Wild Tame TC, 5-2
September 17, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release
BLAINE, Minn. - So long, 58-0.
The Traverse City North Stars got a taste of their own medicine on Friday at Schwan Super Rink in suburban Minneapolis, falling prey to a stellar goaltending performance and suffering their first loss of the season - a 5-2 setback at the hands of Wenatchee Wild on Day 3 of the four-day NAHL Showcase.
The Wild raced to a 3-0 lead before the Stars got back in the game, pulling to within a goal near the halfway point of the third period before Wenatchee regained its two-goal bulge and tossed in a garbage- time empty-netter to make it a three-score spread.
Early goals from Eliot Grauer (1:02) and Evan Schmidbauer (6:25) helped the Wild (2-1-0) to a 2-0 edge through 20 minutes of action, and a power play marker 2:14 into the second proved to be enough to keep them from falling below the .500 mark.
The Stars (3-1-0) started to climb back into the game with 6:08 to play in the middle period, as Alec Shields (Pittsburgh, PA/TC North Stars) finally solved Wenatchee netkeep Brandon Jaeger with a power play tally after Steven Behm (Grand Rapids, MI/Texas NAHL) found him at the far post. Connor Schmidt (Flat Rock, MI/Little Caesar's U18) levied his first career junior goal nearly 10 minutes into the final frame on a Trevor Campbell (Kansas City, MO/TC North Stars) assist to cut Traverse City's deficit to 3-2, but the Wild assumed control over the final minutes, dropping in an even-up score at 14:26, and the finale into a vacated crease with :48 on the clock.
Tyler Marble (Howell, MI/TC North Stars) faced a career-high 43 shots, including 19 in the third period alone, and was saddled with his first loss of the season against three victories. Wenatchee amassed a 44-24 advantage in shots, and enjoyed 10 power plays - including two full minutes of 5-on-3 edge early in the third. TC went 2-for-8 with the man-advantage.
The North Stars will close out the Showcase on Saturday versus the Alaska Avalanche, against whom Traverse City is 2-1 all-time against Alaska. The Stars and Avs have played in each of the previous three Showcase events, with TC claiming a 6-1 triumph in 2007, dropping a 4-3 affair in 2008, and blanking the Avalanche 3-0 last season.
The Stars' home opener is slated for Oct. 15 at Centre ICE Arena against Springfield (Ill.).
FEELING MINNESOTA
WHAT: 2010 NAHL Showcase
WHEN: Sept. 15-19
WHERE: Schwan Super Rink - Blaine, Mn.
WEBCAST: FastHockey (link at traversecitynorthstars.com)
WEDNESDAY: Traverse City 1, Corpus Christi 0
THURSDAY: Traverse City 4, Austin 0
FRIDAY: Wenatchee 5, Traverse City 2
SATURDAY: vs. Alaska, 4:15 p.m. CT/5:15 p.m. ET
North American Hockey League Stories from September 17, 2010
- Wild deals North Stars first loss - Wenatchee Wild
- Bobcats Fall in OT to Wichita Falls - Bismarck Bobcats
- Wild Tame TC, 5-2 - Traverse City North Stars
- Second Big Win for the IceRays - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bulls Look For 2nd Win Tonight Versus Port Huron - Amarillo Bulls
- Bulls Fall to Fresno 4-3 Even Record to 1-1 - Amarillo Bulls
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.
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