Beaver Sports
If the Ontario Minor Hockey Association playdowns are any indication, the Napanee Stars have a great crew of 9- and 10-year-old players working their way through the system.
After a busy holiday weekend, the Stars have two teams through to the semifinals in the atom category.
In BB competition, the Joyce’s Meat & Deli Stars completed a three-game sweep of the Lindsay Muskies Saturday with a 3-1 win.
Thus far, the Stars have gone unbeaten through the regular season and the first two playoff rounds. They’ll advance to play the Collingwood Blackhawks with the Niagara-on-the-Lake Wolves awaiting either St. Mary’s or Erin-Hillsburgh on the other side. Schedules have yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, the L&A Mutual Insurance Atom AE Stars are also through to a semifinal after sweeping the Elmvale Coyotes in successive days.
After taking a 6-2 road win in Elmvale Saturday, the Stars returned home to register a 9-1 decision Sunday. Cruz Maracle scored twice, while Brayden Hartwick, Zachary Wilde, Cooper Seaton, William Babcock, Cal Wilson, Taven Haller, and Brock Boutilier also found the net. The Stars closed out the series with a 4-2 win at the Strathcona Paper Centre Monday. Seaton had a pair of goals with Babcock and Wilson also finding the net. Goalie Jake Richer captured the win.
The Stars are awaiting the winner between Collingwood and Saugeen Shores in the next round.The Blackhawks have a 5-1 points lead over the Storm in that six-point series. In the other semifinal, the Strathroy Rockets face the Tillsonburg Tornadoes. Napanee will go into the series as winners of five games in a row.
In other Stars playdown news…
– The Novice BB Stars improved to 3-5 in their quarterfinal round-robin after beating Ennismore and Newcastle over the weekend. On the road Saturday, the Stars clipped the Eagles 6-4. At home Sunday, they topped the Newcastle Stars 7-1. Keegan York paced the attack with four goals. Aiden Lollar had a pair and Mason Whalen chipped in another. The Stars will finish the round robin with road games in Newcastle and Wellington this weekend.
– The Peewee BB Stars will face a must-win situation in Game 5 in Lindsay this Saturday. Through the first four games of their quarterfinal, home ice advantage hasn’t meant much as the road team has taken every decision. Saturday, the Stars grabbed the momentum back with a 3-1 decision in the Kawarthas, but the fish wouldn’t be done in. They came back to Napanee the next day and blanked the Stars by a 5-0 margin. Should the two teams tie Saturday, there would be a deciding Game 6 on the Goodyear Rink Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m.
– The Peewee AE Stars have some ground to make up in their quarterfinal series. After sweeping the Lindsay Muskies, the Stars have fallen behind 2-0 on the road against the Oro Thunder with 7-3 and 5-4 scores last weekend. They’ll look to change course in Deseronto Friday at 8:30 p.m. for Game 3.
– After falling behind with a 3-1 score in Wellington in Game 1, the Exit Realty Acceleration Bantam BB Stars regained control in their quarterfinal against Prince Edward County.
Saturday, the Stars took a 4-1 decision at home. Ethan Martin opened the scoring. Marshall Maracle, Zach Slaven, and Gavin Brooks also found the net. Owen Gibson and Quintan Pierce had two assists each. Brooks, Martin and Cameron Pearson also had helpers. Though the Stars outshot the Kings 33-8, goaltender Ryan Aldridge had to make some tough stops.
Sunday in Wellington, the Stars grabbed a 2-0 decision with Brooks getting the game-winning goal and Maracle, an empty-net insurance marker. Shots on goal favoured Napanee 53-5.
Game 3 was scheduled Wednesday after press time. If the Stars completed their sweep, they’d advance to face the South Muskoka Bears in the semifinal. If they lost or tied, they’d be headed to Wellington Friday for a 7 p.m. Game 4 start.
– After a month off, the Midget BB Stars evidently decided they didn’t want to spend more time away from the rink any time soon. The Stars showed their rust in Games 1-2 to fall behind a pair of games to the Lindsay Muskies.
Despite outshooting the Muskies 30-29 on home ice Saturday, the Stars fell 6-3. Nate Brant scored twice and Kyle Garrett once. Two late power-play goals sealed the win for Lindsay.
Sunday on the road, the Stars suffered a 2-1 setback that put them on the ropes.
Monday, however, Napanee dominated 7-0. Ryan Kirkpatrick had a hat trick to help keep his team alive. Oronhyathe Green, Liam Wilkinson, Garrett, and Mason Barker also scored. Another must-win game will come Saturday in Lindsay at 3:30 p.m. With a win, the Stars could force Game 5 at home Sunday at 2:30 p.m.