Stars win in OT

Published on March 26, 2006 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


ALPENA - If tightly-contested games are a good way to ready for the playoffs, the Traverse City North Stars got a crash course in preparation this weekend against the Alpena IceDiggers.

After the teams traded shootout victories on Friday and Saturday at Centre ICE arena, the North Stars were able to claim victory before things got to the shootout session on Sunday at Northern Lights Arena, as Jared Mullen tipped home a Steven Oleksy shot from the top of the face-off circle at 3:19 of the overtime period to give Traverse City a 5-4 victory in the 2005-06 regular season finale.

The North Stars found themselves in a 2-0 hole just 1:46 into the game, and were at a 4-0 disadvantage after Steve Culberson scored his second of the contest at 12:55 of the second period before clawing back into the game.

"For whatever reason we have struggled in Alpena's building this year," said Stars head coach/GM Scott Gardiner. "But we got down and had the heart to come back and make a game of it. We really started to play with some passion, and that's how we had to do it all weekend. We were down 3-0 on Friday before we came back, and 4-0 today."

Sal Ragusa started the comeback at 15:58 of the second, followed by unrequited third period lamplighters from Jonathan Juliano, Eric Elmblad and Jake Erway. Matt Larke and Mullen drew assists on Juliano's goal at 4:45, Oleksy and Richie Zobak set up the game-tying goal from Erway at 10:50, while Elmblad's effort was shorthanded and unassisted at the 9:01 mark.

"We had to fight for every inch of ice in all three games this weekend, and that can only help us as we go into our playoff series with the USA team," Gardiner added. "I was very proud of the way we were able to respond when we got down. We started taking it to them, and playing the body, and things just went from there."

Stars netkeeper Jeremy Kaleniecki won for the second straight day, stopping 50 of the 54 shots he faced, while Peter O'Hara was tagged with the loss for the IceDiggers.

The North Stars, who finished the regular season at 17-34-7, scored five of a possible six points in the final weekend of their inaugural season, and will head into Thursday's playoff opener at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube on a high note. The best-of-five North Division semifinals come to Centre ICE arena for Games 3 and 4 of the series on April 7-8. Tickets are available at (231) 941-9200.

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.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



North American Hockey League Stories from March 26, 2006


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.

OurSports Central