Maulucci returns as North Stars secure playoff spot

After uncharacteristically stumbling for a game, the Soo North Stars are back on the winning track with a pair of wins on day four.

With North Stars starting goaltender Michael Maulucci going down with a groin injury on Tuesday, Travis O'Brien carried the load in net for a pair of games before Maulucci made his return between the pipes on Wednesday night.

After opening the day with a 7-1 win over the Greater Kingston Predators, the North Stars edged the Markham Waxers 2-1 to improve their record to 4-1 and secure a playoff berth at the seven-team National Midget Hockey Championship Regional Playdowns in Belleville.

The victories come just a day after the locals were handled 9-4 by the Gloucester Hawks, who remain undefeated after Thursday's action at 5-0.

O'Brien picked up the victory against Greater Kingston as Tyler Gendron led the offensive attack with two goals and an assist.

Michael D'Agostini scored once and setup two others, Zac Torquato scored once and added an assist while singles went to Matt Caria, Michael Sharp and Frank D'Addetta. Matt D'Agostini recorded two assists.

The North Stars led by scores of 2-0 after one period and 4-1 after the second.

Against Markham, Maulucci returned to the net to help his team squeak past the Waxers. Jake McClelland and Paul DuPont provided the scoring as the North Stars built a 2-1 lead after two periods and held off the Waxers in the third.

In other games on Thursday, Gloucester maintained their perfect record by edging the Waterloo Wolves 2-1 and the Toronto Marlies doubled the host Quinte Red Devils 6-3.

With a semi-final spot clinched, the North Stars will play for playoff position in their final round robin game of the tournament on Friday against the Toronto Marlies at 3 p.m.

Other games on Friday include Gloucester at Greater Kingston at 9 a.m., Waterloo versus Markham at noon and Waterloo at Quinte at 7 p.m.

Semi-final action between the top four teams will take place on Saturday. The gold and bronze medal games are scheduled for Sunday.

The eventual winner will represent the region at the National Midget Hockey Championships in Kenora from April 19-25.

To access the tournament web site, click here.

* STANDINGS: (wins-loses-ties-points)

Gloucester 5-0-0-10 Soo North Stars 4-1-0-8 Waterloo 2-2-0-4 Markham 2-3-0-4 Toronto 2-3-0-4 Greater Kingston 1-4-0-2 Quinte 1-4-0-2

*** PEE WEE PLAYDOWNS:

Cooper's Crane/Red Star Electric have snuck into the playoff round after win on Thursday at the seven-team Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) Pee Wee AAA Playdowns in Sudbury.

Needing a win and some help, the locals received both on Thursday and will skate into Friday's semi-final game against the powerful and unbeaten Mississauga Reps at 1 p.m.

In their final game of the round robin, Cooper's Crane/Red Star Electric scored a huge 8-4 win over the Sudbury Lakers.

In order to qualify for a playoff position, the locals needed the Cambridge Hawks, the Thunder Bay Kings and Sudbury to lose their final games.

Cambridge fell 4-3 to the Ottawa Valley Titans and the Niagara Falls Thunder blanked Thunder Bay 6-0 before Sudbury dropped the final round robin game to Niagara Falls 2-0.

In the other contest on Thursday, Mississauga beat Ottawa Valley 3-1.

Mississauga has been the most dominate team at the tournament having scored the most goals (32) and have given up the least (7) in six games.

The other tournament semi-final has Niagara Falls meeting Ottawa Valley at 10 a.m.

On Saturday, the semi-final losers will meet in the bronze medal game at 10 a.m. before the winners meet in the gold medal game at 2 p.m.

To access the tournament's web site, click here.

* FINAL ROUND ROBIN STANDINGS: (wins-loses-ties-points)

Mississauga 6-0-0-12 Niagara Falls 5-1-0-10 Ottawa Valley 4-2-0-8 Sault Ste. Marie 2-4-0-4 Sudbury 2-4-0-4 Thunder Bay 1-5-0-2 Cambridge 1-5-0-2