North Stars head into playoffs after sweep (correction)

The Soo North Stars will head into the Great North Midget League playoffs next weekend after completing a record breaking sweep in Timmins.

On Saturday, the North Stars opened with a 6-2 win before blanking the Majors 2-0 on Sunday afternoon.

With only 54 goals against during the regular season, the North Stars have broken last year's team record for the fewest goals allowed in GNML history.

In 2003-04, the North Stars allowed 87 goals to beat the 1992-93 Soo Legion mark of 96 goals. Last year, the North Stars destroyed their own record by allowing a minuscule 65 goals in 36 games.

With a 1.47 goals against average, the North Stars goaltending duo of Ryan Dube and Thomas Gravelines set the league mark for best combined GAA. Last year, Travis O'Brien and Dube set the mark with a 1.80 GAA while O'Brien teamed with Michael Maulucci two years ago to set the record with a 2.42 GAA.

Dube finished with a 1.63 GAA and six shutouts in 1621 minutes of play while Gravelines recorded a 0.99 GAA and one shutout in 544 minutes.

Offensively, Dean Howard led the team in scoring and finished fourth overall in the league with 21 goals and 31 assists for 52 points. Adam Pyymaki finished right behind with 18 goals and 32 assists for 50 points and Trevor McNutt was 10th overall with 22-22-44 totals.

In Timmins, the North Stars used goals from Howard and Brad DiCandia in the 2-0 win while Dube recorded the shutout.

On Saturday, McNutt led the North Stars with two goals and an assist while Jacob Chiblow and Howard each recorded a goal and an assist. Singles went to Kevin Smith and Dan Vernelli while Kevin Closs picked up a pair of assists.

The North Stars will open the GNML playoffs next weekend at the John Rhodes Community Centre in a best-of-five quarterfinal series against the eighth seeded Valley East Cobras. The series begins on Saturday at 7 p.m. with game two on Sunday at 1 p.m.

*** GNML QUARTERFINALS:

1. Soo North Stars vs. 8. Valley East Cobras 2. Sudbury Nickel Capitals vs. 7. Kirkland Lake 87's 3. North Bay Trappers vs. 6. Timmins Majors 4. Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats vs. 5. New Liskeard Cubs