Ten local teams are currently participating in four levels of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association Tournament of Champions playdowns in Sault Ste. Marie.
Action in three of the four divisions began on Friday after the Bantam BB playdowns faced off on Thursday.
The Soo Bantam Greyhounds hold a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five series with the Sudbury Wolves in AAA Bantam Minor after wins of 5-0 and 5-2 on Friday.
In the Midget AA division, Soo Northside Toyota was the lone local team to emerge with a victory on the opening day of competition after beating the Root River Rangers 1-0. The Littner's Park Lions lost 5-2 to Sudbury's Rhythm N' Cues Sharks.
In Bantam AA, the Blueliners Blackhawks opened the tournament with a 9-3 win over the Pino's Titans. The S&T Lightning dropped their contest 7-2 to the Sudbury Rhythm N' Cues Hustlers.
In Bantam BB, Varcoe's Pub and Grub responded with a pair of victories on Friday to improve to 2-1 after dropping Thursday's opener 5-1 to Avery Construction. Varcoe's defeated the Sturgeon Falls Club Richelieu 5-1 and Cochrane's Norbord Blues 5-4.
Avery Construction dropped both their contests on Friday to sit at 1-2. Avery fell 4-1 to Cochrane and 4-2 to West Ferris Big Brothers.
After opening with a 2-1 loss to the Blind River Storm on Thursday, Buck or Two played to a tie and a loss on Saturday. The locals played to a 3-3 draw with the Englehart/Earlton Lions after falling 2-1 to the Wawa Travellers.
Action continues throughout the day on Saturday at the Gardens, John Rhodes Community Centre, McMeeken Centre and Rankin Arena.
Playoff action will begin on Sunday morning with semi-final match-ups in Midget and Bantam AA along with Bantam BB.
The Bantam BB final is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Rhodes, the Bantam AA final is at 1 p.m. at the Gardens and the Midget AA final is at 3:30 p.m. at the Gardens.
*** The following is a complete summary of results with available local scoring:
BANTAM MINOR AAA:
Soo Greyhounds 5 (Kyle Jean, Anthony Colizza, Tyler Liukkonen, Jarrett Burton, Zachary Larue; shutout- Justin Hogsden) Sudbury Wolves 0
Soo Greyhounds 5 (Mike Rivard 2, Jerry Petingalo 2, Tyler Liukkonen) Sudbury Wolves 2
MIDGET AA:
West Nippissing 1 Hearst 1
Sudbury Rhythm N' Cues 5 Littner's Park 2 (Derek Coccimiglio, Nick Minardi)
Sudbury Lakers 3 West Ferris 0
Soo Toyota 1 (David McFadden; shutout - Nathan Boniferro) Root River 0
BANTAM AA:
Blueliners 9 (Michael Esson 3, Daniel Ferris 3, Tommy Swystun, Kyle Marshall, John Nolan) Pino's 3 (Cody Devoe, Ryan McLean, Joe Griffa)
Sudbury Rhythm N' Cues 7 S&T Lightning 2 (Jacob Vachon, Elvis Ruck)
West Nippissing 5 Sudbury Lockerby 1
West Ferris 3 Timmins 1
BANTAM BB:
Avery Construction 5 (Brad Fantham, John Vanderheyden, Chris Mazi, Nick Pozzebon, Josh Deluney) Varcoe's 1 (Daniel Buonomo)
Blind River 2 Buck or Two 1 (Robert Riddell)
West Ferris Big Brothers 3 Sturgeon Falls 2
Wawa 3 West Ferris Dollar's 2
Cochrane 4 Avery Construction 1 (Chris Mazi)
Earlton 4 Blind River 0
Wawa 2 Buck or Two 1 (Andrew Toni)
Varcoe's 5 (Trent Boissoneau 4, Lucas Gjos) Sturgeon Falls 1
Blind River 4 West Ferris Dollar's 3
West Ferris Big Brother 4 Avery Construction 2 (Tyler Carter, Nick Pozzebon)
Varcoe's 5 Cochrane 4
Buck or Two 3 Earlton 3