North Stars win ugly in tournament opener

It wasn't the best performance the Soo North Stars have brought to the rink this season but the local AAA midget representatives turned up the heat late in the game to sneak away with a victory in their opening game of the 23rd Annual Steel City Inte

The North Stars broke open a 2-2 tie midway through the third period and added a pair of empty net goals to grab a 5-2 win over the Michigan Jaguars in the AAA major midget division on Thursday evening at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

After a scoreless first period, Kyle Rodgers fired a Zac Torquato pass into the net to give the North Stars the 1-0 lead. Eric Mott replied for Michigan 34 seconds later as his shot dribbled past North Stars goaltender Travis O'Brien.

Jordan Jennings put Michigan up 2-1 just 1:27 into the third period before the North Stars responded to tie on a goal by Matt D'Agostini 40 seconds later.

Tyler Gendron scored the winning goal midway through the period as he converted a D'Agostini pass from behind the net. Lucas Goodall and Paul Dupont scored into the empty net in the dying seconds.

"That certainly wasn't our best effort today," said North Stars head coach Mike Hall. "We are going to need to be better tomorrow if we hope to win. I don't remember another game all year where we had guys take as many shifts off as they did. It was frustrating because we didn't have much jump tonight.

"They did a good job of shutting down the middle of the ice on us but we didn't have the jump that we have had for the last month or so. Our overall defensive game was terrible and we got beat too many times to the loose puck. The positive is that we got a win when we didn't play that well."

The North Stars almost didn't get the chance to win the game as Michigan missed two opportunities to take the lead after D'Agostini's goal. Defenseman Shaun Siemers made a diving stop to foil a Michigan three-on-one break before the Jaguars fired the puck wide of the net on a two-on-one break moments later.

Gendron, Goodall and D'Agostini each recorded a goal and an assist. Rodgers was named the game star for the locals.

The North Stars return to action on Friday with a pair of games at the Rhodes pad two. The Soo battles Great North Midget League rival New Liskeard at 11:30 a.m. before battling California's San Jose Jr. Sharks at 6:30 p.m.

"We need a better effort (Friday). We know that Liskeard will be tough to beat and they are the only team to beat us in regulation this year so we are going to have to bring our A game," said Hall.

On Saturday, the locals play the Green Bay Jr. Gamblers at 11:30 a.m. to conclude the round robin.