Published: October 26, 2009 06:55 am      

Late Saturday: Stars throttle Rangers

TRAVERSE CITY -- The Traverse City North Stars broke out the whooping sticks on Saturday night, handing division-leading Marquette a lopsided 7-2 loss.

Erik McLintock scored a hat trick by the midpoint of the second period and the Stars led 5-0 after McLintock's goal 8:38 into the stanza. TC ended up with a whopping 46-17 advantage in shots on goal.

McLintock opened up the scoring 5:21 into the game off Curtis Heinz and Chris Salomone assists, and Andy Huff made it 2-0 after 20 minutes with his NAHL-leading 12th goal of the season.

Kyle Jean struck 1:32 into the second off Travis White and McLintock assists and McLintock netted back-to-back goals, the first 13 seconds after Jean's. Doug Clifford assisted the second of McLintock's goals and Garrett Thompson set up McLintock's last two.

Marquette finally got on the board late in the second, but Traverse City answered with Josh Miller and Heinz goals in the first 7:19 of the third. White, McLintock, Miller and Trevor Campbell drew assists on the third-period goals.

Drew Strandburg made 15 saves for Traverse City.