The Soo North Stars have taken control of their Great North Midget League quarterfinal series with a 7-3 win over Sudbury on Wednesday night in the Nickel city.
The game three victory gives the North Stars a 2-1 lead over the Sudbury Lockerby Nickel Capitals in the best-of-five affair.
The North Stars grabbed a 2-1 first period and skated into the second intermission with a 3-2 advantage before exploding with four goals in the final stanza.
Paul Dupont lead the North Stars with two goals, including one on the power play and one short handed, and an assist while Tyler Gendron added a power play goal and a pair of assists.
Jake McClelland, with one on the power play, and Jake Reid each scored a goal and setup another while Derrick Coccimiglio and Matt Conway scored once each. Travis O'Brien picked up the win in goal.
Neal Ross paced Sudbury with two goals and Jordan Kurulak added the other.
Game four is scheduled for Thursday night in Sudbury while a fifth game, if necessary, would be played back in the Soo on Friday night at the John Rhodes Community Centre.
*** NORTH STARS VS. SUDBURY:
(North Stars lead series 2-1)
Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 19 - Sudbury 3 Soo 2 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 20 - Soo 7 Sudbury 1 Game 3 - Wed. Feb. 23 - Soo 7 Sudbury 3 Game 4 - Thurs. Feb. 24 - Soo vs. Sudbury - 7:30 p.m. * Game 5 - Fri. Feb. 25 - Sudbury vs. Soo - 7:30 p.m.
(* if necessary)
*** GNML QUARTERFINALS:
2. NEW LISKEARD vs. 7. TIMMINS
(Series tied at 1-1)
Game 1 - Fri. Feb. 18 - Timmins 2 New Liskeard 1 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 20 - New Liskeard 4 Timmins 2 Game 3 - Fri. Feb. 25 - New Liskeard vs. Timmins Game 4 - Sun. Feb. 27 - New Liskeard vs. Timmins * Game 5 - Wed. Mar. 2 - Timmins vs. New Liskeard
3. KAPUSKASING vs. 6. KIRKLAND LAKE
(Series tied at 1-1)
Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 19 - Kirkland Lake 4 Kapuskasing 3 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 20 - Kapuskasing 3 Kirkland Lake 3 Game 3 - Sat. Feb. 26 - Kapuskasing vs. Kirkland Lake Game 4 - Sun. Feb. 27 - Kapuskasing vs. Kirkland Lake * Game 5 - Sat. Mar. 5 - Kirkland Lake vs. Kapuskasing
4. VALLEY EAST vs. 5. NORTH BAY
(North Bay leads series 2-0)
Game 1 - Fri. Feb. 18 - North Bay 5 Valley East 4 (OT) Game 2 - Sat. Feb. 19 - North Bay 5 Valley East 3 Game 3 - Sat. Feb. 26 - Valley East vs. North Bay * Game 4 - Sun. Feb 27 - Valley East vs. North Bay * Game 5 - TBA - North Bay vs. Valley East
(* if necessary)