North Stars are searching for work ethic

While a 5-1 victory and an 11-1 record may look good paper, the Soo North Stars coaching staff are very concerned with a recent string of lacklustre performances.

On Saturday night in Great North Midget League action at the John Rhodes Community Centre, the North Stars scored three times in the third period to break open a tight game and take a 5-1 victory over the Kirkland Lake 87's, a team that hasn't won since opening night.

Despite recording a convincing victory, the North Stars were sluggish against a struggling team they should easily dominate.

"I know it's a cliché but it doesn't take any talent to work hard," said North Stars head coach Mike Hall. "Right now this team is relying on talent to get by and it's not getting the results they want.

"Too many guys are just showing up and not giving us what is necessary to play at this level. And those guys are outweighing the guys who are coming to work hard. We've been inconsistent and it was the same way last weekend in North Bay."

Mike Rivard and Trevor McNutt scored two goals each for the North Stars while Tyler Liukkonen added the other. Dean Howard and Dylan King each picked up a pair of assists. Matt St. Jacques replied with the lone goal for Kirkland Lake.

Thomas Gravelines recorded the win in goal for the North Stars and the team's most consistent player on the night.

The teams will meet again on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Rhodes.

In North Bay, the Trappers handed the North Stars their first loss of the season which prompted Hall to call a 5 a.m. team meeting the next morning to discuss work ethic.

Hall, who also held an extended meeting after this game, said he demands a complete effort from his troops every game because a team will not be able to compete in tournaments or at the provincial level without a solid work ethic.

"Until guys learn to work hard in order to compete at this level, we are going to struggle. People say 'how can you be struggling when you're winning' but that's not the point. We have guys in that room who have played at provincial championships and know what it takes to play at that level and we are no where near that.

"We're just playing good enough and throwing together one period and thinking you've done the job is not going to cut it. With us, it's not whether you win or lose but how you play the game. Hopefully tomorrow we show up and realize that you have to work hard to win hockey games. We're not happy with the direction we're going since the beginning of the year."

The North Stars are back on the road next weekend with stops in Kirkland Lake and New Liskeard before returning home to prepare for the Sudbury Big Nickel Tournament.