Stars Open Playoffs With 7-1 Triumph

Published on April 2, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - While the Traverse City North Stars aren't exactly six goals per game better than the Janesville Jets, that's how it looked on the scoreboard Friday night at Centre ICE arena when the final horn sounded.

Dan Radke scored a pair of goals, Eric McLintock dished out a pair of assists, and Tim Opie and Kyle Jean chipped in with one of each to lift Traverse City past Janesville by a 7-1 margin in the opening game of the best-of-five NAHL North Division semifinals.

"We made the most of our chances tonight, no question," said Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. "I thought we could have gotten off to a better start, but we did come around and play with the kind of energy we're looking for once we got going. We started getting the puck to the net and we were able to convert a few of them."

Jean (Sault Ste. Marie, MI/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) opened the scoring a mere 1:24 into the affair on assists from Opie (Troy, MI/TC North Stars) and Alec Shields (Pittsburgh, PA/Pittsburgh Predators U18). The Jets evened things up at 8:16 of the first period, but that was the last time Janesville would be able to get the puck past TC netkeep Drew Strandberg (Thunder Bay, ONT/Thunder Bay SIJHL).

The Stars blew the contest wide open in a span of 4:17 with a four- goal cloudburst that included bookend tallies from Radke (Orinda, CA/ TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) wrapped around markers from Chris Salomone (Homer Glen, IL/TC North Stars) and Opie. Phil Wendecker (Westland, MI/TC North Stars) made it 6-1 four and half minutes into the final stanza, while Eric Rivard (Traverse City, MI/TC West HS) put a cherry on top with 2:38 to play.

"I liked our energy as the game went on, and the fact that we didn't have to rely on a one guy or one line to generate chances," Palumbo said. "But make no mistake - Janesville is a team with a lot of pride. They will come back tomorrow with a vengeance. They're a talented, well-coached team that won't take this lying down."

Strandberg stopped 25 of 26 shots, claimed his franchise-record 25th career victory, and was named the game's second star. Radke earned top honors, while McLintock was lauded as the contest's third star.

Six North Stars finished with one assist apiece: Shields, Nilan Nagy (Canonsburg, PA/Pittsburgh Predators U18), Andy Huff (Howell, MI/ Honeybaked U18/Ferris St.), Garrett Thompson (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars), Doug Clifford (Woodhaven, MI/Mahoning Valley NAHL), and Kelin Ainsworth (Thunder Bay, ONT/Ft. William SIJHL/Lake Superior St.).

The teams will meet up for Game 2 of the best-of-five set on Saturday night at Centre ICE arena, with face-off set for 7 p.m. The series shifts to Janesville next weekend for a Friday-Saturday sequence. If a decisive fifth game is necessary, it will be back at Centre ICE arena on Monday, April 12 at 7 p.m.

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North American Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2010


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