U21 North Stars look for another long playoff run

North Stars’ Ryan Atherton (29) skates around the net with help from the game’s lone goal scorer Kaleb Jardin (82).

The Lake Eire North Stars U21 team is headed to the Shamrock League finals, and hopefully, beyond.

They blanked the visiting Ausable Valley Coyotes 1-0 last Sunday to win the best-of-three series in two straight games.

The North Stars will now challenge for the league title and if they win that, will head to the Ontario Hockey Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) championship tournament in Kingston at the end of the month.

“We had our chances, a couple of more goals would have been good,” said Lake Erie captain Cam Roussell after Sunday’s game at the Libro Centre.

Kaleb Jardin netted the only goal for the winners who dominated offensively throughout the game. 

Getting the shutout in net was former Amherstburg Admirals Jay Procter.

“It would have been nice to have a few more goals,” said U21 coach Dennis Emerson.

The night before in Lucan, it was another slim win, this time 2-1 for the North Stars.

Under the new banner of the Lake Erie Minor Hockey Association, which combined this year to include Amherstburg and Erie North Shore (Kingsville-Harrow), the U21 team lost only two games all season.

“We have more depth this year, everyone is doing the right things,” said Roussell.

One of the banners at the end of the Libro Centre proudly displays the locals winning the Ontario juvenile (now U21) Ontario championship back in 2017-18.

Under the long tenure of Emerson, the North Stars are hoping that this is the year they once again get to bring home the title. 

A year ago, in Kingston, they were disappointed with an 0-3 record at the OMHA tournament.

“We are focused on winning it all and fixing our mistakes,” said Emerson.

A winning record, a balanced lineup and solid goaltending could make for a winning combination.

U21 North Stars look for another long playoff run

By Fred Groves