North Stars open semi-finals tonight

The Soo North Stars will look to dispose of the Rayside Balfour Sabrecats in order to advance into another Great North Midget League championship series.

The best-of-five semi-final series begins tonight at the John Rhodes Community Centre beginning at 7 p.m. Game two goes Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Sabrecats, who defeated the North Stars in the final of the Big Nickel Tournament in November, advanced to the semi-final by beating the New Liskeard Cubs 7-4 in game five of their quarterfinal series on Wednesday night.

The series will shift to Rayside for games three and four, if necessary, next weekend. A fifth game, if needed, would be played in the Sault on March 15.

*** GNML SEMI-FINALS:

1. SOO NORTH STARS vs. 4. RAYSIDE BALFOUR

Game 1 - Sat. Mar. 4 - Rayside vs. Soo Game 2 - Sun. Mar 5 - Rayside vs. Soo Game 3 - Sat. Mar. 11 - Soo vs. Rayside * Game 4 - Sun. Mar. 12 - Soo vs. Rayside * Game 5 - Wed. Mar. 15 - Rayside vs. Soo

2. SUDBURY vs. 3. NORTH BAY

Game 1 - Sat. Mar. 4 - North Bay vs. Sudbury Game 2 - Sun. Mar. 5 - North Bay vs. Sudbury Game 3 - Sat. Mar. 11 - Sudbury vs. North Bay * Game 4 - Sun. Mar. 12 - Sudbury vs. North Bay * Game 5 - TBA - North Bay vs. Sudbury

(* = if necessary)

QUARTERFINALS:

1. SOO NORTH STARS vs. 8. VALLEY EAST

(Soo wins series 3-0)

Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 18 - Soo 3 Valley East 0 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 19 - Soo 7 Valley East 3 Game 3 - Fri. Feb. 24 - Soo 4 Valley East 1

2. SUDBURY vs. 7. KIRKLAND LAKE

(Sudbury wins series 3-0)

Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 18 - Sudbury 6 Kirkland Lake 2 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 19 - Sudbury 4 Kirkland Lake 3 Game 3 - Sat. Feb. 25 - Sudbury 8 Kirkland Lake 3

3. NORTH BAY vs. 6. TIMMINS

(North Bay wins series 3-1)

Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 18 - Timmins 2 North Bay 0 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 19 - North Bay 6 Timmins 1 Game 3 - Sat. Feb. 25 - North Bay 4 Timmins 0 Game 4 - Sun. Feb. 26 - North Bay 5 Timmins 3

4. RAYSIDE BALFOUR vs. 5. NEW LISKEARD

(Rayside wins series 3-2)

Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 18 - Rayside 5 New Liskeard 2 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 19 - New Liskeard 3 Rayside 1 Game 3 - Fri. Feb. 24 - Rayside 5 New Liskeard 4 (OT) Game 4 - Sat. Feb. 25 - New Liskeard 7 Rayside 5 Game 5 - Wed. Mar. 1 - Rayside 7 New Liskeard 4

***