Sports stats



Stars topple Diggers, 4-3

January 15, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


ALPENA - At 6-foot-4, Garrett Thompson can't help but ‘come up big.' However, the rangy winger is taking that expression literally as of late, following his first career hat trick last weekend with a pair of goals and an assist on Friday at Northern Lights Arena in leading the Traverse City North Stars to a 4-3 victory over Alpena.

Thompson (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars), named NAHL North Division Player of the Week back on Jan. 4 after a six-point output over seven days, and fresh off a three-goal outburst last Saturday against the IceDiggers, closed the first period on a power play goal with 3.8 second remaining, and scored what turned out to be the game- winner 4:35 into the final stanza. He now has seven points in his last three games, 13 in his last eight outings, and boasts a career- best 14 goals on the season.

Andy Huff (Howell, MI/Honeybaked U18/Ferris State) opened the scoring with 2:57 to go in the opening frame, and Thompson's initial marker made it 2-0. Alpena scored a pair of second period goals sandwiched around a Dan Radke (Orinda, CA/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) lamplighter at 9:45. After Thompson's second of the night, the IceDiggers cut the final deficit in half with less than a second remaining in the game.

Chris Paliafito (Shelbyville, KY/Owatonna NAHL) won for the third time this year in a North Stars sweater, stopping 29 shots and backstopping his club through seven successful penalty kills in eight tries.

Traverse City improved to 22-12-2, and have won six of its last seven contests, including three straight, and have won their last three showdowns with Alpena. The Stars briefly went eight points up on second-place Marquette and Janesville, both of which were still in action on Friday as of this release.

Doug Clifford (Woodhaven, MI/Mahoning Valley NAHL) racked up his 19th and 20th assists of the season on Friday, while five others collected an assist apiece: Radke, Thompson, Travis White (Sterling Heights, MI/ TC North Stars), Nick Shkreli (Romeo, MI/Mahoning Valley NAHL), and Phil Wendecker (Westland, MI/TC North Stars).

The Stars and Diggers will meet again for the 11th time this season on Saturday night at Centre ICE arena at 7 p.m. Traverse City owns a 6-4 advantage in the season series.

We thank you, our media partners, for your continued interest in Traverse City North Stars hockey. If there is anything we can do to help facilitate any aspect of your coverage, please do not hesitate to contact us. You are a valued component of North Stars hockey.

For more information, call Lance-Michael Correia at (231) 632-5047, the Traverse City North Stars office at (231) 941-9200 or visit the team's Web site at: www.traversecitynorthstars.com.



North American Hockey League Stories from January 15, 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