North Stars defense earns Steel City opener

The Soo North Stars proved on Thursday afternoon why they are prepared to rewrite the defensive standards in the Great North Midget League.

Playing a stellar defensive game while icing a depleted lineup, the North Stars shutout Michigan's Ojibawa Eagles 2-0 in their opening game of the 24th Annual Steel City International Hockey Tournament at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

The North Stars will carry their 1-0 record in the A division of the AAA Midget Major category into their second game of the tournament on Thursday night at 9 p.m. at the Rhodes against Hearst.

"Under the circumstances we are more than excited about a win," said North Stars head coach Mike Hall. "Defensively we were very sound. We were just getting the puck out of the zone if we were in trouble and icing the puck if we had to. Guys were being double shifted the whole game but they got the job done.

"Another problem was the fact that this was our first game in three weeks. The guys are still coming off the Christmas blues and we tried to have some up tempo practises but the first game back after a layoff is always a tough one."

Tyler Gendron gave the North Stars all the offense they would need with a goal just 13 seconds into the game. The lead stood until late in the second period when Zac McNally provided the locals with some insurance.

Paul Dupont assisted on both goals.

Ryan Dube recorded the shutout in goal as his team provided the Eagles with few quality scoring chances.

"Dube had a real good game for us in net. He didn't face that many shots but he stopped two or three quality scoring chances that we did give up," said Hall.

The North Stars are forced to begin the tournament with just 12 skaters including seven forwards and five defensemen.

Matt Conway and Derrek Coccimiglio are currently out with the flu and may return this weekend while Jason Bird is gone for the weekend after suffering a concussion while skiing during the holiday break.

With all of the North Stars' affiliate teams participating in the tournament, the team has no access to players this weekend to fill their lineup.

"Normally playing twice on the first day instead of another day into the tournament is an advantage but not today. It is not an advantage to us because of a lack of bodies but hopefully we will get enough rest this afternoon and come out hard again tonight," said Hall.

"We're not going to make excuses about not having enough players if we lose because we decided to go with 17 players and that's the chance you take. This is the first time this year that we've run into the situation where we have three out but hopefully we can get a couple more guys back in the lineup."