Ironmen fell TC, 4-3

Rivard scores twice for Stars

BOX SCORE  |  SATURDAY GAME NOTES

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. – The Traverse City North Stars missed out on an opportunity to close the gap on second-place Kalamazoo, dropping a 4-3 decision to fifth-place Jamestown on Friday in the first of a three-game series at Jamestown Savings Bank Arena.

Eric Rivard (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars NAHL)scored the Stars’ first and third goals, the first of which tied the game with four minutes to play in the first period.  Will Badner (Cadillac, MI/Motor City NAHL)gave the visitors a 2-1 lead a mere 1:10 into the second, but the Ironmen rattled off the next three goals. Rivard’s third period tally came with 9:53 to play, but Traverse City could not muster another equalizer down the stretch.

Chris Leibinger (Saginaw, MI/TC North Stars NAHL/Michigan Tech)assisted on Rivard’s first period power play marker, Frank Gilbert (Traverse City, MI/TC West HS)set up Badner, while captain Jared Van Wormer (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars NAHL)drew an assist on the Stars’ final marker. Rivard set a new career high in goals (19), and has 12 points over his last seven games.

Kyle Laslo (Fenton, MI/Osoyoos KIJHL)made 23 saves for Traverse City, which fell to 27-17-6 and remain six points behind idle Kalamazoo in the North Division standings.

The North Stars and Ironmen will meet up again on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. before closing out the set on Sunday afternoon.  The same teams will clash next weekend at Centre ICE Arena in a Thursday-Saturday series.