North Stars play their way into GNML championship

The Soo North Stars needed four games to eliminate the Rayside Balfour Sabrecats and gain entry into the Great North Midget League championship series.

Taking a 2-0 series lead to Rayside in the best-of-five GNML semi-final series, the North Stars fell 8-4 on Saturday night before taking the series with a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon.

The North Stars will now face the Sudbury Nickel Capitals in the best-of-five league championship series to determine who will advance to the regional playdowns. The North Stars are the two-time defending GNML champions while the Capitals are coming off a semi-final sweep of the North Bay Trappers.

Kevin Smith, Brett Perlini and Derrek Coccimiglio scored for the North Stars in their series clinching win on Sunday. Dean Howard added a pair of assists while Thomas Gravelines recorded the win in goal.

On Saturday, Howard scored once and set up another while single goals went to Dylan King, Jerry Petingalo and Mark Hoffman. Perlini added two assists.

The third game was a chippy and hard hitting affair with the North Stars racking up 10 minor penalties and Rayside receiving 15 minors.

Games one and two of the finals will go Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

The Central Region Midget AAA Championships will be hosted by the Trappers in North Bay from April 3-9. The winner from there will advance to the Telus Cup national championship tournament in Charlottetown April 24-30.

*** GNML FINALS:

Game 1 - Sat. Mar. 18 - Sudbury vs. Soo Game 2 - Sun. Mar. 19 - Sudbury vs. Soo Game 3 - Sat. Mar. 25 - Soo vs. Sudbury * Game 4 - Sun. Mar. 26 - Soo vs. Sudbury * Game 5 - TBA - Sudbury vs. Soo

(* = if necessary)

GNML SEMI-FINALS:

1. SOO NORTH STARS vs. 4. RAYSIDE BALFOUR

(Soo wins series 3-1)

Game 1 - Sat. Mar. 4 - Soo 3 Rayside 1 Game 2 - Sun. Mar 5 - Soo 4 Rayside 0 Game 3 - Sat. Mar. 11 - Rayside 8 Soo 4 Game 4 - Sun. Mar. 12 - Soo 3 Rayside 2

2. SUDBURY vs. 3. NORTH BAY

(Sudbury wins series 3-0)

Game 1 - Sat. Mar. 4 - Sudbury 6 North Bay 3 Game 2 - Sun. Mar. 5 - Sudbury 3 North Bay 0 Game 3 - Sat. Mar. 11 - Sudbury 4 North Bay 3 (2OT)

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

***