Stars win sixth straight

Published on October 17, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - The Traverse City North Stars' special teams had to be especially special on Friday night at Centre ICE arena. The penalty kill unit got an extended third period workout, and had enough to gut out a 4-2 victory over Motor City for the Stars' sixth consecutive win.

Motor City was awarded a five-minute 5-on-3 advantage at the 7:50 mark of the final stanza, putting the TC kill on high alert. The Machine cut the deficit to 3-2 just two minutes later, but the hosts battled through the residual of the dual majors and added an empty- netter in the final minute to improve to 9-2 on the season.

"Our penalty kill was on the spot again tonight," admitted Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. "That and some timely saves once again by (goalie) C.J. (Motte) got us over that hump."

The Machine (3-8) jumped out front early, taking a 1-0 lead a scant 1:27 into the contest before the home club reeled off three straight markers. Dan Radke (Orinda, CA/Soo Indians AAA) potted a power play marker from the slot at 14:29 of the opening period, then the Thompson brothers took turns in the second stanza - with Garrett (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) putting the Stars out front at 2:52 and Marc (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) levying the eventual game-winner at 13:09. Chris Salomone (Homer Glen, IL/Chicago Young Americans AAA) and Marc Thompson assisted on Radke's second marker of the season, while Ryan Amin (Madison Heights, MI/Compuware AAA) and Phil Wendecker (Westland, MI/TC North Stars) set up Garrett Thompson's third. Jarrod LaBelle (Bay City, MI/TC North Stars) and Sean Burke (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) drew helpers on Marc Thompson's goal.

After Motor City cut its deficit in half with 10:11 to play, David Johnstone (Grand Ledge, MI/Team nXi AAA) chased down a long pass from Tyler Stephens (Rockford, MI/TC North Stars), dove toward the puck, and flicked it into the unguarded goal to seal the contest. 10 different North Stars players recorded at least one point.

"It's good to defend our home turf again," said Palumbo, whose team has won all five contests this year at Centre ICE. "We made some pretty good plays, we got a lot of production from a lot of people, and we got a win out of it. The Garrett Thompson-Ryan Amin- Josh Miller (Trenton, MI/Trenton HS) line gave us a lot of energy, and then there was the penalty-killing unit."

Motte (St. Clair, MI/Honeybaked AAA) steered away 17 of the 19 shots he faced, while Machine backstop Zach Hansen saved 20-of-23.

Traverse City was not able to put any more distance between itself and second-place Mahoning Valley in the NAHL North Division, as the Phantoms knocked off Alpena in overtime to remain five points behind the North Stars with four games in hand. TC will get another chance to do so on Saturday, when the Machine and North Stars meet again at Centre ICE arena in a 7 p.m. affair.

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North American Hockey League Stories from October 17, 2008


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