North Stars suffer first loss at regionals

The Soo North Stars haven't tasted defeat often this year but the local AAA midget squad took one on the chin Wednesday afternoon.

After surrendering four goals in the opening period, the North Stars couldn't recover and fell 9-4 to the Gloucester Rangers at the seven-team National Midget Hockey Championship Regional Playdowns in Belleville.

With the loss, the North Stars fall to 2-1 in the round robin after three days of competition while Gloucester improved their first place record to a perfect 4-0.

Michael Sharp and Matt D'Agostini scored a goal and added an assist each for the locals. Paul DuPont and Lucas Goodall rounded the local scoring while Jake McClelland added two assists. Travis O'Brien took the loss in goal.

The Rangers led the Soo 4-2 after one period and 7-4 after two.

The North Stars are back on the ice for two games on Thursday beginning with a matchup against the Greater Kingston Predators at 9 a.m. followed a game with the Markham Waxers at 7 p.m.

In other action on Wednesday, the Waterloo Wolves hammered the Toronto Marlies 8-2, Markham beat Greater Kingston 3-1 and the Quinte Devils beat Greater Kingston 7-4. The score between Toronto and Markham has yet to be reported.

On Thursday, Waterloo plays Gloucester at noon followed by Toronto and Quinte at 3 p.m.

To access the tournament web site, click here.

* STANDINGS: (wins-loses-ties-points)

Gloucester 4-0-0-8 Markham 2-1-0-6 Waterloo 2-1-0-4 Soo North Stars 2-1-0-4 Greater Kingston 1-3-0-2 Quinte 1-3-0-2 Toronto 0-3-0-0

*** PEE WEE PLAYDOWNS:

Cooper's Crane/Red Star Electric dropped both their round robin games on Wednesday at the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) Pee Wee AAA Playdowns in Sudbury.

The locals opened the day with a 5-1 loss to the Cambridge Hawks before suffering a 9-1 loss to the Niagara Falls Thunder to fall to 1-4.

Cooper's Crane/Red Star Electric will conclude the seven-team round robin schedule on Thursday with a 1 p.m. game against the Sudbury Lakers.

In other games on Wednesday, the Mississauga Reps beat the Thunder Bay Kings 6-1, the Ottawa Valley Titans doubled Sudbury 6-3, Mississauga defeated Cambridge 3-1 and Sudbury edged Thunder Bay 7-4.

Other Thursday matchups include Ottawa at Cambridge, Thunder Bay at Niagara Falls, Mississauga at Ottawa Valley and Niagara Falls at Sudbury to close the round robin.

The top four teams will advance into Friday's semi-finals. The gold and bronze medal games are scheduled for Saturday.

To visit the tournament's web site, click here.

* STANDINGS: (wins-loses-ties-points)

Mississauga 5-0-0-10 Ottawa Valley 3-1-0-6 Niagara Falls 3-1-0-6 Sudbury 2-2-0-4 Cambridge 1-4-0-2 Sault Ste. Marie 1-4-0-2 Thunder Bay 1-4-0-2