North Stars win league championship

The Soo North Stars are champions of the Great North Midget League.

The North Stars claimed the title with a 4-2 win over the New Liskeard Cubs on Friday night in New Liskeard to complete a three game sweep of the best-of-five championship series.

Matt D'Agostini scored three goals to pace the North Stars, who broke open a 2-2 tie in the third period. Tyler Lannigan also scored while Michael Sharp recorded three assists.

The North Stars cruised through the playoffs and compiled a perfect 9-0 record with sweeps over Valley East in the quarterfinals and Kirkland Lake in the semi-finals.

The team will now advance to the National Midget Hockey Championship Central Regional Playdowns beginning March 28 in Belleville. The national championship tournament will be held April 19-24 in Kenora.

During the regular season, the North Stars finished with a dominating record of 32-2-0-2 for 66 points and smashed several league records in the process.

With 32 wins, the North Stars tied the 1992/93 Soo Legion squad and the 96/97 New Liskeard Cubs for most victories in a season. With 66 points, the North Stars erased the old record of 65 set by the same Legion and Cubs teams.

The North Stars also spanked the record for fewest goals against having allowed only 87 goals. The mark broke the old standard of 96 set by the 92/93 Legion midgets.

The goaltending duo of Maulucci and Travis O'Brien set the record for the best team goals against average with a 2.42 GAA breaking Legion's mark of 2.67.