Rangers host Alpena this weekend

It’s been a busy and somewhat difficult week for the Marquette Rangers as they prepare to entertain the Alpena IceDiggers this weekend in North American Hockey League action.

For starters, the team has had to practice minus seven players plus their head coach as the group competed in the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in Ann Arbor over the past three days. Rangers head coach Kenny Miller guided the North Team to a 3-0 record in the round-robin event, while several Rangers players contributed offensively in the tournament.

Marquette netminder Kevin Kissaw split time in the event with Matt Wichorek of the Janesville Jets.

The third annual event is held each season as an all-star game, as well as a one-stop shopping scouting opportunity for college coaches looking for talent.

Meanwhile, back at Lakeview Arena, the rest of the team had to make the best of the situation under the guidance of assistant coach Dan L’Esperance in prepping for this weekend’s matchup with the IceDiggers.

Not to be lost in all of the confusion is the fact the Marquette is coming off a two-game sweep of the Albert Lea Thunder of the Central Division. The Rangers won 5-1 on Friday before holding off the Thunder 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday.

The four-point weekend moved the Rangers into sole possession of second place in the North Division, six points behind Traverse City and four points ahead of Janesville. Marquette travels to play the Jets next weekend.

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The Marquette Rangers will conduct their fourth celebrity contest contest of the season Saturday night at Lakeview Arena as the team entertains Alpena. With the event, someone in attendance will win a flat screen television from the Rangers organization by correctly guessing the amount of saves made by this week’s guest goaltender.

So far, Gary Muller of Marquette General Health Systems, John Veight of Public Service Garage and Rangers mascot Rock have all graced the ice attempting to stop 10 shots from various shooters.

Mike Ludlum of TV 6 sports will don the pads this weekend during the game's first intermission facing shots from a variety of shooters, including some fellow employees of TV 6.

When fans arrive at the arena, they will be given a slip to write their name on. They will then place their name in the bucket of their choice numbered 1-10. After the celebrity goalie contest reveals the amount of saves made, a name will be drawn from the bucket consisting of all the correct guesses.

The prize will be awarded at the end of the game and the winner must be present to win.