HOCKEY ROUNDUP: STARS WIN, HOUNDS LOSE

The Soo North Stars are a home-ice-win away from a Great North Midget Hockey League championship. The Soo Greyhounds, on the other hand, can't score a goal, let alone win a playoff game. Saturday night at the Memorial Gardens, the North Stars posted a tidy 3-1 win over the Sudbury Lockerby Nickel Capitals to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five Great North championship series. The North Stars can take the title with a win today, 2 p.m., at John Rhodes Community Centre. In Saturday's win, Michael D'Agostini, Jeff Elliott and David Turco scored for the North Stars. Meanwhile, Saturday night in Kitchener, the Greyhounds were blanked for the second evening in a row to fall behind 2-0 in their best-of-seven Ontario Hockey League playoff series with the Rangers. Scott Dickie made 33 saves for his second straight shutout and Derek Roy had a goal and three assists to lead Kitchener, which fired 52 shots at Hounds' goalie Adam Munro. Elsewhere Saturday, Sooite Chris Thorburn had a goal and an assist as the Plymouth Whalers began their playoff series at home against Owen Sound, doubling the Attack 6-3. Tonight, in Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League semi-final action, the Soo Junior Greyhounds are on the road to play the Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats. The Soo leads the best-of-seven series 1-0.