NORTH STARS SWEEP KAP

A single point separates the Soo North Stars from first place in the Great North Midget Hockey League. Following weekend play in the GNMHL, the North Stars have 27 points from a 12-3-3 record, just back of the pace-setting Sudbury Lockerby Nickel Capitals. Sudbury Lockerby has 28 points from a 13-4-1-1 record. The North Stars used home ice to sweep the Kapuskasing Flyers, winning by 5-3 and 4-3 scores. Saturday, David Turco secured the 5-3 win with an empty-net tally. Forwards Michael Sharp and Nick Tombari led the North Stars with one-goal/two-assist performances in support of winning goalie Travis O'Brien. Sunday, Adam Combs scored twice and Sharp added another goal and assist as the North Stars nipped Kap 4-3. Michael Maulucci got the win in goal for the Stars and retained his position as the top netminder in the GNMHL with a 1.99 goals-against-average. Turco leads the North Stars in scoring with 13-11-24 totals, followed by Sharp at 9-12-21. AIR CANADA CUP: The North Stars are playing host to the 2003 Air Canada Cup AAA midget playdowns and as a prelude to the championship series, the local tournament committee will be starting the ticket campaign at this Friday's Ontario Hockey League game between the Soo Greyhounds and the Guelph Storm. Committee chairman Harry Lewis will be dropping the puck before the Greyhound-Guelph game and a table will be set up in the Memorial Gardens lobby where advance ticket sales for the Air Canada Cup will begin. Early-bird ticket prices are $30 for the entire 19-game Air Canada Cup series.