TRAVERSE CITY -- Decision time isn't easy, and it won't get any easier next time, either.
The Traverse City North Stars conducted their first open tryout camp of the off-season this weekend, culminating in Sunday's Blue & White All-Star game.
The Stars had to trim from 80 players to 41 for Sunday's game. More players were let go on Sunday.
"It was a competitive camp," Stars second-year coach/GM Anthony Palumbo said. "Our All-Star game was the best in my short time here. We let a lot of good players go Saturday after two days. A lot of guys showed they want a spot on this team.
"I thought the quality of players from Friday to Sunday was great. Compared to last year, it was a better camp."
Palumbo said all but about nine of the 41 players on the All-Star teams will be invited back to the team's June 13-15 camp that will have a similarly-sized group of about 80 prospects. The Stars will then hold an invitation-only training camp July 25-27.
The NAHL draft will be held May 21, where the Stars will likely have five draft picks.
A team's number of draft picks is determined by subtracting the number of tenders signed and returning protected players from 30. TC has already signed seven players to tenders and have 18 protection-eligible veterans.
Defense is one area where the Stars need to bring in some help.
Chris Heineman will be a key member of a blueline unit that is facing a major overhaul this off-season. Four of the top seven defenders from a year ago aged out -- Alex Breeden, Ben Plocar, Jonathan Sheridan and NAHL All-Star Jameson Raymond -- leaving Heineman, Tyler Stephens and Phil Wendecker on the blueline.
"We lost a lot of good players last year and need to get them replaced," Heineman said.
One player who could step in is tendered player Mike Schenfeld of Lake Forest Academy.
The prep defender played for two years with Stars goaltender Chris Paliafito at Lake Forest, along with fellow Stars tender Danny McAuliffe. Schenfeld said Paliafito may go to Colgate, but could return to TC for another year before leaving for the college ranks.
"He told me it was a good place to play," Schenfeld said.
The Blue Team was loaded with eight returning North Stars veterans, but the White Team (with only four) prevailed 6-5.
Heineman's White team held on after holding a 6-3 lead and 27-14 advantage in shots after two periods.
"The leadership from the veterans really helped pick up the pace," Heineman said. "The other guys fed off it."
Heineman, who formed a blueline tandem with Schenfeld in the All-Star game, said the rookie could step right in.
"I really felt he's ready for it," Heineman said.
Among the other players who impressed Heineman were former TC West forward Todd Knaus -- "If Todd plays like that," Heineman said, "he'll have no problem playing in this league" -- along with Bay Reps netminder Andrew Mills and Chicago forward Chris Salomone (6-0, 170).
"For an open camp, the competition was great," Schenfeld said. "I can't wait to see what the competition is like in the main camp."
WHITE OUT: Brad Scurfield scored twice to lead the White to a 6-5 victory over the Blue in the camp-culminating Blue & White All-Star game on Sunday. Scurfield, one of five players from the junior-B Flint Generals selected for Sunday's contest, also assisted on a John Aho (Marquette HS) goal. Salomone and TC veteran Clinton Bourbonais also scored for the White Team, while Robert Scott (Flint Jr. B) netted the game-winner. Nate Urbaniak led the Blue squad with two goals and an assist, while fellow returnees Jarrod LaBelle and Eric O'Hearn (TC Central) also tallied. Defenseman Clayton Allen (Ohio Jackets U-18) chipped in with a goal and a helper for the Blue.
DIVISION BELL: The North Stars will probably see a slightly different division next season, as the Southern Minnesota Express moved to the downriver Detroit area and will be called the Motown Machine next season. The Machine will likely replace defending Robertson Cup champion St. Louis in the North Division when new divisional alignments are released around the time of the league draft.
The NAHL will also add another team, the Albert Lea (Minn.) Thunder, for the 2008-09 season. The Thunder are owned by Chicago businessman and former Traverse City Enforcers owner Barry Soskin.
ICE CHIPS: Heineman, returning for his third year with the Stars, joined fellow defender Wendecker in playing some forward in Saturday's scrimmages. ... Former TC Central goalie Tyler Stricker has participated in every North Stars tryout camp held in the team's history. Stricker, who was the winning goalie when Central won the Division 2 state title over current Stars' netminder Brandon Stephenson's Saline team in 2005, played for the Marquette Electricians last year.
Northern lights
Upcoming Traverse City North Stars dates:
May 21 -- NAHL Draft
June 13-15 -- Tryout camp
July 25-27 -- Invite-only camp
Sept. 17-20 -- NAHL Showcase
Starry eyes
A look at how the 2008-09 TC North Stars could shape up:
AGED OUT
Name / Pos.
Jameson Raymond / D
Matt Hughes / F
Ben Plocar / D
Jonathan Sheridan / D
Alex Breeden / D
LIKELY TO RETURN
Name / Pos.
Nate Urbaniak / F
Clint Bourbonais / F
Tyler Stephens / D
Jarrod LaBelle / F
Eric McLintock / F
Marc Thompson / F
Eric O'Hearn / F
Chris Heineman / D
Garrett Thompson / F
Phil Wendecker / D
Sean Burke / F
Kellen Michalak / F
Ben Dykstra / F
Brandon Stephenson / G
QUESTION MARKS
Name / Pos.
Kyle Bonis / F
Kory Kaunisto / F
Kyle Jean / F
Chris Paliafito / G
TENDERS
Name / Pos.
Ryan Amin / F
Danny McAuliffe / RW
Mike Schenfeld / D
Bo Jacobs / D
Chris Salomone / C/W
Daniel Radke / F
Josh Miller / RW
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