NORTH STARS ON TOP

A win and a tie on home ice have improved the Soo North Stars' record to 8-2-2, tops in the Great North Midget Hockey League. The three-point weekend came from a 5-5 tie and 4-2 win vs. the Sudbury Lockerby Nickel Capitals. Saturday night, Nick Tombari's second goal of the game with 17 seconds to play in the third period lifted the locals into the 5-5 deadlock. Then on Sunday afternoon, solo goals by Adam Kauppi, Adam Combs, Kyle Rodgers and Ryan Rocchetta helped the Stars to a 4-2 win over visiting Sudbury. Michael Maulucci got the win in goal for the North Stars. He has a league leading goals-against-average of 1.78, giving the Stars their best netminding since D.J. Robertson had the Great North's best stats four years ago. David Turco, meanwhile, is enjoying a banner season for the North Stars with 22 points, including 12 goals, in 12 games. Rookie Michael Sharp is next on the Stars in points with 5-9-14 totals, followed by Cory Sewell at 8-5-13 and Combs at 6-6-12. The Soo plays out of town at Kirkland Lake and New Liskeard this weekend.