North Stars shine over Jr. Canadiens

Dan Vernelli scored a pair of goals to lead the Sault Ste. Marie North Stars to a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the final round robin game for the GNML champs at the Central Region Midget AAA Championships being played in North Bay this week.

Dylan King, Derrek Coccimiglio and Mike Rivard scored the other goals for the Stars who will face the Jr. Canadiens in Saturday's semi-final which starts at 11 a.m.

The Stars finished with a 5-1 record in round robin play and while the win meant nothing in the standings, North Stars head coach Michael Hall was pleased to see his team bounced back from Thursday night’s loss at the hands of the unbeaten Markham Waxers.

“We told our kids all year you put your hockey equipment on and you come to win,” Hall said.

“Obviously both teams had nothing to gain today and you have to give credit to the Toronto Canadiens both teams knew it was nothing, both teams are resting a few guys and there was no foolish stuff on the ice.”

The Stars did what they love to do, scoring early in the first period and playing solid defence as they protected the lead.

Vernelli opened the scoring near the 14 minute mark of the first period to take the lead and Dylan King added another off a point shot in the final minute of the period.

The Canadiens cut the lead in half as Alex Galli got the Jr. Canadiens on the board.

In the final period the Stars ramped it up scoring three times; book ended by a pair of highlight reel goals.

Dan Vernelli scored his second goal of the game six minutes into the period as he drove the net and lifted a nifty backhand over Jr. Canadiens goaltender Brandon Sinclairs glove hand for the 3-1 lead.

Mike Rivard added another insurance marker before Derrek Coccimiglio’s shorthanded marker made it 5-1 after the shifty forward stripped the puck from the Canadiens defender and walked in and went upstairs on Sinclair for one of the prettiest goals of the tournament with just under six minutes left in regulation.

“I just seen the puck come out, trickled between the defenceman’s legs and I just picked it up,” Coccimiglio said about his highlight reel goal.

Alex Galli scored his second goal of the game on the very same powerplay to make it 5-2.

Now both teams will try to get some rest tonight and the North Stars know it likely won’t be this easy on Saturday.

“We just want to get a feel for them now, just see what it’s going to be like tomorrow obviously it’s going to be a lot harder but they’re going to come out flying, we’re going to come out flying so,” Coccimiglio said.

Photo by Julie Walker