Published: September 17, 2009 07:20 am      

Stars top Alaska in Showcase

Strandburg registers shutout

BLAINE, Minn. -- That didn't take long.

Drew Strandburg recorded his first Traverse City North Stars shutout in just his second game in a 3-0 blanking of Alaska at the NAHL Showcase.

The loss is Alaska's first of the season, dropping the Avalanche to 3-1.

Traverse City (2-1-0) scored a goal in each period, including Andy Huff's second of the season in the final minute of the opening stanza on a North Stars power play.

Huff assisted on Kelin's Ainsworth's first NAHL goal at 13:19 of the second period, and Curtis Heinz notched a shorthanded empty-netter in the final minute.

Phil Wendecker set up Huff along with Dan Radke, while captain Travis White assisted on the Heinz tally.

The North Stars face the USHL's Team USA tonight in the second round.