With a bevy of departures to the NCAA ranks and United States Hockey League, the Traverse City North Stars made a move to help bolster their forward corps, trading for Motor City Metal Jackets winger Will Badner.The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Cadillac native scored 12 goals and assisted on 10 others over 50 games in 2010-11, and will be counted on to help restock the Stars’ goal pantry.
“We’re excited to have the opportunity to get a player like Will,” said Traverse City head coach Chad Fournier. “We get some experience and some scoring punch, plus he’s a local kid. We saw him at the beginning of the year last season, then again at the end of the year and there was a lot of progress, a lot of improvement. It’s a good pickup.”
Badner was All-Big North Conference first team and Division III All-State first team as a senior at Cadillac High in 2010 before joining the Metal Jackets for that team’s final season in metropolitan Detroit. The Jackets are now the Jamestown (N.Y.) Ironmen after relocating this summer, but will remain in the North American Hockey League’s North Division.
Badner will join a group of veteran returning forwards that includes Alec Shields (51 points over 50 games in 2010-11), Alexander Taulien, Michal Toman, Chris Waterstreet and fellow local products Eric Rivard, Jared Van Wormer and Mitchell Snider.
“We have a good group returning up front, with the returning guys and our picks and tenders,” Fournier continued. “But this final open camp will be an important one in terms of finding some pieces to the puzzle. We’re hoping for a good turnout and getting to find the last few touches to the roster.”
The North Stars will put a cap on camping season with the final open tryout camp, set for July 26-28 at Centre ICE Arena. The club’s annual training camp will follow July 29-31 at Centre ICE, and will feature the top players from the summer as well as returning vets, tenders and draft picks.
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