North Stars clinch GNML title

For the third straight season, the Soo North Stars have been crowned the champions of the Great North Midget League.

With a pair of victories over the Rayside Balfour Sabrecats on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, the North Stars clinched the title.

The North Stars have dominated the GNML standings over the past three seasons and, although there have been times this season that the North Stars have struggled, the team has come through and got wins when needed.

On Saturday night, the North Stars defeated Rayside 3-1 on the strength of three power play goals, one in each period.

Adam Pyymaki opened the scoring on a setup from Kevin Closs and Jacob Chiblow at 7:05 of the opening period. After Chris Tailiefer tied the game at 6:56 of the second period, Trevor McNutt scored to pull the North Stars ahead at 13:39. Derrek Coccimiglio sealed the victory at 12:38 of the third period.

That win officially clinched the GNML crown for the North Stars.

On Sunday afternoon, the North Stars opened up a 3-0 lead but Rayside narrowed the margin to one in the second period, only to see the locals hold onto the lead through a scoreless third period.

Coccimiglio led the way with a pair of goals and an assist in the win. Brett Perlini added a goal and two assists while Mark Hoffman scored the other North Stars goal. Dean Howard added three assists in the win.

"I don't think we played our best in either game," said North Stars coach Mike Hall. "I think some guys were still on their weekend off. We played well enough to clinch. That's to their credit and to win a third championship in a row is something to write home about but this weekend wasn't something to write home about.

"We need to get back to practice on Tuesday and start pushing (the players) harder. We didn't have the jump that we did before we took the break.

"We're debating as a coaching staff as to whether we should ever take a break," Hall joked. "We seem to play better when these guys just roll along."

The North Stars played Sunday's game without the services of goaltender Thomas Gravelines (Mono), Jacob Chiblow (concussion), Dylan King (shoulder), and Jerry Petingalo (broken leg).

Gravelines will be out until the middle of February while King could be back next weekend. Petingalo will look to resume skating this week for the first time since November. No timetable has been set for the return of Chiblow.

Hall was pleased with the play of his goaltender in both games as well.

"I thought Dube kept us in both games," Hall said. "He came up big and made some big saves. When they did score it was missed assignments on our part."

The North Stars continue their homestand next weekend as the North Bay Trappers are in town for a pair of games. Set for Saturday night at 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., both games will be played at the John Rhodes Community Centre.