The Soo North Stars will get their first taste of tournament action this season on Thursday.
The North Stars, current leaders in the Great North Midget League, open the Sudbury Big Nickel Tournament on Thursday afternoon at the Tom Davies Arena in Walden against GNML rival Timmins at 5 p.m.
On Friday, the North Stars will hit the ice for a pair of games at 11 a.m. against Oshawa Kiwanis and 8 p.m. against the Toronto Young Nationals. Both games are scheduled for the Chelmsford Arena.
The locals will conclude preliminary round action on Saturday against the London Jr. Knights at 3:30 p.m. at the Countryside Arena.
The North Stars improved their GNML record to 13-1-1-1 after a 4-0 blanking of the Sudbury Nickel Capitals last Saturday.
Goaltender Ryan Dube recorded the shutout while goals were scored by Paul Dupont, Jake McClelland, Jake Reid and Trevor McNutt. Tyler Gendron added a pair of assists.
With 28 points, the North Stars hold an eight point lead on the New Liskeard Cubs, who hold two games in hand, in the GNML standings.