Sports stats



Stars Skate Past Port Huron, 6-4

December 10, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


PORT HURON - The Traverse City North Stars rattled off a trio of consecutive second period goals on Friday, and enjoyed a pair of three-goal leads at McMorran Arena, finally felling the host Port Huron Fighting Falcons by a 6-4 margin in the opener of a two-game series.

Alex Taulien (Crystal Lake, IL/Lansing Capitals U18) put Traverse City on the board first, collecting a puck near the edge of the crease and driving it home, but the Stars' lead was short-lived, as Kevin Blaser evened things up a little more than two minutes later.

Things opened up in the second period, as Ryan Amin (Canton, MI/TC North Stars) banked a shot off Falcons goaltender Alex Cantrell from beneath the Port Huron goal line 3:47 into the frame, Eric Rivard (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) skated the puck from the corner to near the slot before wristing in the puck two minutes later, and Michal Toman (Slovakia/Cedar Rapids USHL) capped a three-goal spurt at 12:50 after swiping the puck along the boards, turning, firing, and besting Cantrell upstairs.

Port Huron had the final two goals of the second - in a span of just 37 seconds - but Travis White (Sterling Heights, MI/TC North Stars) levied what eventually became the game-winning goal 9:12 into the final stanza when he stormed in for a backdoor, one-time, point-blank blast. Robert Wiener (Williamston, MI/Lansing Capitals U18) fashioned his first career junior goal less than three minutes later, cleaning up a loose puck through a scrum of bodies in the crease. Port Huron bagged a giftwrapped turnover with less than a minute to play just in front of the Stars goal to make it a 6-4 final.

Traverse City (15-10-1) peppered Cantrell and the Falcons to the tune of a 44-27 shots-on-goal advantage, including a 13-4 edge in the opening period. Tyler Marble (Howell, MI/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) made 23 saves to improve to 13-8-1in his 10th straight start. Rivard, Tim Opie (Troy, MI/TC North Stars) and Michael Szmatula (Commerce Twp., MI/Lansing Capitals U18) finished with a pair of assists apiece, while White, Taulien, Alec Shields (Pittsburgh, PA/TC North Stars) and Jared Van Wormer (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) had one each.

Port Huron came into Friday's contest as the most-penalized team in the North American Hockey League's North Division, and may have widened that margin after taking 12 trips to the box that yielded eight TC powerplay opportunities. Rivard and Amin - making his first appearance since Nov. 19 (lower-body injury) - connected with the Stars up a man. The game took a feisty tact early in the third period, reaching a zenith with Steve Behm (Grand Rapids, MI/Texas NAHL) scoring a decisive decision over the Falcons' Taylor Pickering with 2:07 elapsed. Pickering continued with a post-fisticuffs harangue that drew a fighting game misconduct and will keep him from playing in Saturday's rematch. White was also ejected for Traverse City with :18 left in the game after being assessed a 'third man in' censure during a late-game fracas.

The North Stars will face Port Huron again on Saturday evening, before returning to Centre ICE Arena for a Dec. 17-18 showdown with Motor City. The Saturday, Dec. 18 game will feature the second annual Holiday Teddy Toss for Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Father Fred Foundation. Fans who bring a new, unwrapped teddy bear will get $2 off their adult ticket, throw the bear onto the ice at the appointed time during the game, and the bears will be distributed through the two charitable organizations. There is also a post-game skate with the team following Saturday's contest.



North American Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Traverse City North Stars Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central