North Stars take early lead over Timmins

The Soo North Stars battled through a penalty-filled affair with the Timmins Majors on Tuesday evening and managed to gut out a 6-1 victory in Great North Midget League playoff action.

In a game that saw three separate five-on-three man advantages, one for the North Stars and a pair of them for the Majors, the rested North Stars opened up the GNML second round with a convincing victory that saw the locals outshoot Timmins 63-19.

The North Stars opened the game with a pair of first period goals as Jake Reid scored at 3:32 and Tyler Gendron scored his first of two power play goals on the night at 11:42 with the North Stars enjoying a two man advantage.

Nick Minardi gave the North Stars a 3-0 lead at 3:26 of the second period. Later in the period, the Majors got themselves on the board as Jamie Collins beat North Stars goaltender Travis O'Brien, with the Majors on the man advantage and a penalty upcoming to the North Stars.

In the third period, the North Stars capped of the victory as Paul Dupont, Gendron and Zac McNally completed the scoring. Gendron's goal came with the North Stars on the power play.

The win gives the North Stars an early 1-0 series lead over the Majors with game two coming up on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

The game featured very little pace as referee Scott Thibeault attempted to keep both teams under wraps with a constant stream to the penalty box. The parade to the penalty box was something that North Stars coach Mike Hall said was something that the teams needed to take responsibility for.

"Both teams had to take onus for that," Hall said. "I don't know if (Timmins) were trying to come in here and intimidate us. You have to keep your emotions in check and the emotions got the best of the players in the second period and I don't think either coach can be happy with it."

Hall did go on to say that the win was important, although it won't mean as much if they don't get a sweep on home ice.

"This game won't mean much if we don't win tomorrow (Wednesday)," Hall said. "We've been home since the weekend and they played two games since then. I don't buy this stuff as we're playing the seventh place team. (Timmins) beat a really good team in New Liskeard."

Hall also credited the play of Timmins goaltender Rock Charbonneau, who stopped 57 shots in the loss and made a number of quality saves in the game.

Following game two on Wednesday the series will shift to Timmins on the weekend with game three taking place on Sunday evening at 7 p.m.