Stars Stop Chicago, 5-1

Published on January 21, 2011 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. - The Traverse City North Stars faced a familiar foe on Friday night in suburban Chicago, taking on the Hitmen for a third straight game. The Stars claimed the first two games at Centre ICE before last weekend's respite, and enjoyed a 5-1 triumph in this weekend's series opener at West Meadows.

Traverse City has claimed six of its last eight outings, and improved to 21-12-1 - merely keeping pace in the congested NAHL North Division standings.

Michael Szmatula (Commerce Twp., MI/Lansing Capitals U18) and Kelin Ainsworth (Thunder Bay, ONT/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) scored two goals each for the Stars, while Tim Opie (Troy, MI/TC North Stars) added a goal and two assists. Eric Rivard (Traverse City, MI/ TC North Stars) and Michal Toman (Slovakia/Cedar Rapids USHL) also dished out a pair of assists each.

Traverse City offered up a sampler platter of markers in the opening period, with Szmatula breaking the seal at 10:14 on the powerplay, followed by an Opie shorthanded lamplighter 2:22 later, and Szmatua's even-up score to close out a 3-0 first frame with 1:01 to go. Ainsworth (2:05 and 10:59) bagged the only goals on the second period, and Gabe Gervais sullied an otherwise sterling performance by Tyler Marble (Howell, MI/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) by putting the hosts on the board 7:14 into the third. Marble finished with 25 saves, and upped his personal mark to 18-10-1.

The contest marked the return to Chicago of James Albrecht (Geneva, IL/Chicago NAHL), who was dealt to TC last week in the middle of the teams' four-game foray. Albrecht, the club's first-ever tender, was honored by the Hitmen before the game for his many years in the Chicago midget and junior system. He was presented with a certificate and his #19 Hitmen jersey, and acknowledged warmly by the partisan crowd.

The North Stars will go for a second straight sweep of Chitown on Saturday at West Meadows. Face-off is slated for 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. ET.

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North American Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2011


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