Three North Stars Honored

Published on January 27, 2011 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - Three of the Traverse City North Stars' top six scorers were selected this week to play for Team North at the upcoming NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, set for Feb. 20-22 at the ICE Cube in Ann Arbor.

White, the Stars' captain for the last two seasons, will be participating in his fourth league all-star event, including the league's Top Prospects Tournament in Boston last December. The Sterling Heights product has a career-high six goals and 23 assists through 33 games in 2010-11, and has six points over his last five outings.

Troy native Opie leads the club in scoring with 38 points in 35 contests, and has already set career standards in goals (16) and assists (22). He has a 13-game point streak, with 23 points over that stretch.

Szmatula (smah-TOO-luh), who hails from Commerce Twp., Mich., is a rookie playing like a seasoned veteran, cranking out 13 goals and assists on 11 others in 34 games. He's bagged six of those goals - and eight points - in his last five.

St. Louis head coach Jeff Brown will lead Team North, with Dane Litke of Janesville assisting. Each of the four division squads will face each of the other three over the course of the three-day event, which is designed to help generate additional exposure for the league's top players. There was some gerrymandering with the rosters, as Port Huron's two all-stars were placed on Team Central, and Springfield's tandem was split between Team North and Team South. The North Division has a league-high eight teams, prompting the all-star redistricting. To see the NAHL All-Star teams, click here.

Opie, Szmatula, White and the North Stars will face Port Huron this weekend at Centre ICE Arena in a two-game series that faces off on Friday. Friday is MSU Night at Centre ICE, as fans who wear green and white to the game get $1 off admission, with the team donating an additional $1 each to the Grand Traverse Area MSU Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. Fans can skate with the team following Saturday's game; Free skates are provided by Centre ICE, but fans are responsible for their own helmets.

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North American Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2011


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