Stars Strike Back, 4-1

Published on November 29, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - The Traverse City North Stars got back to their winning ways on Saturday night at Centre ICE arena, scoring the first four goals and cruising to a 4-1 victory over the Alpena IceDiggers in the middle frame of a three-game Thanksgiving holiday series.

Garrett Thompson (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) potted a goal and assisted on another, while defenseman Trevor Campbell (Kansas City, MO/Lansing Capitals U18) set up a pair of scores. TC netkeep Drew Strandberg (Thunder Bay, ONT/Thunder Bay SIJHL) stopped 24 of 25 shots as the North Stars improved to 15-5-1 and pushed their North Division lead to three points over Marquette.

"We finally outworked 'em," offered Traverse City head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. "That hasn't been the case in our last couple of games with them. In our league, in our division, the team who plays with more desire is usually successful. Every team is stocked with talent. Tonight we were better on special teams, worked harder, and got good contributions from a lot of guys."

Andy Huff (Howell, MI/Honeybaked U18) levied his 16th goal - and seventh power play marker - of the season to get things started with 6:25 to play in the first period. Campbell and Phil Wendecker (Livonia, MI/TC North Stars) assisted. Thompson redirected a Nilan Nagy (Canonsburg, PA/Pittsburgh Predators U18) blast for the eventual game-winner 2:55 into the second stanza.

"That was probably the best shift of Garrett's career," Palumbo said. "He was everywhere on the puck, finishing checks, and to cap it off with the goal was fitting."

The hosts took a 3-0 lead with 1:35 to go before the second intermission when Campbell found Nick Shkreli (Romeo, MI/Mahoning Valley NAHL) at the far post for a slam-dunk lamplighter. Sean Keane (Rockford, MI/Honeybaked U18) banged home his first junior goal 6:26 into the third period - Thompson and Sean Burke (Traverse City, MI/ TC North Stars) assisted - before a late Diggers goal spoiled Strandberg's shutout bid. The teams meet again on Sunday afternoon in Alpena (7-16-0).

"Coming into the series, a reasonable goal would have been to take two out of three," Palumbo added. " Of course you want to win all three, but we're in a position to reach that original threshold with a win (on Sunday)."

WALSH OUT, WIESE IN: Defenseman Cody Walsh has returned to his midget team (Chicago Young Americans U18) and was officially removed from the North Stars roster on Saturday. Walsh has already played five games for Chicago.

Alex Wiese, a Honeybaked U18 defenseman, is a tender of the North Stars and will suit up in Sunday's series finale before heading back to his midget club.

"With (Travis) White out and (Chris) Heineman still at least a month away from being able to play, we've had to work five defensemen pretty hard lately," Palumbo explained. "Alex can come in and help lighten the load a bit."

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North American Hockey League Stories from November 29, 2009


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