Traverse City North Stars Roll, 6-3
December 31, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release
ALPENA - Despite a few anxious moments in the third period on Saturday evening at Northern Lights Arena, the Traverse City North Stars rang in the New Year in style, doubling up rival Alpena by a 6-3 margin in the clubs' third annual holiday eve matchup.
Red-hot Eric McLintock and Kyle Bonis scored a pair of goals each, while Marc Thompson assisted on two other scores to give the Stars their first New Year's Eve win in three tries.
McLintock (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) opened the scoring on Wednesday at 5:32 of the first period. Less than five minutes later, Josh Miller (Trenton, MI/Trenton HS) made it a 2-0 contest on his fourth tally of the season. Bonis (Lindsay, ONT/TC North Stars) and Nate Urbaniak (Perrysburg, OH) levied second period goals - at 4:39 and 12:27 respectively - to give the visitors a four-goal bulge.
Alpena stormed the ice to start the third stanza, recording the first seven shots of the period, and finally getting on the scoreboard 3:28 in. The Diggers struck again at 7:03 and pulled to within a goal at 13:57 before McLintock and Bonis each scored their second of the night down the stretch - including Bonis' unassisted empty-netter in the final minute. McLintock continued his torrid pace, netting his seventh goal in the past five games.
Brandon Stephenson (Saline, MI/TC North Stars) made 31 saves in 34 chances on Wednesday to improve to 9-3-3, while Bonis, David Johnstone (Grand Ledge, MI/Team nXi AAA), Kyle Jean (Sault Ste. Marie, MI/TC North Stars), Dan Radke (Orinda, CA/Soo Indians AAA), Eric O'Hearn (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars), Dean Pawlaczyk (Madison Hts., MI/Honeybaked AAA), and Phil Wendecker (Westland, MI/TC North Stars) had an assist apiece.
With the win, Traverse City (16-6-5) pulled to within three points of Mahoning Valley in the NAHL North Division, and returns to Centre ICE arena this weekend for a crucial three-game series against those Phantoms. The Friday and Saturday contests face-off at 7 p.m., followed by a 12:35 p.m. Sunday matinee.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2008
- U.S. Dropped by Canada In Wild Game at World Juniors - U.S. National Team
- Traverse City North Stars Roll, 6-3 - Traverse City North Stars
- Phantoms' Schneider Commits to UConn - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Phantoms Prepare for Mario Lemieux Foundation Jersey Auction - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Rangers Return - Marquette Rangers
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