANN ARBOR - No lead is ever safe, and that painful lesson was absorbed by the Traverse City North Stars on Sunday, as they let a 4-1 third period lead slip away and lost a 5-4 contest to the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-17s at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

"It's a tough one because we gave one away today," said TC head coach Scott Gardiner. "I know we got a point out of it, but we played so well for two periods, to see it get away like that is a little bit disappointing."

The overtime setback put the dampers on a spectacular individual effort by Traverse City defenseman Kent Detlefsen, who registered the first natural hat trick (three consecutive goals) in team history to put the visitors on top 3-1 mid-way through the second period. Detlefsen, who has six goals and four assists through his first eight games with the North Stars, scored the first two of his trifecta on the power play. Patrick Nagorsen and Jameson Raymond assisted on both.

Matt Hughes put Traverse City ahead 4-1 with an even-strength effort at 15:38 of the second, but four different USA-17 players answered for the hosts, including Jordan Schroeder just 1:06 in overtime to send the Stars home with one point instead of two.

"I don't want to dwell on the negative of how we finished the game because that's obvious," Gardiner added. "It was a great day for Kent, we learned that the game is never over as long as there's time on the clock, and we have six periods of solid hockey ahead of us at home next weekend against Marquette."

Kyle Jendra worked the pipes for the North Stars (8-13-4), making 31 saves, while Michael Clemente had 22 saves for Team USA (9-12-1).

Traverse City hosts Marquette next weekend in a Friday-Saturday series in a battle for third place in the NAHL North. The Rangers are coming off a weekend sweep by Mahoning Valley and are currently tied with the Stars for third with 20 points. The Phantoms and Alpena are tied for first with 37 points each.

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North American Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2006


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