North Stars rebound to tie quarterfinal series (Photos added)

After forgetting to bring their hard hats to the game on Saturday, the Soo North Stars brought their strong work ethic back to the John Rhodes Community Centre on Sunday.

Falling 3-2 to the Sudbury Lockerby Nickel Capitals in game one, the North Stars rebounded for a 7-1 win in game two on Sunday morning to tie their Great North Midget League best-of-five quarterfinal series at 1-1.

The series will now shift to Sudbury for games three and four on Wednesday and Thursday. A fifth game, if necessary, will be back at the Rhodes on Friday night.

Tyler Gendron led the North Stars attack on Sunday with two goals and an assist while Zac McNally and Matt Conway added a goal and an assist each. Single goals went to Michael Quesnele, Trevor McNutt and Nick Minardi.

Paul Dupont and Nick Lang recorded two assists each while Travis O'Brien picked up the win in goal.

"There is no doubt we took them too lightly in the first game," said North Stars head coach Mike Hall. "The only thing that has made this team successful all year is hard work and we didn't work hard and paid the price for it. We came back strong today put in a good effort.

"The funny thing about it is that all four teams lost home ice advantage in the first round. It just goes to show that if you don't show up to play, you are going to lose.

"I don't think anybody plans on going through the playoffs without dropping one here or there but the good thing is that we have a better road record than a home record."

Gerry Morin scored the lone goal for Sudbury, who trailed 3-0 after one period and 5-0 after two.

The North Stars are coming off an incredible regular season run which saw the team rewrite the GNML record books with a 33-1-1-1 record.

"You don't need much more motivation at this time of year because your season could be over in less than a week," added Hall.

*** NORTH STARS VS. SUDBURY:

(Series tied at 1-1)

Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 19 - Sudbury 3 Soo 2 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 20 - Soo 7 Sudbury 1 Game 3 - Wed. Feb. 23 - Soo vs. Sudbury - 7:30 p.m. Game 4 - Thurs. Feb. 24 - Soo vs. Sudbury - 7:30 p.m. * Game 5 - Fri. Feb. 25 - Sudbury vs. Soo - 7:30 p.m.

(* if necessary)

*** GNML QUARTERFINALS:

2. NEW LISKEARD vs. 7. TIMMINS

(Series tied at 1-1)

Game 1 - Fri. Feb. 18 - Timmins 2 New Liskeard 1 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 20 - New Liskeard 4 Timmins 2 Game 3 - Fri. Feb. 25 - New Liskeard vs. Timmins Game 4 - Sun. Feb. 27 - New Liskeard vs. Timmins * Game 5 - Wed. Mar. 2 - Timmins vs. New Liskeard

3. KAPUSKASING vs. 6. KIRKLAND LAKE

(Series tied at 1-1)

Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 19 - Kirkland Lake 4 Kapuskasing 3 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 20 - Kapuskasing 3 Kirkland Lake 3 Game 3 - Sat. Feb. 26 - Kapuskasing vs. Kirkland Lake Game 4 - Sun. Feb. 27 - Kapuskasing vs. Kirkland Lake * Game 5 - Sat. Mar. 5 - Kirkland Lake vs. Kapuskasing

4. VALLEY EAST vs. 5. NORTH BAY

(North Bay leads series 2-0)

Game 1 - Fri. Feb. 18 - North Bay 5 Valley East 4 (OT) Game 2 - Sat. Feb. 19 - North Bay 5 Valley East 3 Game 3 - Sat. Feb. 26 - Valley East vs. North Bay * Game 4 - Sun. Feb 27 - Valley East vs. North Bay * Game 5 - TBA - North Bay vs. Valley East

(* if necessary)