When the Marquette Rangers visit the Traverse City North Stars Centre ICE arena this Saturday night, it will mark the first round in a season-long quest for the Cup between the North American Hockey League North Division rivals.Yes, the Robertson Cup is each NAHL club’s ultimate goal, but the Stars and Rangers will be playing for another shiny chalice over the course of their 12-game season series: the Smith-Barney Challenge Cup.
The Smith-Barney Challenge Cup, donated by the company’s offices in both Marquette and Traverse City, will be displayed at each game between the clubs, and will be decided on the same point system used in the NAHL standings: two points for a win, one point for an overtime appearance, zero points for a loss. The winning team will retain the trophy in the off-season. In the event of a series tie, the trophy will go with the winner of the final game, slated for March 29 in Marquette.
“It adds a little spice to the rivalry, no question,” said North Stars head coach-GM Anthony Palumbo. “But it’s also illustrative of a collaboration between the clubs. We may go at it on the ice, but we have a great working relationship with their organization. That’s important given our clubs’ geographic proximity within the league footprint.”
“This will greatly enhance what’s already become terrific rivalry” said Rangers president and GM David Saint-Onge. “A challenge series like this gives one team bragging rights at the end of the year, which we believe will make our games against one another even more enjoyable for the fans and players of both organizations. Since we play one other 12 times during the season, it will also keep the games fresh for all involved, due to the added incentive of winning the trophy.”
When the Stars and Rangers lace ’em up on Saturday, both teams will have played road contests the night before, with Traverse City (3-0-3) visiting the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-17 (6-3-1) squad and Marquette (4-2-0) playing a Friday contest in Alpena (3-2-1).
“It doesn’t matter who has bus legs in this division,” Palumbo said. “Every night is going to be a dogfight. I think we saw at the showcase that it’s possible that the North Division has six of the top 10 teams in the league. We also saw Marquette in Blaine (Minn.) and came away very impressed. They’re a very solid club.”
The Rangers are led by forward Josh Bussell (4 G-5 A) - who scored a pair of goals and assisted on a third in a 6-4 win over the U-17s last weekend – along with Nic Weight (25 goals in 2006-07), while Nick Condon (7 pts./+3) and Derek Grogan (2 G -3 A) anchor the Marquette blue line. Saturday will also mark the return of former North Stars forward Aaron Pietila. The Brighton product was traded to the Rangers this spring so he could play juniors with his cousin, winger Chad Pietila. Beau Christian (2-0-0, 2.40 GAA) and Matt Brooker (2-2-0, 3.67) return in net this season for Marquette.
“They’re a balanced team that can do a lot of things well,” Palumbo assessed. “And we all know what the U.S. team’s all about. I’d expect nothing less from this weekend than three very tough, very physical games.”
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The Marquette Rangers and Traverse City North Stars have agreed to terms for a challenge series between the two North American Hockey League North Division teams. The Smith-Barney Challenge Cup will be an annual event, and will begin this year at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City when the Rangers come to town this Saturday.
“This will greatly enhance what’s already become terrific rivalry,” said Rangers president and GM David Saint-Onge. “A challenge series like this gives one team bragging rights at the end of the year, which we believe will make our games against one another even more enjoyable for the fans and players of both organizations. Since we play one other 12 times during the season, it will also keep the games fresh for all involved, due to the added incentive of winning the trophy.”
NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld hailed the decision as a real positive for the league and the Challenge Cup will be something the North American Hockey League supports completely.
“This will greatly enhance what’s already become terrific rivalry,” said Rangers president and GM David Saint-Onge. “A challenge series like this gives one team bragging rights at the end of the year, which we believe will make our games against one another even more enjoyable for the fans and players of both organizations. Since we play one other 12 times during the season, it will also keep the games fresh for all involved, due to the added incentive of winning the trophy.”
NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld hailed the decision as a real positive for the league and the Challenge Cup will be something the North American Hockey League supports completely.
“The rivalries that have developed in our league over the years have helped establish the NAHL as one of the top junior leagues in the country,” Franfenfeld said. “The Challenge Cup Series between Marquette and Traverse City is extra special because of the long, storied roots the North American Hockey League has in Michigan.”
The Smith-Barney Challenge Cup will be displayed at each game between the two teams, and will be decided on the same point system used by The North American Hockey League: two points for a win, one point for an overtime appearance, zero points for a loss. The winning team will retain the trophy for the off-season. In the event of a tie, the trophy will go with the winner of the final game.
Rangers head coach Randy Enders agrees that having Challenge Cup to play for is something his players will take seriously.
“Any time you have a trophy or a piece of hardware involved it makes a difference,” Enders said. "Take a look at games like the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe (Wisconsin vs. Minnesota) or the Little Brown Jug in college football and how much pride the players of those teams take in winning those things. This may not be to that level because it’s new, but it’s something our team will be proud to fight for, as it’s a benefit not only to our club, but to our city as well.”
The Smith-Barney Challenge Cup was donated by Smith-Barney offices in both Marquette and Traverse City and will be engraved with the winning team at the end of each season.
The Smith-Barney Challenge Cup will be displayed at each game between the two teams, and will be decided on the same point system used by The North American Hockey League: two points for a win, one point for an overtime appearance, zero points for a loss. The winning team will retain the trophy for the off-season. In the event of a tie, the trophy will go with the winner of the final game.
Rangers head coach Randy Enders agrees that having Challenge Cup to play for is something his players will take seriously.
“Any time you have a trophy or a piece of hardware involved it makes a difference,” Enders said. "Take a look at games like the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe (Wisconsin vs. Minnesota) or the Little Brown Jug in college football and how much pride the players of those teams take in winning those things. This may not be to that level because it’s new, but it’s something our team will be proud to fight for, as it’s a benefit not only to our club, but to our city as well.”
The Smith-Barney Challenge Cup was donated by Smith-Barney offices in both Marquette and Traverse City and will be engraved with the winning team at the end of each season.
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