Published: January 08, 2009 07:00 pm      

Slow start dooms North Stars to defeat

Alpena goes on to a 5-1 victory

ALPENA -- Traverse City trailed 2-0 in the first three minutes Thursday and fell to host Alpena 5-1 in a North American Hockey League contest.

The North Stars (18-8-5) surrendered goals to Jim McCusker and Alexander Kuqali to fall behind early.

Traverse City was able to get on the scoreboard late in the first period when Kyle Bonis scored off a Phil Wendecker assist.

Alpena (18-12-3) put the game away in the second period with goals from Tyler Pilmore and Mike DeGrazia for a 4-1 lead.

DeGrazia then made it 5-1 with an empty-net goal in the third period.

CJ Motte made 23 saves in net for the North Stars while Nick Graves had 25 saves for the IceDiggers.

With the loss, Traverse City fell two points behind Mahoning Valley in the North Division while Alpena moved two points behind the Stars for second place.

TC will host Marquette today at Centre ICE.