Tuesday, December 11, 2007

IceDiggers home Friday against Marquette

After coming off a 3-2 overtime win on Saturday in Traverse City, the Alpena IceDiggers will get ready for division rival Marquette on Friday as the Rangers will come to Northern Lights Arena for a 7:00 p.m. contest.

Newly-acquired netminder Nick Graves picked up his first win in net on Saturday making 20 saves in the OT win. On Friday afternoon, the IceDiggers landed free-agent defenseman Nick Grasso, who made an immediate impact in his first game picking up an assist and the game-winning goal.

Jimmy McCusker and Bryan Ross tallied the other two makers for Alpena, who improved its record to 13-12-1.

Marquette (16-9-1) comes to Alpena after splitting two games with Mahoning Valley. On Saturday, Mahoning Valley exploded for eight goals in an 8-2 route on the Rangers.

"We have to be better at home," Alpena coach-GM Kenny Miller said. "So far this season, we have not played up to par in our rink. Somehow, we have to find a way to put a string of home wins together and we will get our shot this weekend when a very sound Marquette team comes to town. It will be a challenge."

The IceDiggers have 2-3 record against Marquette and are winless against the Rangers at NLA.

On Saturday, Alpena travels to Marquette to wrap up the home-and-home series at 7:30 p.m.


NOTES

Graves was acquired in a trade from Southern Minnesota last week and in order to make room for Graves, the IceDiggers released goalie Dan Pason.

"Nick was the difference in the game on Saturday," Miller said. "He deserved the win."

Defenseman Anton Thornquist has left the team to pursue other options.

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