North Stars into GNML finals for fifth straight year

The Soo North Stars are back in search of a Great North Midget League championship for the fifth straight season.

On Saturday night in North Bay, the North Stars disposed of the Trappers 7-2 to claim the best-of-five GNML semi-final 3-0.

In the three-game series, the North Stars outscored the Trappers 28-5.

Brett Thompson scored once and added four assists to pace the North Stars while Micky Sartoretto added a goal and two assists. Mike Rivard, Kurtis Travaglini and Kevin Closs each scored once and set up another with single goals going to Jerry Petingalo and Luke O'Brien. Jarrett Burton recorded two assists.

The North Stars now face the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves, who swept the Valley East Cobras in the other semi-final, in the best-of-five league championship series with a trip to the all-Ontario regional championships also on the line.

Games one and two of the series are scheduled for the John Rhodes Community Centre next Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

The series will then shift to Sudbury for games three and four, if necessary. If needed, a fifth game would be held in the Sault.

Further details from a rough game three in North Bay and reaction from both teams can be found on SooToday.com's sister site, BayToday.ca, by clicking here.

*** GREAT NORTH MIDGET LEAGUE PLAYOFFS:

FINAL

1. SOO NORTH STARS vs. 2. SUDBURY

Game 1 - Mar. 17 - Sudbury vs. Soo (4 p.m.) Game 2 - Mar. 18 - Sudbury vs. Soo (1 p.m.) Game 3 - TBA - Soo vs. Sudbury * Game 4 - TBA - Soo vs. Sudbury * Game 5 - TBA - Sudbury vs. Soo

(* = if necessary)

SEMI-FINALS

1. SOO NORTH STARS vs. 4. NORTH BAY TRAPPERS

(North Stars win series 3-0)

Game 1 - Soo 12 North Bay 1 Game 2 - Soo 9 North Bay 2 Game 3 - Soo 7 North Bay 2

2. SUDBURY vs. 3. VALLEY EAST

(Sudbury wins series 3-0)

Game 1 - Sudbury 5 Valley East 2 Game 2 - Sudbury 5 Valley East 1 Game 3 - Sudbury 3 Valley East 2 (OT)

QUARTERFINALS

1. SOO NORTH STARS vs. 8. NEW LISKEARD

(North Stars win series 3-0)

Game 1 - Soo 5 New Liskeard 2 Game 2 - Soo 6 New Liskeard 2 Game 3 - Soo 4 New Liskeard 1

2. SUDBURY vs. 7. RAYSIDE BALFOUR

(Sudbury wins series 3-0)

Game 1 - Sudbury 5 Rayside 2 Game 2 - Sudbury 4 Rayside 2 Game 3 - Sudbury 4 Rayside 3

3. VALLEY EAST vs. 6. KIRKLAND LAKE

(Valley East wins series 3-1)

Game 1 - Valley East 5 Kirkland Lake 3 Game 2 - Valley East 6 Kirkland Lake 0 Game 3 - Kirkland Lake 7 Valley East 3 Game 4 - Valley East 4 Kirland Lake 0

4. NORTH BAY vs. 5. TIMMINS

(North Bay wins series 3-0)

Game 1 - North Bay 6 Timmins 5 (2OT) Game 2 - North Bay 9 Timmins 3 Game 3 - North Bay 7 Timmins 6

***