North Stars going to the national championships

The Soo North Stars are going back to the national AAA midget hockey championships.

On Sunday afternoon in Waterloo, the North Stars captured a thrilling 3-2 double overtime victory over the Richmond Hill Stars in the gold medal game at the Telus Cup Central Regional Championships.

Anthony Colizza's goal from Matt Amadio at 22:52 of overtime lifted the North Stars to the win.

As the regional champions, the North Stars are off to the Telus Cup National Midget Hockey Championship scheduled for April 23-29 in Red Deer, Alberta.

In the gold medal game, the North Stars held a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Drew MacMillan and Chris Hales. Richmond Hill rebounded in the second period with a pair goals to tie the game up at 2-2. A scoreless third period would send the game into sudden death overtime.

Colizza also picked up an assist in the game while Amadio recorded two helpers.

The North Stars will be making their first trip back to the national championships since hosting the event in Sault Ste. Marie in 2003.

The North Stars, then known as Soo Legion, collected a bronze medal at the 1993 championships in Kitchener.

In 1999, the locals went to the nationals in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, which is the last time they won the regional title.

North Bay is the only team in the region to capture a national championship in 1984 in North Bay while the Thunder Bay Kings are the last Ontario team to win the title in 1995.