Dallas Stars sign James Neal

The Dallas Stars announced Saturday that the club has signed left wing James Neal to a three-year contract. Neal was Dallas' second-round selection (No. 33) overall in the 2005 Entry Draft.

Neal, 19, is currently playing with the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League, and through the first 10 games of the season, has posted nine goals and five assists for 14 points with 31 penalty minutes.

In 2005-06 with Plymouth, Neal notched 58 points (21 goals and 37 assists) and 109 penalty minutes in 66 appearances. Neal was named the OHL Player of the Week on Dec. 12, 2005, after recording six points (1 goal, 5 assists) in two games. In 13 OHL Playoff games a season ago, Neal recorded nine goals and seven assists for 16 points with 33 penalty minutes, earning Whalers' Playoff Most Valuable Player honors.

The Whitby, Ontario, native was honored as Plymouth's Rookie of the Year in 2004-05 after notching 18 goals and 26 assists for 44 points. He also played in the 2005 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Vancouver in his first full season at the OHL level.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound left wing attended the 2007 Team Canada National Junior Team development camp in Calgary, and won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2005 World Under-18 Championships in the Czech Republic.

Sestito's hatter downs Battalion Saturday

A game-time decision to play Plymouth left wing Tom Sestito paid off handsomely for the Whalers last Friday night.

Sestito, who missed two games after being hit in the face by a Dan Collins shot last Friday in Erie in a 3-2 loss to the Otters, scored a hat trick and an assist in his first game back in a 6-3 victory over the Brampton Battalion at the Compuware Sports Arena.

His third goal was an empty-netter.

John Armstrong, Kaine Geldart and Evan Brophey also scored for Plymouth.

Whalers goaltender Michal Neuvirth stopped 37 Brampton shots as the game’s second star while recording his fourth win of the season.

Plymouth is off until Friday night when they host Toronto at 7:05 p.m. at the Compuware Sports Arena and Kitchener on Sat. Oct. 28 at 7:05 p.m.

Indians drop border battle to Birds

The Soo Indians lost the first battle of the border of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League season Sunday night at Big Bear Arena, falling 3-2 to the Soo Thunderbirds.

The game also marked the opening of the Carmen Provenzano Memorial Cup series between the two teams.

Brett Perlini led the Thunderbirds with a goal and an assist and Kyle Johnson and Nick Minardi also beat Indians' goalie Elliot Hogue.

Sean Farley and Michigan Soo product Daren Mansfield scored for the Indians, who outshot their opponents 36-33. Travis O'Brien posted the win in goal for the Thunderbirds.

The win boosted the Thunderbirds' record to 6-4, while the Indians are now 8-5.

The Indians began the weekend with a 5-1 decision over the visiting Manitoulin Islanders on Saturday evening.

Chris Cooper scored a pair of goals to lead the Indians and Farley, James Ciotti and Derek Thocker added solo tallies in support of rookie goalie Brennan Poderzay, who made 26 saves to improve his record to 4-0, his save percentage to .900 and his goals-against average to 2.30.

Spirit and Whalers both win Thursday

Jan Mursak and Tom Pyatt each recorded hat tricks to lead the Saginaw Spirit to a 7-2 win over the Brampton Battalion last night in Saginaw.

Chris Chappell also scored for the Spirit and Ryan Daniels made 26 saves for the win. Former Saginaw goalie Aaron Rock stopped 39 for Brampton.

Saginaw plays in Sarnia tonight.

Across the Detroit River in Windsor, Jeremy Smith registered his first career shutout as the Plymouth Whalers beat the Spitfires, 4-0. Smith made 32 saves in the effort.

Evan Brophey scored twice and Dan Collins and captain Steve Ward tallied as well. James Neal chipped in with two assists.

Plymouth hosts Brampton tonight and TNA wrestler Christian Cage will be making an appearance to promote Sunday's Bound For Glory pay-per-view that takes place at the Compuware Sports Arena.

Jeremy Smith photo by Walt Dmoch.

Coming to Compuware tonight ...

http://www.plymouthwhalers.com/promotions.html

Lots on the line when 'Diggers visit Stars

Championships aren’t won in October, but any time is a good time to build momentum, according to Traverse City North Stars head coach Scott Gardiner.

Gardiner and co. will play host to Alpena this weekend at Centre ICE arena in as big a two-game series as the calendar will permit. The IceDiggers (8-3-0) own the top spot in the North American Hockey League’s North Division, one point up on the host North Stars (7-5-1). The clubs have split their 16-game historical series right down the middle, with each club claiming a triomphe de octet.

“It’s been just the kind of rivalry we hoped when we came into the league,” Gardiner said. “And this is the first time we’ve had something very real on the line, with first place basically up for grabs. Yeah, it’s early in the season, but it’s still a big one for both teams. It should be a great series.”

The teams split a September home-and-home series, with Alpena winning a 5-1 decision in the opener before TC bounced back for a 4-3 win the following night. Since then, the Diggers have rattled off three straight victories, while the North Stars have prevailed in three of five outings.

While the stalwart tandem of Nolan Craner (9G-15A) and Todd Rudasill (9G-14A) still sit first and second, respectively, atop the NAHL scoring chase, the IceDiggers’ special teams have gotten even stronger since last month’s meetings. Alpena leads the league with a 21.37 percent success rate on the power play – nearly three full percentage points better than the second-best club – and have registered an NAHL-best 25 extra-man markers. Craner, Rudasill, and Drew Pierson have 17 of those between them. In the two meetings this year, the Diggers are 6-for-25 (24 percent) when up a man.

“That’s where we really, really have to focus,” Gardiner added. “They are absolutely deadly on the power play. We can’t put ourselves in a situation where we’re playing a man or two down. We have to get good special teams and goaltending this weekend. Those are the keys.”

With a crucial four points on the table this weekend, Alpena head coach Kenny Miller told the Traverse City Record-Eagle that he’d take two … but can’t help but feel a little greedy, either.

“They're a good team and they've gotten some good goaltending recently,” Miller said. "We haven't won in their building this year. I'd be happy with a split, but it'd be nice to take two.”

Both the Friday and Saturday games face off at 7 p.m. at Centre ICE arena.

Spirit get mention in Sports Illustrated

Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle, the newest mascot of the Saginaw Spirit, was featured in this week's Sports Illustrated, dated October 16.

The bi-weekly sports publication covered the connection between the Spirit and the Colbert Report, as well as Steagle's unveiling ceremony.

"The Saginaw Spirit organization is thrilled to have been featured with Stephen Colbert and Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle in Sports Illustrated," stated Spirit managing partner Craig Goslin. "This is just another illustration that the Spirit program is getting recognition nationwide because of the hard work, commitment and dedication of our staff to provide the best game-day experience possible for our fans."

Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle is undefeated through his first six games of his career with the Spirit and if his winning streak continues at this rate, he is sure to become one of the most famous sports mascots since the Phillies Fanatic or the Phoenix Suns Gorilla.

The Spirit have been receiving national attention lately with the increasingly amusing partnership it has developed with the Colbert Report. Stephen Colbert, the show's host, pushed to have the newest Spirit mascot be named after him. The team responded and on September 30, Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle was unveiled for the first time during the home game at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw.

The Report is shown on Comedy Central Monday through Thursdays at 11:30 p.m.

'Diggers invade Traverse City this weekend

The Alpena IceDiggers travel to Traverse City to take on the North Stars in a two-game set this weekend. This marks the first time the IceDiggers will play back-to-back road games in the same building since the first weekend of the season in Blaine Minn.

Over the course of the next 18 games, Alpena will only play four at Northern Lights Arena and head coach Kenny Miller is putting a positive spin on the games away from home.

"This gives us a chance to see where we stack up," Miller said. "We have been really good at home and in order to win in this division we need to win on the road."

Alpena is coming off a 4-2 win at home against rival Marquette, while Traverse City hosted the Mahoning Valley Phantoms for three straight games where they came away with two wins and one loss to pull within one point of the first-place IceDiggers.

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Forwards Nolan Craner and Todd Rudasill continue to cause havoc on opposing goalies. Craner leads the NAHL in scoring with nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points, while Rudasill has added nine goals, 14 assists for a combined total of 23 points, one shy of Craner for the league lead.

Linemate Drew Pierson is ranked 8th in the NAHL with seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 11 games.

Goaltender Shawn Hunwick is second in the NAHL with seven wins while playing 561:49 minutes with a 2.67 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.

The IceDiggers announced today they have added forward Mike DeGrazia. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Novi native played last season for the Santa Fe Roadrunners. DeGrazia started this year with the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets in the USHL.

Michigan NAHL weekend roundup

All three Michigan NAHL teams were in action last weekend.

The Alpena IceDiggers beat the Marquette Rangers, 4-2, yesterday on home ice to regain first place in the North Division. Todd Rudasill scored twice and Nolan Craner and Drew Pierson added two assists each. Erik Peterson and Korey O'Brien also scored. Shawn Hunwick made 18 saves for the win. For the Rangers, Iiro Junnila and James Gallagher scored with Matt Brooker making 29 saves. Alpena plays in Traverse City next weekend against the North Stars.

Traverse City went 2-1 with the Mahoning Valley Phantoms at home and were in first place in the division for about 18 hours. On Friday, the Stars won, 5-4, on goals by Joe Greener, Brett Englebright, Arthur Bidwill, Jameson Raymond and Aaron Pietila and Kyle Jendra's 30 saves. Saturday night, Sebastion Kimmel's shootout goal in the 10th round gave TC a 3-2 win. Matt Hughes and Nathan Urbaniak scored in regulation and Stefan Shively stopped 39 shots for the win. Sunday, Ryan Zapolski turned aside all 29 shots the North Stars fired his way in a 3-0 win. Shively also made 29 saves.

Marquette blanked the U.S. NTDP, 5-0, Friday night and then lost,. 4-3, on Saturday. Friday, Gallagher potted two and Neeco Belanger, Mike Macari and Jason Cohen added solos. Stephen Ritter stopped 30 shots for the shutout. The next night, David Wohlberg scored 50 seconds into overtime to give Team USA the win. Belanger, with two, and Cohen scored for Marquette, who got a 28-save performance out of Ritter. The Rangers travel to Bismarck this weekend for a pair with the Bobcats.

Spirit continue winning, sweep East foes

With wins Friday night and Sunday afternoon, the Saginaw Spirit are now in second place in the OHL's West Division.

In Ottawa Friday, Tomas Zaborsky, Jack Combs and Tom Pyatt each had a goal and an assist in the 5-3 victory. Jan Mursak (pictured) and Tyler Haskins also scored to back Ryan Daniels' 32-save outing.

Sunday, Pyatt scored three goals and Mursak had a goal and four assists as the Spirit routed Kingston, 8-1. Patrick Asselin, Ryan Berard, Ryan McDonough and Haskins, also with a pair of assists, scored as well. Captain Patrick McNeill chipped in four assists and Daniels earned the win making 25 saves.

Saginaw hosts Brampton Thursday night.

Whalers drop both games over weekend

The Plymouth Whalers lost both games last weekend, one on the road and one at home.

Friday, Jared Boll and James Neal scored and Jeremy Smith made 24 stops in net for Plymouth in a 3-2 defeat in Erie.

London then came to town and took a 5-2 win last night. Vern Cooper scored his first OHL goal and Neal also tallied. Michal Neuvirth made 25 saves in Plymouth's first home loss this year.

The Whalers play Thursday night in Windsor against the Spitfires and then at home Friday night against Brampton.

Photo from London game by Walt Dmoch

Indians salvage weekend split

A 6-1 rout of the Manitoulin Islanders on Saturday night salvaged a weekend split for the Soo Indians.

The Indians had started a weekend doubleheader at Big Bear Arena by losing to the Abitibi Eskimos, 5-3, on Friday night.

"I thought we rebounded nicely on Saturday after a lacklustre effort on Friday," observed Indians' coach-general manager Jim Capy. "It's important with a schedule being top heavy with so many home games during the first part of the schedule that we don't give away points."

The Indians now have a record of 7-4 and are 6-2 on home ice and 1-2 on the road.

In Saturday's win over Manitoulin, Sean Farley, Joe Larson, Derek Thocker, Isaac Viau, James Ciotti and Mike Connolly scored for the Indians in support of the 21-save effort of goalie Brennan Poderzay, who improved his record to 3-0. Farley's goal was his team-leading ninth of the season and Connolly's was his first Junior A marker.

Ciotti, Thocker and Larson scored in Friday's loss to Abitibi in which Michigan Soo product Miles Williams made 31 saves between the pipes for the Eskimos.

The Indians' next action is at home to Manitoulin again on Saturday night, while on Sunday, they head across the International Bridge to play the Soo Thunderbirds in the first Carmen Provenzano Memorial Cup series action of the season.

Spirit take 5-3 win in Peterborough

The Saginaw Spirit took a 5-3 win over the 2006 OHL champion Peterborough Petes Thursday night in Peterborough.

Captain Patrick McNeill (pictured) scored twice to go along with singles from Ryan McDonough, Jan Mursak and Zack Torquato.

Spirit goalie Ryan Daniels made 15 saves in the effort.

Saginaw continues their road trip through eastern Ontario Friday night against the Ottawa 67's and then head to Kingston for a Sunday match-up against the Frontenacs.

Indians end losing streak Wednesday

The Soo Indians ended a two-game losing streak in tidy fashion on the road Wednesday night.

The Indians trimmed the defending Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League champion Sudbury Kal Tire Junior Wolves 5-2 to improve their record to 6-3-0 on the season.

It was the first road win of the season for the Indians after previous losses at Manitoulin and Blind River.

Sean Farley, Nick Zilka, Paul Isleib, Sean Reid and Daren Mansfield scored for the Indians, who got a 43-save performance from goalie Elliot Hogue.

"Elliot was outstanding...he was named player of the game and deservedly so," noted Indians' head coach Jim Capy.

Sudbury outshot the Indians 45-28, who played much of the game shorthanded and benefitted from Hogue's clutch goaltending.

The Indians are now home for two games this weekend. On Friday, the Abitibi Eskimos are at Big Bear Arena and on Saturday, the Manitoulin Islanders pay their first visit of the season to the Michigan Soo.

Start time both nights is 7 p.m. Admission for all Soo Indians games is $5, the lowest price in the NOJHL.

Phantoms to descend on TC

According to Traverse City North Stars head coach Scott Gardiner, the North American Hockey League’s North Division is ‘arguably the toughest division in the league.’

While Alpena has what amounts to a sizable lead in the early stages of the 2006-07 campaign, the rest of the North is separated by just three points.

That makes this weekend’s three-game series at Centre ICE arena between the second-place North Stars and fifth-place Mahoning Valley Phantoms an important one. With six points on the table, either club could make a serious move in the standings by the final whistle of Sunday’s matinee.

“It makes for a long weekend,” Gardiner admitted. “But we try to treat it like a mini-tournament, like it’s a playoff weekend. It sort of gives us an idea of what it’s like when you have those playoff weekends in April. There’s some stamina involved.”

While the visiting Phantoms might be on the bottom of the North standings at the moment, Gardiner says they’re as good as any team in the division.

“Oh geez, there’s no way that’s a last-place club, I don’t care what the standings say. They’re big and physical and throw a lot of skill at you, too. Plus they have both their goaltenders back from last year. This is a good hockey club coming in here.”

While the NAHL’s most dynamic scoring trio of 2005-06 – Anthony Ciraulo, Marc Menzione, and Drew Satterly – are off to NCAA Div. I schools this fall, the 4-5-0 Phantoms have gotten solid production from holdovers Matt Quigley (team-leading six goals, 11 points) and Chris Fairbanks (five goals, nine points).

The netminding tandem to which Gardiner refers includes Ryan Zapolski and Bryce Merriam, both of whom scored victories against Traverse City last season. So far in 2006-07, Zapolski has worked twice as much as Merriam, logging three wins while surrendering an average of 4.33 goals per games with an .883 save percentage.

With his two-goal outburst last Saturday against Marquette, Jared Mullen now has a Stars-best six markers, while captain Patrick Nagorsen leads the club with nine points.

The Phantoms, who captured 11 of the 12 meetings between the teams last year, were riding a three-game win streak before falling to interdivisional foe Springfield last Saturday.

The Friday and Saturday installments of the three-day weekend series face off at 7 p.m., while Sunday’s matinee commences at 12:40 p.m.

Saginaw nabs OA from Western League

The Saginaw Spirit have acquired overage defenseman Curtis Cooper from the Western Hockey League's Prince George Cougars.

Cooper arrived in Saginaw last night and is expected to play in the three-game road trip this weekend.

The 6-foot 200-pound native of Kamloops, British Columbia contributed 58 points (eight goals, 50 assists) in his four seasons playing for the Cougars.

Saginaw players under investigation

State police are investigating a criminal complaint involving five members of the Saginaw Spirit.

According to a report in the Saginaw News, five players were suspended two games for "breaking team rules." They have since rejoined the team and will continue to play pending the outcome of the investigation.

According to detectives, Tittabawassee Township police were called to a home last Thursday night. At least one of the players lives at the house in question.

From there, Tittabawassee Township police turned the investigation over to the Michigan State police.

Detectives are conducting interviews in the criminal complaint. At this point, the case centers around a 15-year-old girl who was at the house with the players.

The Spirit organization isn't saying much about the case.

"It's come to the attention of the Saginaw Spirit hockey club that there is an investigation involving one or more members of the Saginaw Spirit hockey team. We're taking this matter very seriously. We're still gathering information on the Spirit side of things. But it is our policy, in an incident like this, or any similar incident, that we fully cooperate with any investigation," said the team's director of marketing Cameron Knowles.

The status of some players for Thursday's game in Peterborough is unknown.

"There will be more discipline coming, but I can't say what because I don't know what the outcome of the criminal investigation will be," Spirit coach-GM Bob Mancini told the newspaper. "I am extremely disappointed (in the players)."

Defensemen Scott Fletcher and Matt Corrente and forwards Ryan McDonough, Zack Torquato and Chris Chappell didn't play last weekend.

Michigan juniors weekend recap

Recapping last weekend...

On the road, the Plymouth Whalers fell to the Owen Sound Attack Saturday night, 4-2, but came back to beat the Mississauga IceDogs, 4-2, Sunday afternoon. Saturday, Kaine Geldart and John Armstrong scored and Jeremy Smith stopped 45 shots. Jared Boll, Armstrong, Chris Terry and Evan Brophey scored Sunday to back Michal Neuvirth's 41 saves. The Whalers play in Erie Friday night before hosting London Saturday night.

Saginaw won both their home games over the weekend. The Spirit beat the Ottawa 67's Saturday by a 7-3 count and then edged the Sudbury Wolves, 2-1, Sunday. Saginaw scored five power-play goals against Ottawa and a shorthanded goal. Tyler Haskins had a goal and three assists, Jack Combs scored twice and Tom Pyatt, Tomas Zaborsky, Patrick Asselin and captain Patrick McNeill added singles. Ryan Daniels stopped 24 shots. Sunday, Zaborsky and Pyatt scored and Daniels made 28 saves. Saginaw travels to Peterborough Thursday night.

The Alpena IceDiggers swept the U.S. Under-17 Team at home to take over first place in the NAHL's North Division. Friday night, captain Nolan Craner and Todd Rudasill each potted a pair to pace Alpena to a 4-2 win. Shawn Hunwick made 29 saves. Saturday, Drew Pierson recorded a hat trick in a 6-1 win. Craner, Justin Stadler and Taylor Doorlag also scored and newly-acquired Mike Jarboe stopped 26 shots. Next up for the IceDiggers is a game at home next Sunday with the Marquette Rangers.

Marquette and the Traverse City North Stars split last weekend in Marquette. Friday, goalie Stephen Ritter made 29 saves en route to a 3-1 win for the Rangers. Neeco Belanger, Brodie Zuk and Mike Macari scored for Marquette, while Matt Hughes tallied Traverse City's lone goal. Stefan Shively made 36 stops for the North Stars. Jared Mullen scored twice in Traverse City's 5-2 win Saturday. Captain Patrick Nagorsen, Aaron Pietila and Jonathan Juliano also scored to go along with Kyle Jendra, on assignment from the Whalers, who stopped 23 shots. Matt Brooker stopped 38 for the Rangers, who got goals from Zuk and Jake Hauswirth. Traverse City returns to Centre ICE this weekend, hosting the Mahoning Valley Phantoms in a three-game series starting Friday night. The Rangers host the USNTDP Friday and Saturday.

The Soo Indians dropped both their games over the weekend as they lost 4-3 to the Sudbury Northern Jr. Wolves Friday night at home and then 3-2 to the Blind River Beavers Saturday night in Blind River. Derek Thocker, Joe Larson and Sean Farley scored Friday and goaltenders Elliot Hogue and Brennan Poderzay combined for 22 saves with Hogue taking the loss. Saturday, Farley registered both goals and Paul Isleib and Andy Rammer each had two assists. Hogue made 46 saves. The Indians travel to Sudbury Wednesday night.

Stars visit first-year Rangers this weekend

Even as the North American Hockey League’s officiating crackdown is packing ‘em into penalty boxes at a record clip, the Marquette Rangers will pay homage to ‘old-time hockey’ this weekend when the Traverse City North Stars visit for a two-game series.

That’s because Saturday’s game will feature an appearance by the Hanson Brothers, the bespectacled brethren who played for the Charlestown Chiefs in the cult hockey classic, “Slap Shot.”

On the ice, the teams are unlikely to ‘put on the foil,’ but the North Stars will have their hands full with Marquette goalie Stephen Ritter, one of the NAHL’s top goalies. Ritter, a behemoth of a netkeep at 6-3, 200-lbs., has worked the pipes in five of the first-year Rangers’ six outings, posting a 3-2-0 mark with an eye-bulging .946 save percentage and nearly as astounding 1.80 goals against average.

“They’re a solid team all around, but that guy has been outstanding in net for them,” assessed Stars head coach Scott Gardiner. “We’ll have to work hard to get anything past him.”

While Marquette boasts five NAHL vets, including Steve Sperry (Team USA-17 in 2005-06), the neophyte Rangers have been as hard-hit as any team by the officiating onslaught. Despite not having played a game in 12 days, the club has amassed the second-most penalty minutes in the league.

The Rangers’ offense is led by Saskatchewan export Brodie Zuk, who has a trio of goals and four assists. Nick Kosinski and hometown prep star Neeco Belanger have contributed six points each, while Nic Weight leads the club with four goals.

Marquette head coach Leigh Mendelson told the Traverse City Record-Eagle that his team would be facing a vet-laden, open-ice bunch in the North Stars.

“Their team has some veterans and returning players,” he said. “They have a good, skilled team with speed. That’s the kind of team you need to have in today’s hockey.”

While the North Stars are just a point out of first place in the NAHL North Division, it would be impossible for them to ascend to the divisional penthouse on Friday, as the two first place clubs – Alpena and Team USA – face off at Northern Lights Arena. The Rangers are in fourth place, right behind Traverse City with two games in hand. And as for a home ice advantage, the team set an NAHL record with 2,270 fans at its inaugural home opener against Alpena on Sept. 23.

“It should be an interesting series because they’re a new franchise but in a very hockey-savvy community,” Gardiner said. “They packed ‘em in pretty good up there at their opener, and with the Hanson Brothers thing, they’ll probably be going crazy in their building. We’ll have to match their intensity or we could get caught on our heels a bit.”

The North Stars return to Centre ICE arena next weekend for a two-game set against Mahoning Valley.

Elmblad impresses, now a Wolverine

Not long after the Team USA U-17 squad held off the Traverse City North Stars in a decisive Game 5 of last year’s North American Hockey League North Division semifinal playoff series, Eric Elmblad went right back to work. But instead of chasing a NAHL Robertson Cup championship, the St. Ignace native was running down a dream.

“Since I was a kid, it’s been a lifelong dream to play hockey at (University of) Michigan,” said Elmblad, whose indelible image after scoring an overtime clincher in Game 3 of the USA-17 playoff series has become a de facto component of the North Stars’ branding. “I got into the school and deferred my enrollment for two years so I could try to become the kind of hockey player who could make it here. There were some bumps in the road along the way, I guess, but I never really lost sight of that goal.”

Over the summer, Elmblad contacted Wolverines assistant coach Mel Pearson and inquired about getting a look from the U-M coaches as a walk-on. A rigorous training regimen followed, as Elmblad prepared himself to dazzle the Wolverines’ staff.

“We did not recruit him, and I told him right away that it’s pretty tough to make it here as a walk-on, especially given how much depth we have this year,” explained longtime Michigan coach Red Berenson. “That might have discouraged some kids, but it only seemed to make Eric work harder, and that’s something I really admired about him.”

Berenson has seen his share of Wolverines hopefuls come and go over the course of his 23 years in Ann Arbor. And some have helped Berenson win nearly 600 games (eighth in all-time NCAA victories), nine CCHA titles and pair of national crowns. But the coaching legend says Elmblad earned his block ‘M’ sweater the old fashioned way.

“It’s rewarding for me to see a kid work like that toward a goal and reach it,” Berenson added. “Nothing was handed to Eric. He just plain wanted to be here.”

Elmblad had three goals and six assists in 36 games with the North Stars last year after spending 2004-05 with the NAHL champion Texas Tornado. Traverse City head coach Scott Gardiner moved him to forward toward the end of the season and it paid huge dividends in the club’s first-ever home playoff game, won by Elmblad’s tip-in in overtime on April 7.

“It’s big for us as a team, but it’s just a great, great thing for Eric,” Gardiner said. “He worked hard academically to get where he is, and he did the same thing on the ice and look where it got him. We here in Traverse City couldn’t be happier for him or prouder of him. He’s a great kid and he deserves all of it.”

The scholarly Elmblad – who, by the way, is also enrolled in the prestigious U-M School of Engineering – says that his NAHL stint truly helped him prepare as a hockey player intent on playing for the Wolverines.

“Playing in the North American league helped me develop a certain work ethic,” he explained. “I tried to learn how to be strong with the puck and to be able to play a physical game. It’s a good level of competition, and playing there definitely helped my development as a player and a person.”

While the first hurdle – making the team – has been cleared, Elmblad now faces the challenge of securing his share of playing time. But challenges are nothing new to the 6-4, 210-pound defenseman/forward.

“When you come in as a walk-on, you generally start at the bottom of the depth chart,” Berenson said. “And we are very deep on defense, so his work isn’t done. He knows that, and I’m sure that will probably drive him even harder.”

True.

“I’m still in a little bit of shock just making it,” Elmblad admitted. “But there’s a lot of work ahead of me still. But this isn’t something I just decided to try this summer – I’ve been aiming at this for a long, long time. I’m not going to back down from any challenge.”

Spirit trades Priamo to hometown Guelph

The Saginaw Spirit announced today that forward Tim Priamo has been traded to the Guelph Storm for a conditional pick in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection.

Further details of the trade were not disclosed.

The 18-year-old Guelph native played 60 games for the Spirit last season, earning four goals and 10 assists. He also played three games against the Storm in the 2006 OHL playoffs.

Whalers deal goalie Garay to Erie

The Plymouth Whalers have traded third-year goaltender Justin Garay to the Erie Otters in exchange for a conditional draft choice in 2007.

The trade reduces Plymouth’s crowded goaltending situation. Michal Neuvirth and Jeremy Smith have split duty in goal so far this season with rookie Kyle Jendra as the third goaltender.

Garay, 19 and from Monaca, Penn., was selected by Plymouth in the eighth round (159th overall) in the 2003 OHL Priority Selection. Garay made his OHL debut on October 1, 2004 in London in a 5-4 overtime loss. He played in 22 games in his rookie season in 2004-05, posting a 3.64 goals-against average and a .880 save percentage.

Last year, Garay compiled excellent numbers through the first two months of the season with a 2.70 goals-against average and .918 save percentage, including his first OHL shutout on Oct, 21, 2005 in a 3-0 victory in Kitchener. But Garay injured his ankle last November and appeared in five games the rest of the season. Overall, Garay had a 3.72 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage in 14 games in 2005-06. He also won the Barbara Ann Karmanos Community Goals Award.

In addition, the Whalers have assigned goaltender Kyle Jendra to the Traverse City North Stars and defenseman Chad Loikets has moved on to play for Gatineau of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Loikets was picked up off waivers from Erie last week, but did not see any game action.

The Colbert Report spotlights Spirit

The Saginaw Spirit were highlighted on the Colbert Report last night.

The Report showed footage from the unveiling ceremony of the newest Spirit mascot, Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle. The segment also showcased the OHL and the two upcoming Spirit home games against the Ottawa 67's and the Sudbury Wolves. At the end of the show, the host, Stephen Colbert, retired his Spirit jersey and raised it to the rafters of his studio.

"We are proud of our accident-prone new mini mascot, Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle, as he made his international television debut last night," Spirit managing partner Craig Goslin said. "As Stephen Colbert raised his Spirit Jersey to the rafters of his studio, he officially became the first Spirit to do so."

The community of mid-Michigan is quickly being transformed into raving Stephen Colbert fans. Stay tuned for future updates on both the Colbert Report and the Saginaw Spirit hockey games played at the Dow Event Center.

The Report is shown Monday through Thursday at 11:30 p.m. on Comedy Central. The show will be replayed on Comedy Central Wednesday, October 4th at 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. A video clip of the segment will be available online on Comedy Central's website within the next two days.

Alpena acquires goalie from St. Louis

The Alpena IceDiggers acquired goaltender Mike Jarboe from the St. Louis Bandits yesterday.

The Grosse Pointe native is in his second season in the NAHL, having played last year for the now-defunct Bozeman IceDogs where he complied a 15-4-0 record with two shutouts.

Jarboe started this season with the Bandits where he went 1-0 with a 31-save win over the North Iowa Outlaws.

Alpena coach-GM Kenny Miller feels that with Jarboe and Shawn Hunwick, both goalies can step in and give the team a chance to win every night.

"Shawn has been great so far and now with Mike, we should have one of the best one-two combos in the league," said Miller.

With adding Jarboe, the IceDiggers had to make room by releasing rookie netminder Brandon Stephenson.

"It was a tough decision, but when you get a chance to add a guy like Mike you have to do what is best for the entire team," Miller noted. "Brandon is a great kid who will turn out to be a good goalie in this league, but I felt we had to get a guy that can step in right now and play."

Michigan juniors weekend recap

All six Michigan junior teams were in action this past weekend.

The Plymouth Whalers won another shootout, 3-2, in Guelph Friday night. James Neal and Evan Brophey scored shootout goals, while goaltender Jeremy Smith stopped all three Guelph shots. Earlier, Frank Grzeszczak scored his first OHL goal and Neal also scored. Saturday night at home, Neal scored the shootout winner and Steve Ward, Chris Terry, Dan Collins and Tom Sestito all scored. A.J. Jenks added two assists for Plymouth and Michal Neuvirth earned the win in net. The Whalers are at Owen Sound Friday and at Mississauga Saturday.

Saginaw lost, 4-3, in a shootout in Sarnia Friday night, but won their first game of the season, 5-3, Saturday night at home against Windsor. Friday, Patrick Asselin, captain Tyler Haskins and Ryan McDonough scored and Ryan Daniels made 43 saves. Tom Pyatt had two goals and two assists in Saturday's win and Asselin added two goals as well. Jack Combs potted the other and Daniels stopped 26 shots. The Spirit play two home games this weekend with Ottawa Saturday night and a Sunday matinee with Sudbury.

The Alpena IceDiggers/Traverse City North Stars rivalry continued as the teams split their weekend home-and-home series. On Friday, host Alpena dropped Traverse City, 5-1, as Erik Peterson (2), Ricardo Yesue, Ben Kitzmiller and Drew Pierson scored to back Shawn Hunwick's 20 saves. Harrison Niemann tallied for TC and Stefan Shively and Ryan Donovan combined for 27 saves. Saturday night in Traverse City, the North Stars held on for a 4-3 win. Brett Englebright, Sebastion Kimmel, Matt Hughes and Jonathan Juliano scored for Traverse City while Nolan Craner scored twice and Pierson once for the 'Diggers. Shively stopped 33 shots and Hunwick made 25 saves. Traverse City will travel to Marquette for a two-game set against the Rangers this weekend. Alpena hosts the U.S. Under-17 team on Friday and Saturday night.

Marquette was idle last weekend and hosts Traverse City this weekend.

Paul Isleib picked a good time to score his first two goals of the NOJHL season for the Soo Indians. Saturday at Big Bear Arena, Isleib's goal with less than five minutes to play in the third period tied the score before his overtime tally just 41 seconds into the extra frame gave the Indians a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Abitibi Eskimos. The victory gives the Indians a 5-1 record as they prepare to play host to the defending champion Sudbury Northern Jr. Wolves on Friday night at 7:00 at Big Bear. James Ciotti and Sean Farley had scored earlier goals for the Indians and Isleib's timely tallies made a winner out of goalie Elliot Hogue, who turned aside 27 shots for his third straight win to start the season. The win over Abitibi came a night after the Indians lost for the first time this season, a 5-3 road setback at Manitoulin. Farley, Nick Novak and Nick Zilka scored for the Indians in defeat. Jake Rosenthal stopped 22 shots for the Indians.

Soo Indians players come from all over

The Soo Indians may be based in Michigan and play in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, but they feature players from six different states and the province of Ontario.

The Indians feature two homegrown products in Michigan Soo natives J.D. King and Daren Mansfield, as well as a lone import from the crossriver Canadian Soo in winger Dan Vernelli. King is a defenceman and Mansfield is a forward.

Besides those three, the rest of the team is from just about all over. In fact, the Indians' goalies are from three different states -- Elliot Hogue hails from St. Louis, Missouri, Brennan Poderzay calls Tower, Minnesota home and Jake Rosenthal is from Wantagh, N.Y.

Others from Michigan include defencemen Dan Klever (Bailey), Jake Russell (Owosso), and Brett Lavalley (Grosse Pointe Woods) and forwards Darek Thocker (Grand Ledge), Jon Sutton (Muskegon), James Ciotti (Romeo), Alex Falardeau (Midland) and Issac Viau (Cheboygan).

New York natives include defenceman Billy Horton (New Hartford) and forwards Alex Durinka (East Amherst) and Mike Connolly (Shoreham).

Others from Minnesota include forwards J.P. Perpich (Bloomington), Nick Zilka (Mound) and Joe Larson (Apple Valley).

Players from Illinois include defencemen Peter Landem (Lombard) and Sean Reid (Chicago) and forwards Chris Cooper (Glenview), Sean Farley (Park Ridge) and Paul Isleib (Batavia).

And the Indians have two players from Wisconsin: defenceman Nick Novak, who hails from Green Bay, and winger Andrew Rammer, who calls Appleton home.

North Stars, IceDiggers renew rivalry

The rivalry is renewed.

With Friday’s season series lid-lifter in Alpena, the regional hockey enmity between the Traverse City North Stars and IceDiggers kicks off again as the two clubs battle for regional supremacy at Northern Lights Arena before returning to Centre ICE on Saturday for the back end of the home-and-home set.

The IceDiggers, a North American Hockey League-worst 13-38-7 a year ago, have turned their fortunes around in the early going of 2006-07. Alpena is alone in second place in the NAHL North Division at 4-2-0, and coming off a two-game sweep of NAHL newbie Marquette last weekend.

“They’re a good, solid team, but I thought that even last year when their record didn’t show it,” said North Stars coach Scott Gardiner. “They have 1 guys back, and some awesome new goaltending. They’re a very balanced team and we’re going to have to be at our best to play with them.”

The IceDiggers, led by head coach/GM Kenny Miller, boast the NAHL’s top two scorers through two weeks of action, with Nolan Craner leading the charge with four goals and seven assists. Another holdover from 2005-06, Todd Rudasill, is second in the league with five goals and assists on five others. Six of their combined nine goals have come when Alpena has held a man advantage.

“We’re going to have to try to keep those guys in check,” Gardiner added. “Especially when they’re on the power play, because they’ve already shown that they can hurt you.”

Traverse City will be without forward Aaron Pietila, who scored two goals and drew assists on two others during last Saturday’s 5-1 rout of the Team USA-17s. He took a slapshot to the groin during the contest, and underwent a medical procedure earlier this week. He is expected to miss 2-3 weeks.

“Pitsy did it all for us, and we’re going to miss him out there,” Gardiner said. “It’s up to everybody else to help pick up the slack, and I think we have guys who are willing to do that.”

For the North Stars, a couple of players with extra lettering on their sweaters also pace the club in scoring, as captain Patrick Nagorsen and associate captain Jameson Raymond lead the club with six points each. Nagorsen has three goals and as many helpers, while Raymond has a goal and five assists. Four players – Pietila, Jared Mullen, Richie Zobak, and Jonathan Juliano – have five points each, with Mullen tops in goals overall with four.

“It’s going to come down to execution, just as it has been for us so far,” said Gardiner, whose team is second in the league on the penalty kill and fourth on the power play. “In our own zone, in their zone and in the neutral zone – we have to continue to try to be consistent in our execution.”

The teams face off at 7 on Friday in Alpena, and at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday at Centre ICE arena.

Alpena's captains epitomize leadership

When Alpena IceDiggers' head coach Kenny Miller named Nolan Craner co-captain for the second consecutive season, he knew Craner would lead his team on and off the ice.

So it's no surprise to see that Craner (pictured) is atop the league leaders in points in the early stages of the 2006-07 NAHL season.

This season marks the Plainwell native's third that he has sported the IceDiggers jersey. Craner, along with co-captain Ricardo Yesue (Allen Park) and Miller are the only three left from the group of players and staff that made the move north prior to last season when the team called Toledo home.

In six games this season, Craner has four goals to go along with seven assists for 11 points. Three goals have also come on the power play and Craner has recorded at least one point in every game so far.

"Nolan leads by example and gets his point across to the team by what he does on the ice," Miller said. "Every guy on the team looks up to him and he deserves the season he is having so far. He has given a lot to this organization in the three years he has been with us."

Ben Kitzmiller (Lambertville) and Todd Rudasill act as alternate captains.

"All four lead by example both on and off the ice," added Miller. "Each of them are great kids who will make a difference in whatever they choose to do after their playing days in Alpena are over."

Whalers claim Loikets from Erie

The Plymouth Whalers have claimed defenseman Chad Loikets off waivers from the Erie Otters.

Under the OHL's recallable waivers format, the Otters could have reclaimed the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Loikets after the Whalers placed their bid, "but Chad's been such a special kid to us," Erie GM Sherry Bassin said in the Erie Times-News. "If some team gives him a chance to play, we owed it to him."

A 19-year-old native of Yorkville, Ill. (about an hour southwest of Chicago), Loikets has played the past three years in Erie, registering four goals and 26 points in 193 games.

Loikets is now the ninth defenseman on the Whalers' roster.

Soo Indians' News & Notes

Courtesy of Randy Russon and Osprey Blogs...

The Soo Indians, with a record of 4-0, may be in position to move some players, if not to another NOJHL team, then to another junior league. At present, the Indians are carrying 15 forwards, eight defencemen and three goalies and the word is that coach/general manager Jim Capy is taking a long look at another forward of size and strength who he was recently tipped off about. When Capy does move some of his players, let’s hope that he finds takers within the NOJHL. As new commissioner Wayne Stickland noted recently: "We don’t want to lose players who want to be in our league to other leagues."

Among the top newcomers to the NOJHL who have stood out to me thus far this early season are Soo Indians’ defenceman Nick Novak, North Bay Skyhawks’ forward Joe Trotter and Blind River goalie Shawn Sirman.

Besides staying close to home in having Soo, Michigan products J.D. King and Daren Mansfield and Soo, Ontario native Daniel Vernelli, in their lineup, the Soo Indians have players on their roster from the states of Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, New York and Wisconsin.

As Abitibi searches for its first win of the season this weekend while away from home, Manitoulin also looks to enter the “W” column. The Islanders on Friday night will try to hand the Indians their first loss of the season when they give the Michiganders a Haweater welcome. Then on Saturday, Manitoulin resumes the North Shore rivalry with Blind River with a showdown in the Milltown.

Neal's hatter leads Plymouth over Saginaw

James Neal scored three goals (even strength, shorthanded, power-play) and Evan Brophey had four assists as the Plymouth Whalers took a 5-1 win over the Saginaw Spirit on Wednesday in Saginaw.

A.J. Jenks scored his first OHL goal and Jared Boll also tallied for the Whalers along with an assist on Jenks' opening goal.

Jan Mursak, a 2006 Detroit Red Wings' draft pick, scored the lone goal for the Spirit.

Michal Neuvirth earned his first OHL win with 31 saves, while Ryan Daniels (23 saves) suffered the defeat.

Plymouth (2-1-0) plays in Guelph tomorrow night and Saginaw (0-3-0) travels to Sarnia.

WEEKEND RECAP - Sept. 26, 2006

Last weekend saw the OHL and NAHL seasons start for all the Michigan-based teams and the NOJHL's Soo Indians continue their winning ways.

The Plymouth Whalers lost their season opener, 7-3, Friday night in Sarnia, but rebounded for a 7-6 shootout win Saturday night at home against Erie. Chris Terry, who won three shootouts for the Whalers last season, did it again Saturday.

Saginaw fell to the London Knights Friday night in London, 6-3, and then dropped a 4-3 decision to the Guelph Storm Saturday night at home. The Spirit host the Whalers tomorrow night.

The Alpena IceDiggers posted a weekend sweep over the Marquette Rangers, winning 2-1 Friday night in Alpena and then came back to take a 3-2 win Saturday night in Marquette. Alpena plays a home-and-home with the Traverse City North Stars this weekend, starting Friday in Alpena.

Traverse City suffered a 5-4 shootout loss Friday night to the USA Under-17 Team at home only to hand the U.S. their first loss of the season Saturday night, 5-1. Plymouth draft pick Kevin McCarey scored the shootout winner Friday.

The Indians went to 4-0 with two more weekend wins at Big Bear Arena, beating the defending champion Sudbury Northern Jr. Wolves, 6-5 in overtime, on Saturday before edging the Blind River Beavers, 2-1, on Sunday. Soo plays their first road game when they travel to Manitoulin to play the Islanders Saturday night.

Ward named Plymouth's captain

Overage defenseman Steve Ward has been named team captain of the Plymouth Whalers, while forwards Jared Boll, Evan Brophey and Andrew Fournier are alternate captains.

Boll and Brophey join Ward as Plymouth's three overage (20-year-old) players this season.

Ward came to Plymouth in a trade with Sarnia on Sept. 22, 2004 and has flourished for the Whalers, enjoying his best year in the OHL last season when he scored 14 goals with 33 assists for 47 points in 67 games.

Boll, a fourth-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft, came to the Whalers in a trade with Kingston on June 26, 2005. Boll scored 19 goals with 22 assists for 41 points and 205 penalty minutes in 65 games last year.

Brophey came to Plymouth last season in a trade with the Belleville Bulls on Nov. 23 and scored 19 goals with 42 assists for 61 points. Brophey’s biggest goal for Plymouth last season came on the final night of the regular season on March 18, when he scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Whalers clinched the West Division, 3-2, over Saginaw. Brophey, a third-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, was originally drafted by the Barrie Colts in 2002 and leads all Plymouth players with 253 career OHL games played.

Fournier was drafted by Plymouth in the 11th round (219th overall) of the 2003 OHL Priority Selection and had his best season in the OHL last year when he scored 23 goals in 67 games.

Ward photo by Walt Dmoch

North Stars set for home opener

The U.S. National Team Development Program actually fields two teams in the North American Hockey League: an Under-17 entry and an Under-18 squad. Between them, they play the requisite 62-game NAHL schedule in addition to their many international tournaments and collegiate exhibitions.

The players themselves typically progress from the U-17s to the U-18 club at the end of their first season in the program, meaning that when the Traverse City North Stars open their 2006-07 home schedule on Friday night at Centre ICE arena, they won’t be facing the same U-17 squad they took to the brink of playoff elimination last year.

“It might actually be a rematch of sorts when we play the U-18s later in the year, but this is a new team we get this weekend,” explained North Stars head coach Scott Gardiner. “We do know this: They’re every bit as big, strong, fast and skilled as the last edition of the U-17s – that much we are well aware of.”

Hand-picked from the best junior talent in the land, Team USA brings a unique and highly-proficient dynamic to the NAHL’s North Division.

“They’re all about the skill,” assessed North Stars forward Jonathan Juliano. “They’re always competitive, and of course you always want to go out there and beat the organization that’s considered the best junior team in the country.”

Juliano, who accrued five goals in last year’s postseason classic versus the U-17s, leads the Stars in scoring through four games this season with a quintet of assists – all five to different goal-scorers. He says that the NAHL’s ramped-up effort to call the games so tightly means he and his mates must endeavor to play it straight.

“We have to stay out of the (penalty) box, and do a way better job than we did last week at the Showcase,” said Juliano, whose Stars were whistled for an average of 25 minutes in minor penalties over the first four outings – against competition averaging only slightly fewer (23.5 min.). “We know we can score goals, but we have to be skating with five if we want to keep from giving them up.”

Center and captain Patrick Nagorsen is tops among TC goal-scorers with three – including the overtime game-cincher last Saturday against Wichita Falls – while Matt Hughes and Richie Zobak have a pair each. Zobak, who scored five goals in 62 games last season, also has a pair of assists.

Above all else, Gardiner, Juliano and the Stars players say they’re excited to get back to the friendly confines of Centre ICE arena for this weekend’s series.

“That always gets the boys fired up to come home to the best fans in the league,” Gardiner added. “They want to come out and give ‘em a good show, especially for the home opener.”
With the exception of two Sunday contests, the North Stars home games start a half-hour earlier this season, facing off at 7:05 p.m. Warm-ups begin at 6:35 p.m. and doors open 15 minutes before warm-ups.

Saginaw cuts pair, roster set at 25

The Saginaw Spirit cut two players today, setting their roster at 25 players heading into opening weekend.

Forward Kevin Tuckey has been released back to the Orangeville Crushers Junior A team and defenseman T.J. Brodie has been sent to the Leamington Flyers Junior B squad.

The changes reduce the active roster down to 25 players:

1990-Born Players -- 2
1989-Born Players -- 4
1988-Born Players -- 8
1987-Born Players -- 8
1986-Born Players -- 3

Forwards -- 14
Defensemen -- 9
Goalies -- 2

Ritter garners weekly NAHL honor

Marquette goalie Stephen Ritter posted a flawless 3-0 mark to compliment a 1.33 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage as the expansion Rangers posted a 3-1 record at the NAHL Showcase and was named the league's Defensive Player of ther Week.

“Stephen's play is exactly what we expected from him, and obviously what a club in our position as an expansion team needs,” said Rangers coach Leigh Mendelson. “His maturity and poise on the ice were a great help to our players as they got familiar with each other.”

A freshman at Providence College last season, the 19-year-old Ritter is a 4-2-4 transfer student eligible for Division I hockey in 2007-08.

“I certainly expect him to attract a lot of NCAA interest,” said Mendelson.

North Stars and Rangers win Saturday

A nice parting shot seems like it takes two hours off the long bus ride home – and after a riding the high of a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory against Wichita Falls on Saturday in the final game of the North American Hockey League Showcase in suburban Minneapolis, the Traverse City North Stars might not even come down until they cross the Mackinaw Bridge.

“Jeez, that sure helps the ride home,” said relieved Stars head coach Scott Gardiner. “It wasn’t our best game – that came in our loss to Santa Fe on Friday – but we showed a lot of character and determination today, and that was great to see.”

Traverse City trailed 3-1 and 4-2 in the third period before Patrick Nagorsen pulled the Stars to within a goal with 5:11 left in the third and Richie Zobak sent the game into overtime on a clutch lamplighter with :41 remaining in regulation. Nagorsen bagged the game-winner on an unassisted effort with 1:08 to go in the extra session.

“I was already starting to think about who our shooters were going to be for the shootout,” Gardiner admitted. “But the way we held together and stormed back like that – that was the best way for us to end it.”

The veritable conga line to the penalty box continued on Saturday in the wake of the NAHL’s crackdown on illegal impediment, affording the teams a combined 21 power play opportunities. Sean Nealon’s seal-breaking goal just 2:10 into the contest came with the Wildcats a man up, while Zobak’s first period retort was also with a man advantage.

Wichita Falls’ Ville Aman had the only goal of the second period, and opened the third with another to put the North Stars in a two-goal hole for the first time with 16:35 to play. After Alex Prough got TC close with an even-strength marker at 10:24 of the third, Adam Cardwell once again gave the Cats a two-goal bulge, setting up the crunch time heroics of Zobak and Nagorsen.

Jonathan Juliano, the team’s leading scorer – and table-setter – drew his fifth helper of the season on Zobak’s first goal on Saturday, while Nagorsen, Zach Hitch and Arthur Bidwill were also credited with assists in the come-from-behind triumph. Joe Greener set up Zobak’s game-extender.

“We saw some very good teams this week, and it was a good experience for us overall,” Gardiner surmised. “The South Division has some very god teams, and I thought we acquitted ourselves nicely. We still have plenty of things to work on, but now we have a better idea where we are having seen these teams.”

In other games at the Showcase Saturday...

Marquette beat the Fairbanks Ice Dogs by a 5-2 margin. Jake Saville scored a pair and Nick Kosinski, Mike Macari and Nic Weight added goals as well. Stephen Ritter stopped 25 shots in net for the Rangers.

The St. Louis Bandits beat the Alpena IceDiggers, 6-1. Nolan Craner scored for Alpena and Brandon Stephenson and Shawn Hunwick combined for 43 saves.

Whalers and Spirit both win again

A.J. Jenks’ goal at 2:35 of the third period snapped a 1-1 tie and the Plymouth Whalers went on to defeat the Erie Otters, 3-1, Saturday afternoon in Saginaw.

Plymouth finishes the preseason 5-1-0.

Jenks, Plymouth’s seventh-round draft choice last spring, also assisted on Wes Cunnigham’s insurance goal with 1:14 remaining in the third period.

Plymouth came from behind for the victory after spotting Erie a 1-0 lead after one period of play on Nick Palmieri’s goal at 4:28 of the first period. But the Whalers tied the game at 1-1 at 9:40 of the second period. Joe McCann outworked an Erie defender for the puck on the left wing and scored with a low shot from the lower rim of the left circle that beat Otters’ goaltender Ryan Ludzik.

That set the stage for Jenks’ game-winner and Cunningham’s insurance marker in the third period.

Plymouth outshot Erie, 33-23. Jeremy Smith played the entire game in goal for the Whalers, stopping 22 Erie shots. Ludzik started in goal for Erie, stopping 17-of-18 Plymouth shots. Jeff Dawson replaced Ludzik in the Erie goal midway through the second period and turned aside 8-of-10 Whaler shots.

In the second game of the day and final game of the tournament, the Saginaw Spirit beat Team Mexico, 10-0. Jack Combs, Patrick Asselin, Kevin Tuckey and Tim Priamo each scored twice and T.J. Brodie and Tomas Zaborsky added singles. Chris Chappell and Combs added four assists, Priamo with three and Ryan Berard and Zaborsky contributed two helpers apiece. Goalie Jovica Zelenbaba finished with eight saves for the Spirit.

Whalers and Spirit both win Friday

The Mexican Hockey Tournament got underway at the Dow Event Center on Friday with the Plymouth Whalers and Saginaw Spirit each putting a notch in the win bracket.

Team Mexico and the Whalers kicked off the tournament with the Whalers winning 12-0. Brett Bellemore (2), Vern Cooper (2), Frank Grzesczak, Kaine Geldart, Dan Collins, Andrew Fournier, Steve Ward, Joe McCann, Zack Shepley and Wes Cunningham all scored. McCann, a former Spirit player, added three assists in the game.

The Spirit beat the Erie Otters, 4-1, in the nightcap. Tomas Zaborsky, Patrick Asselin, Tommy Mannino and Tyler Haskins scored to back Ryan Daniels' 26 saves in net.

The tournament resumes Saturday when the Whalers take on the Otters at 4:00 p.m. The tournament will then conclude with the highly-anticipated Mexico vs. Spirit game at 7:11 p.m.

Bellemore photo by Matt Mackinder

All three Michigan NAHL teams lose Friday

It wasn't a good day in Blaine, Minn., Friday for the three Michigan teams at the NAHL Showcase. All three teams suffered defeats heading into today's final day of competition.

The Alpena IceDiggers lost, 5-1, to the three-time defending national champion Texas Tornado. Todd Rudasill scored Alpena's lone goal and Shawn Hunwick took the loss in net making 32 saves. Alpena plays the St. Louis Bandits today at 3:30 p.m.

Traverse City fell to the Santa Fe Roadrunners, 4-3. Jameson Raymond, Brett Englebright and Kory Kaunisto tallied for the North Stars. Goaltender Ryan Donovan stopped 24 shots. Traverse City battles the Wichita Falls Wildcats at 9:00 a.m.

The Alaska Avalanche dropped the Marquette Rangers by an 8-5 margin. Brodie Zuk had two goals and an assist and Nic Weight added two goals. Iiro Junnila scored the other. Matt Brooker allowed all eight goals and took the loss, but still made 22 saves. The Rangers tangle with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs tonight at 6:00 p.m.

Rangers, IceDiggers win; TC downed

The Marquette Rangers and Alpena IceDiggers are both now 2-0 on the season as each team continued their winning ways yesterday at the NAHL Showcase. Traverse City wasn't as fortunate as the North Stars dropped a tight game to Bismarck.

Marquette took a 4-2 victory over the Southern Minnesota Express. The Rangers got goals from four different players in Iiro Junnila, Nic Weight, Nick Kosinski and Neeco Belanger. Goaltender Stephen Ritter stopped 29 shots. Today's game is scheduled for noon against the Alaska Avalanche.

The IceDiggers scored five power-play goals en route to a 7-4 win against the North Iowa Outlaws. Captain Nolan Craner tallied a goal and added three assists while linemates Drew Pierson and Todd Rudasill each chipped in two goals while Rudasill also added an assist. Assistant captain Ben Kitzmiller scored twice and added an assist while rookie backliner Chad Billins recorded three assists. Shawn Hunwick earned the win making 28 saves in net and also added an assist on the Craner goal. Alpena plays the Texas Tornado today at 3:30 p.m.

Traverse City fell to the Bobcats, 4-3. Goaltender Stefan Shively made 36 saves and Jared Mullen, Zach Hitch and captain Patrick Nagorsen scored for the 1-1 North Stars, who play the Santa Fe Roadrunners today at 4:30 p.m.

Trio of Michigan teams win at Showcase

The Alpena IceDiggers, Marquette Rangers and Traverse City North Stars all won their first games yesterday at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minn.

Alpena took a 4-1 victory over the North Iowa Outlaws. Erik Peterson, Todd Rudasill and Justin Stadler each had a goal and an assist while captain Nolan Craner also registered a goal. Shawn Hunwick recorded his first NAHL victory by stopping 28 of the 29 shots he faced. The IceDiggers battle the Alexandria Blizzard tonight at 7:00 p.m.

Marquette beat the Springfield Jr. Blues, 2-0, behind goals from Nick Kosinski and Brodie Zuk. Stephen Ritter earned the shutout in goal with 31 saves. The Rangers play the Southern Minnesota Express tonight at 7:00 p.m.

The North Stars beat the Fargo-Moorhead Jets, 5-3, as goaltender Ryan Donovan stopped 34 shots. Matt Hughes scored a pair and Aaron Pietila, Joe Greener and Travis Hamway also tallied. Traverse City takes on the Bismarck Bobcats today at 2:30 p.m.

Two more Plymouth picks choose NCAA

Two Plymouth Whalers draft picks will not call the OHL home any time soon.

Forwards Trevor Nill and Jonathan Kearns have decided on the college route as Nill, a Compuware midget player, will skate for Michigan State in 2007 and Kearns is off to Army.

Nill was Plymouth's 14th round pick in 2005 and Kearns was taken in the same round in 2003.

North Stars ready for Showcase

There’s nothing wrong with practices and scrimmages, but the Traverse City North Stars are growing a little tired of both.

After more than two weeks of tuning and tweaking, the Stars will finally get a chance to line up across from a genuine North American Hockey League foe on Wednesday, when the puck drops on the NAHL Showcase tournament in suburban Minneapolis.

“We’re ready to jump right in, to hit the ground running,” said North Stars head coach Scott Gardiner. “Guys are ready for something different than practices. You can only do so much before you really need a real game situation to make some evaluations and adjustments, and we’re climbing the walls. Guys are ready for a real game, and so am I.”

The Showcase, which is being played to open the NAHL slate for the first time in the history of the event, will pit Traverse City against four unknown quantities: Fargo-Moorhead, Bismarck, Santa Fe, and Wichita Falls (Tx.). Of the four, only Santa Fe missed out on the 2005-06 postseason.

“By all accounts, these are good teams we drew,” Gardiner added. “We don’t now much about them, but that’s actually a positive. You can truly focus on what you own team needs to do, and not get as caught up in trying to react to their tendencies like you might with more familiar teams.”

The club named centerman Patrick Nagorsen as its captain for 2006-07 on Monday, placing the Orchard Lake St. Mary’s product in a leadership role. Nagorsen says the extra lettering on his sweater is symbolic but important.

“It means a lot to be able to try to lead this group of guys,” said Nagorsen, who led the North Stars in scoring last year with 17 goals and 25 assists over 57 contests. “It doesn’t really change a whole lot – you may have a little bit of a bull’s-eye on your back or guys might look to you for something – but you still go out there every day and work hard whether you’re the captain or on the far end of the bench, and that’s what I’ll still strive toward.”

Jameson Raymond, a rugged defenseman who came over from Bozeman when the Ice Dogs franchise suspended operations this off-season, was named as the Stars’ associate captain.

“He’s a leader,” said Gardiner of Raymond, who helped lead Bozeman to an amazing 48-9-1 mark and spot in the NAHL Robertson Cup championship game in 2005-06. “We could see that right away. He’s rock-solid on defense, and sets an example on and off the ice.”

The Stars will also publicly unveil a host of other additions at forward from the rosters of inactive NAHL clubs on Wednesday, including Travis Hamway, who led Billings in scoring last year with 17 goals and 35 helpers in 51 outings, Aaron Pietila and Joe Greener from the Cleveland Barons, and Matt Hughes, who played alongside Raymond last season in Bozeman.

“We’re excited to get going,” Nagorsen said. “Sure, we don’t know a lot about these teams we’re playing other than they play a style of hockey that might be a little more gritty and grindy. But you go into every game you play from the time you’re a pee wee with the same mindset: you’re out there to win a hockey game, and it doesn’t really matter what the other jersey says.

“We can get tough when we have to play that way, but we can also beat teams with finesse as well.”

Cadillac's Peterson settles in with 'Cats

By Marc Vieau, Cadillac News

CADILLAC - Nate Peterson has been everywhere, man.

He's been to Traverse City.

He's been to North Bay, Ontario, Canada.

He's been to Blind River, Ontario.

His next stop is at least back in the United States - in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Peterson, a 2005 Cadillac High School graduate, is still chasing the goal of playing collegiate hockey somewhere.

Now 19 years of age, Peterson signed with the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League over the weekend.

The Bobcats are in the NAHL's West Division, opposite teams like the Traverse City North Stars and Alpena Ice Diggers, which are in the East Division.

The move to Bismarck came through the help of current Cadillac hockey coach Scott Graham, who helped Peterson get a chance.

“Coach Graham knows one of the assistant coaches out there, so he called out there and talked to both coaches for me,” Peterson said. “Then I signed up for an open tryout in Detroit, they liked me and invited me back to Bismarck to try out last weekend. We played in some scrimmages and things like that.”

When the weekend was over, the Bobcats' staff posted a list of who made it and Peterson found his name.

He reports to North Dakota on Aug. 27 for training camp with the season set to begin on Sept. 13.

He takes with him some opened eyes about the business of hockey after bouncing around a bit during the 2005-06 season.

Peterson began the season in Traverse City where he played in just nine games.

From there, he was traded to North Bay of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, where he was on the team for just three weeks before being traded again.

At his next stop - in Blind River, Ont., - Peterson stuck around enough to play in 30 games for the Beavers, scoring three goals and 12 assists.

“Hockey is more than a sport; it's a business, too,” he said.

While in Bismarck, players stay with host families but do pay $250 to cover expenses.

The 2006-07 season is the key one when it comes to Peterson getting a chance to play collegiately - something that's been his goal all along.

He can only play in the NAHL until the age of 20, making this the last season he's eligible to play in the junior league.

“It's a huge year for me to get better if I want to move on,” Peterson said.

“I am just looking for a scholarship and get someone else to pay for college.

“I want to get in lots of ice time and get better.”

He's had contact with Lake Superior State University, Ferris State University and couple smaller schools out east like Salem State, Utica College and Castleton College in Vermont.

Alpena plays NOJHL foe this week

After playing two home games last weekend, the Alpena IceDiggers are preparing to play a home-and-home series against the Soo Thunderbirds of the NOJHL.

Alpena will travel north of the border to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, tomorrow for a 7:30 p.m. contest and then the same two teams will tangle in Alpena on Friday with a 7:00 p.m. faceoff.

"I would like to see us play for the entire 60 minutes," Alpena coach-GM Kenny Miller said. "I felt once we got the lead last weekend, we sat back and we know in order to win in the NAHL you cannot do that. We also need to capitalize on our scoring opportunities more. We should have scored more goals than we did last weekend."

These two games will conclude the exhibition schedule for the IceDiggers before they head to Blaine, Minn., for the NAHL Showcase starting next Wednesday.

The IceDiggers will once again be without Korey O'Brien, Tyler Coe and Ryan King for the third consecutive game.

"Trainer Brad Nash has done a great job with these guys to make sure they are healthy for the Blaine trip," added Miller. "Brad and I want to make sure they are 100 percent for the regular season opener, so we have options when I fill out the lineup card for the North Iowa game (on Sept. 13)."

Whalers go to 2-0 in preseason

Joe Gaynor’s goal at 4:57 of the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and the Plymouth Whalers went on to defeat the Windsor Spitfires, 4-2, in an OHL preseason game at Windsor Arena on Monday afternoon.

Plymouth is now 2-0 in the preseason; Windsor is 0-2.

Jared Boll, Tom Sestito and Andrew Fournier (empty net) also scored for the Whalers.

Windsor outshot Plymouth, 29-23. Whalers' goaltender Jeremy Smith started and stopped 14 shots in 30 minutes of work. Justin Garay stopped all 13 Windsor shots he faced in relief.

The Whalers are off until Friday night when they play in Sarnia against the Sting. Plymouth’s next preseason home game is Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Compuware Sports Arena against Sarnia.

WHALERS IN NHL CAMPS: John Armstrong (Calgary), James Neal (Dallas), Dan Collins (Florida), Evan Brophey (Chicago), Steve Ward (Toronto), Michal Neuvirth (Washington) and Boll and Sestito (Columbus) will be leaving Plymouth for their NHL training camps by Wednesday. Ryan McGinnis is already with Los Angeles.

Spirit cut roster down to 27

The 2006 Saginaw Spirit training camp ended Sunday with a 5-3 victory by Team White in the annual Blue-White game. With the camp concluding, the Spirit head into preseason play with a roster of 27 players -- 15 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies. A total of 16 players have been carried over from the 2005-2006 squad.

Forwards:
Patrick Asselin
Ryan Berard
Chris Chappell
Andrew Clouthier
Jack Combs
Tom Craig
Ryan Garlock
Tyler Haskins
Jamie Klie
Ryan McDonough
Jan Mursak
Tim Priamo
Tom Pyatt
Zack Torquato
Tomas Zaborsky

Defensemen:
Christopher Breen
T.J. Brodie
Matt Corrente
Nick Crawford
Scott Fletcher
Tommy Mannino
Mitch Maunu
Patrick McNeill
Garrett Sinfield

Goalies:
Ryan Daniels
Scott Zacharias
Jovica Zelenbaba

Camp joins Spirit coaching staff

The Saginaw Spirit has added Shawn Camp to the team's hockey staff.

Camp joins the Spirit as an assistant coach and assistant to the general manager, joining head coach-GM Bob Mancini, associate coach Ian Herbers and assistant coaches Bill Paige and Randy Wilson.

"I am happy to add a coach of Shawn's caliber to our organization," said Mancini. "He will be a great compliment to our staff."

Terms of the contract were not disclosed, nor were any plans to re-organize the Spirit coaching staff.

Camp has been coaching hockey for over 20 years. In 1997, he was an assistant coach of the QMJHL's Hull Olympiques in their quest of the Memorial Cup. In 2002, Camp was an assistant coach with the Memorial Cup-champion Guelph Storm and won the 2004 OHL Championship with the Storm as their head coach.

In 2005, he was the head coach for the Western Conference in the All-Star Classic and the past two years coached the Sarnia Sting.

Camp has coached internationally as well, winning a gold medal as head coach of Canada's National Under-18 team in 2005 and another gold medal as an assistant coach in 2004. He also won a silver medal as head coach at the 2005 Junior World Cup.

"It's a real pleasure to be here working with Bob, Ian and all the staff," said Camp. "We have a very exciting team and are hoping to have a good run this year."

In addition to coaching with the Spirit, Camp also coaches with the Ottawa Senators' Pro Development Camp.

Plymouth topples Windsor, 7-4, Saturday

The Plymouth Whalers scored five goals in the first period to build a 5-1 lead after 20 minutes and never looked back in a 7-4 victory over the Windsor Spitfires Saturday afternoon at the Compuware Sports Arena in the first OHL preseason game for both teams.

John Armstrong (left) led the Plymouth attack with three goals and an assist. Andrew Fournier, Tom Sestito, Leo Jenner and Evan Brophey added single goals for the Whalers. Defenseman Brett Bellemore added two assists and Ryan McGinnis was +3 on the Plymouth blue line.

Michal Neuvirth started in goal for Plymouth and stopped 10 of 11 shots he faced in 29 minutes of work. Kyle Jendra relieved Neuvirth in the second period and stopped 11 shots in 31 minutes.

Plymouth scratches in the game included Chad Beal, Justin Garay, James Neal, Zack Shepley, Jeremy Smith, Chris Terry and Steve Ward.

Plymouth and Windsor meet again Monday afternoon at 2:00 pm at Windsor Arena.

NOTEBOOK: Plymouth cut the following players after Friday afternoon’s practice – draft choices Steven McDonald, Tom Kane, Emyle Morgan, Jordon O’Neill and John Chayka and free agents Josh Nichol and Nick Hanforth.

Photo by Walt Dmoch

IceDiggers complete sweep of Rangers

The Alpena IceDiggers completed a two-game preseason sweep against the Marquette Rangers this afternoon with a 4-2 victory at Northern Lights Arena.

Todd Rudasill again led the charge with a goal and an assist while veteran Ricardo Yesue netted his first of the preseason. Newcomer Kerry Bence scored his first goal in an IceDiggers' uniform, while captain Nolan Craner (pictured) scored for the second time in as many nights.

Rookie Brandon Stephenson started in goal allowing one goal on 16 shots. He was replaced by local goalkeeper Justin Marzean, who made 12 saves on 13 shots.

The IceDiggers will now hit the road for an exhibition game against the Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Alpena will then host the Thunderbirds on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Northern Lights.

Alpena beats Marquette in preseason play

The Alpena IceDiggers played host to the Marquette Rangers in preseason action last night at Northern Lights Arena and came away with a 4-2 victory.

The IceDiggers were lead offensively by Todd Rudasill (left), who scored a goal and added two assists. Zach Barron netted two goals and Nolan Craner also added a goal and an assist.

Shawn Hunwick started the game in goal and allowed two goals on 10 shots. Midway through the second period, Brandon Stephenson entered the game and held the Rangers scoreless, stopping all 13 shots he faced.

Coach Kenny Miller was pleased with the team effort.

"I thought we came out playing hard," Miller said. "And then when we got the lead, we sat back a bit. We talked after the game and we will make sure we continue to get better and compete the entire sixty minutes."

Alpena was whistled for 18 minutes in penalties while Marquette racked up 28 total minutes.

The same two teams return to the ice this afternoon for a 12:30 p.m. faceoff.

Saginaw adds Junior B affiliate

The Leamington Flyers Junior B team, part of the Western (Ontario) Junior Hockey League, have been named the new affiliate team for the Saginaw Spirit.

The Flyers' main objective is to prepare players for a higher level of hockey both on and off the ice. As an affiliate team, the Spirit will have the opportunity to send its prospects to Leamington, just outside Windsor, to continue their development.

A formal announcement will be made prior to Saginaw's annual Blue-White Game on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

Bence added to IceDiggers' roster

The Alpena IceDiggers announced today they have acquired forward Kerry Bence from the St. Louis Bandits for a 2007 draft pick.

Bence played with the Texarkana Bandits last season before the team moved to St Louis for the upcoming campaign.

The 6-foot, 195-pound St. Clair native will add a strong work ethic and toughness head coach Kenny Miller is looking for.

"Kerry is a great addition to our club," Miller said. "He is a veteran player on a team that already has several veterans with NAHL experience. He will fit in really well with our team and I am very happy to have him with us."

Bence played in 33 games last season netting three goals and 10 points with Texarkana. Bence and his new teammates will play his former club at the NAHL Showcase on Saturday, September 16. He played the 2004-05 season with the Belle Tire major midgets.

"I am really looking forward to playing in Alpena and helping the team," Bence said. "With the guys we have here already I would expect us to have a great season. We have a lot of guys with experience in this locker room. I am excited about this season."

With Bence joining the team, it brings the roster to the maximum 25 players that USA Hockey allows in Tier II junior hockey.