Tuesday, December 20, 2005

North Stars sign Prough for '06-07

The 2005-06 season is just half done, but the Traverse City North Stars are already looking ahead to next year.

The team signed high-scoring forward Alex Prough to a tender for the 2006-07 season, becoming just the second North American Hockey League team to spend a tender on personnel for the league’s 31st campaign.

“We felt like we really wanted to make sure we got Alex,” explained Stars head coach/GM Scott Gardiner. “He’s a guy with speed, skill, and that knack for putting the puck in the net.”

Prough, a senior at Orchard Lake St. Mary's High School, participated in Stars try-out camp this summer, but opted to stay at St. Mary's for his senior year. He liked what he saw when he was in Traverse City, though.

“It seemed like a first-class program with first-class coaching,” said Prough, a three-year prep teammate of current North Stars captain Patrick Nagorsen. “It just seemed like a great place to live and to play. I am excited about the opportunity, and really excited about this chance.”

Prough, who helped Nagorsen and the Eaglets to the Michigan High School Athletic Association state championship game last year, has been in high gear this season, registering 15 points through five games and a 4-1 record, with five goals and 10 assists.

“He’s a guy who I could really see helping us right away,” Gardiner said. “He’s an impact-type player.”

The North Stars retain three tenders for 2006-07, having signed Prough and having already dealt a tender to Southern Minnesota for Arthur Bidwell last week.

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