North Stars to face either Cubs or Sabrecats

The Soo North Stars continue to await their second round opponent in the Great North Midget League playoffs after taking care of the Valley East Cobras in three straight games.

On Friday in Valley East, the North Stars completed the sweep of the best-of-five quarterfinal series with a 4-1 win.

Derrek Coccimglio and Mark Hoffman paced the North Stars with a goal and an assist each while Dean Howard and Dan Vernelli added singles. Adam Pyymaki recorded a pair of assists while Thomas Gravelines picked up the win in goal.

The North Stars will now face either the New Liskeard Cubs or the Rayside Balfour Sabrecats in a best-of-five GNML semi-final series beginning on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

The Cubs and Sabrecats will face off for the fifth and deciding game in their quarterfinal series on Wednesday in Rayside.

In the other GNML semi-final, the Sudbury Nickel Capitals will host the North Bay Trappers after each team advanced through the quarterfinals over Kirkland Lake and Timmins, respectively.

*** GNML QUARTERFINALS:

1. SOO NORTH STARS vs. 8. VALLEY EAST

(Soo wins series 3-0)

Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 18 - Soo 3 Valley East 0 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 19 - Soo 7 Valley East 3 Game 3 - Fri. Feb. 24 - Soo 4 Valley East 1

2. SUDBURY vs. 7. KIRKLAND LAKE

(Sudbury wins series 3-0)

Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 18 - Sudbury 6 Kirkland Lake 2 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 19 - Sudbury 4 Kirkland Lake 3 Game 3 - Sat. Feb. 25 - Sudbury 8 Kirkland Lake 3

3. NORTH BAY vs. 6. TIMMINS

(North Bay wins series 3-1)

Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 18 - Timmins 2 North Bay 0 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 19 - North Bay 6 Timmins 1 Game 3 - Sat. Feb. 25 - North Bay 4 Timmins 0 Game 4 - Sun. Feb. 26 - North Bay 5 Timmins 3

4. RAYSIDE BALFOUR vs. 5. NEW LISKEARD

(Series tied 2-2)

Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 18 - Rayside 5 New Liskeard 2 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 19 - New Liskeard 3 Rayside 1 Game 3 - Fri. Feb. 24 - Rayside 5 New Liskeard 4 (OT) Game 4 - Sat. Feb. 25 - New Liskeard 7 Rayside 5 Game 5 - Wed. Mar. 1 - New Liskeard vs. North Bay

***