By JAMES COOK
TRAVERSE CITY -- In a sometimes frustrating season, one thing went Traverse City's way.
The North Stars won the inaugural Challenge Cup, winning the season series over Marquette in dramatic late fashion to bring the trophy to TC for a year.
The North Stars went up to Marquette and ended the season on a high note by sweeping a two-game series from the Rangers -- 2-1 and 7-5 -- to not only come from behind to clinch the Cup, but also to vault ahead of Marquette in the division standings and avoid a last-place finish.
"It was a bright spot in a season that didn't go the way we hoped it would," TC coach and general manager Anthony Palumbo said.
The Stars, who would like to add the Robertson Cup as North American Hockey League champion, ended up just two points out of the final playoff spot with a 23-23-12 mark. TC's 12 overtime losses were the most in the league by four.
Traverse City opens up the regular portion of the NAHL schedule tonight in Marquette and plays its home opener on Saturday against the same Rangers squad. Today's game coincides with a big Midget AAA tournament in Marquette.
The Stars opened up the season with a 3-1 mark in the NAHL Showcase last week in Blaine, Minn., including a win over defending league champion St. Louis.
The Rangers have a new coach in former Alpena coach and general manager Kenny Miller. Former North star Aaron Pietila is also back in Marquette.
The Stars also face a new divisional alignment where the North Division loses defending Robertson Cup champion St. Louis and gains Motor City (the former Southern Minnesota franchise). The league has also been split up into four divisions, with each division being represented by four teams in the playoffs.
The West and South each have four teams, so all of those teams are essentially in the postseason already. In the Central, which has five teams, North Iowa is already in by virtue of hosting the Robertson Cup.
"I'm happy we have to earn a spot, not have one given to us," Palumbo said. "It keeps you on your toes and keeps you working. If you're going to make the playoffs (in the North Division), you're going to have to earn it."
Even after the hot start, the Stars are only in third place in the six-team North Division, tied with Motor City and three points behind Team USA, which deployed both the U-17 and U-18 teams to the showcase and has played twice as many games as the rest of the NAHL.
The Stars had eight different players with two or more points in the showcase, led by forwards Kyle Bonis, David Johnstone and defender Mike Schenfeld with three each. Fifteen players scored points.
"I think we've got more threats," Palumbo said. "Last year, we had two or three guys who were consistent threats and this year, whoever we put on the ice is a threat."
Johnstone didn't attend the team's training camp and was a later pick-up by the Stars after the Michigan State recruit became available.
"He's a solid addition," Palumbo said. "He's a very talented player. I used him on the penalty kill, on the power play and regular shifts."
Bonis -- who tied for the North Stars lead in goals with 25 in 39 games last year -- was named team captain on Wednesday.
