Local Sports

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.

The Soo Jr. Greyhounds moved one step closer to securing a place in the NOJHL championship series with a 4-2 victory Friday night against the defending champion Rayside Balfour Sabrecats.

Scott Dickie made 32 saves as the Kitchener Rangers opened their OHL playoff series with the Greyhounds on Friday night, blanking the Soo 3-0. More than 5,900 fans took in the game at Kitchener's Memorial Auditorium.

The Great North Midget Hockey League championship series resumes here this weekend with the best-of-five final between the Soo North Stars and the Sudbury Lockerby Nickel Capitals tied at a game apiece. Game three is Saturday night at 7 p.m.

The Soo Junior Greyhounds have earned a bit of a rest. The Junior Hounds completed a four-game sweep of the Abitibi Eskimos in Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League opening round playoff action last week as goalie Shane Bellini stood out.

The best-of-five Great North Midget Hockey League championship series is tied at one game apiece and the Soo North Stars have taken away the home-ice advantage.

Sudbury Lockerby Nickel Capitals have drawn first blood in the Great North Midget Hockey League championship series, besting the visiting Soo North Stars 5-4 in overtime on Saturday.

PLYMOUTH -- A hometown boy haunted the Soo here Friday as the Plymouth Whalers harpooned the Greyhounds 6-2.

WINDSOR -- The first game of the post John Vanbiesbrouck era was a complete disaster for the Soo Greyhounds, who suffered an embarrassing 8-2 loss to the Windsor Spitfires before more than 3,700 fans at the old barn here Thursday night.

The Greyhounds conclude the regular season this week with road games at Windsor, Plymouth and Sarnia, having clinched a playoff spot in the Ontario Hockey League's Western Conference.