Last year's Soo North Stars squad proved to be a special group. This year's edition is looking to be even better.
It is said that defense wins championships and the North Stars defensive play is on pace to rewrite the record books.
The Soo North Stars smashed the record last season for fewest goals against in a season with 87, eclipsing the old mark of 96 set by the 1992/93 Soo Legion Midgets. The North Stars also set a league record for most points in a season with 66.
This season, the North Stars are well on pace to break their own standard for fewest goals against in season. In 18 Great North Midget League games thus far, which also marks the halfway point of the schedule, the locals have only given up 31 goals.
"The biggest thing we are happy with is the fact that we have only given up 31 goals in 18 games," said North Stars head coach Mike Hall. "We're giving up less than two goals a games and it just shows that these guys have really bought into taking care of our own zone first.
"The only team that scares me this year is our own. We have a good record but we have to understand that we have to work hard to be a good team. It's when we don't work hard that we run into trouble. We've seen teams from Southern Ontario and we haven't seen a team that we can't play with.
"We may not be as talented offensively as we were last year but when you aren't giving up goals against, you're in every game."
The North Stars continued to display a solid defensive effort with a weekend sweep of the Timmins Majors.
The locals opened the two-game set at the John Rhodes Community Centre with a 5-1 victory on Saturday night before skating to a 4-2 victory on Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday, the North Stars dominated the third period and broke open a 2-2 tie with a pair of goals as the Majors fell into penalty problems.
"We knew they would comeback harder at us than they did (on Saturday)," said Hall. "We didn't play our best game but we found a way to win and you have to be happy with that. If (Timmins goaltender Rock Charbonneau) doesn't stand on his head the score could have been a lot worse."
After the Majors built a 1-0 first period lead on a goal by Jamie Collins, the North Stars responded early in the second period on a goal by Trevor McNutt.
Paul Dupont gave the Soo the lead at 9:15 of the period as he fired a high shot over Charbonneau on the power play.
Timmins answered to tie the game at 2-2 late in the second period with a beautiful individual effort by captain Brandon Perry. While down two skaters, Perry's aggressive forecheck caused a turnover in the North Stars zone. Perry scooped up the loose puck and beat goaltender Ryan Dube on a deke.
With a steady parade of Majors to the penalty box, the North Stars took control in the third period.
Jason Bird banged a loose puck past Charbonneau to score the game winner before Matt Conway's point shot found its way between the legs of Charbonneau with the North Stars enjoying a five-on-three advantage.
Dube recorded the win in goal while Tyler Gendron added a pair of assists.
On Saturday, Dupont led the North Stars attack with two goals. Gendron scored once and setup two others while Jake Reid and Jake McClelland scored once each. Travis O'Brien recorded the win in goal.
Brad Norkum scored the lone goal for Timmins.
Hall also praised the help of call-ups Dean Howard and Kevin Closs from the Soo Bantam Greyhounds.
Zac McNally made his return to the North Stars lineup after missing nine weeks with a broken ankle.
The victories improve the North Stars record to 15-1-1-1 for 32 points and a 12 point cushion over second place New Liskeard.
The North Stars will hit the road, where their only blemish this season is a tie, next weekend for a game in Valley East on Friday at 8:20 p.m. before meeting Rayside Balfour next Saturday at 2:20 p.m. in Elliot Lake.
Next home action for the locals is November 26 and 27 against Kapuskasing.
(All photos courtesy of Jim Egan.)