North Stars split a pair in the Nickel City

The Soo North Stars rolled past the Rayside Balfour Sabercats before falling to the Sudbury Nickel Capitals in overtime over the weekend in a Great North Midget League road trip.

On Sunday afternoon, the North Stars fell 5-4 to Sudbury in an extra frame as Matt Lecours scored the game winner for the Capitals.

Dan Vernelli led the North Stars with a pair of goals while Trevor McNutt added a goal and an assist and Brad DiCandia scored once. Mike Rivard and Adam Pyymaki recorded two assists each.

Jake Trudeau scored a pair for Sudbury while Vern Cooper scored once and set up three others and Jordan Kurilak potted another.

On Saturday, Vernelli scored twice and an added an assist to lead the North Stars to a 7-1 win over the Rayside Balfour Sabrecats.

Dean Howard scored once and added two assists, Brett Perlini and Tyler Liukkonen each scored once set up another while singles went to Dylan King and Mike Rivard. Pyymaki added three assists and Jacob Chiblow two.

Chad Mallette scored the lone Sabrecats goal.

The split now leaves the North Stars with a 19-1-1-1 record for 40 points and a seven point lead over the Nickel Capitals for first place in the GNML.

The North Stars return home for a pair of games this weekend at Memorial Gardens against the Kapuskasing Legion Flyers. Game times are 8 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.