League action heating up

BY SCOTT HADDOW

Here's a wrap of the three local hockey teams gunning in the Great North Midget League (GNML) and the two local entries competing in the Northern Ontario Bantam Hockey League (NOBHL).

The Capitals, coming off a huge win over Sault Ste. Marie in their last game, are riding tall in the saddle as the season hits the stretch run before the playoffs.

Current record and league standing: 20-6-0-1, second overall.

Previous result: 5-4 win over North Bay on Dec. 29, 2005.

Next two games: Sudbury at Timmins, Jan. 14 and Sudbury at Kapuskasing, Jan. 15.

Leading scorers (games played, goals, assists, points): Vern Cooper 27-30-31-61, Joey Derochie 22-23-24-47, Jordan Kuruliak 26-18-17-35.

The Sabrecats are sitting in the weeds, waiting to pounce on their next opponent.

Current record and league standing: 14-10-1-1, fourth overall.

Previous result: 3-3 tie with North Bay, Dec. 21, 2005.

Next two games: Sault Ste. Marie at Rayside, Saturday, Jan. 14. Game time at the Balfour Arena is 1:30 pm. New Liskeard at Rayside, Sunday, Jan. 15. Game time is 1:30 pm.

Leading scorers: Mike Mascioli 24-17-11-28, Jeff Verreault 26-8-20-28, Chad Mallette 24-13-13-26.

Despite dropping their last four games, the Cobras are still full of venom and are looking to get back into the win column this weekend.

Current record and league standing: 8-17-0-0, eighth overall.

Previous result: 7-2 loss to Sudbury on Dec. 23, 2005.

Next two games: Sault Ste. Marie at Valley East, Friday, Jan. 13. Game time at the Ray Plourde Arena is 8:20 pm. New Liskeard at Valley East,

Saturday, Jan. 14. Game time is 8:20 pm.

Leading scorers: Garrett Hamel 25-12-11-23, Scott Faulkner 24-10-13-23, Justin Hogan 25-3-16-19.

The Huskies are charging into the playoffs with a solid season and could set a few new records. The Huskies, with 164 goals scored in 25 games, are on pace to tally 223 goals for, which would shatter the old mark of 205 set by the 2004-05 Sault Greyhounds. Forward Nick Esposto, if he continues to score at a wild pace, could break the points scored in one season. Esposto has 55 points in 25 games, and needs 26 points in his final nine games to break the old record of 80 points set by Dean Howard of the Sault.

League record and standing: 20-5-0-0, second.

Previous result: 4-1 win over Sudbury, Dec. 11, 2005.

Next series of games: Onaping at Sault Ste. Marie, Jan. 14. Game times are 1 and 8 pm.

The Wolves are struggling as the playoffs approach, going 0-4-1 in their last five games.

Current record and league standing: 9-14-1-1, third overall.

Previous result: 9-2 loss to Timmins on Dec. 18, 2005.

Next series of games: Sault Ste. Marie at Sudbury, Jan. 21. Game times at the Carmichael Arena 2:30 pm and 8:30 pm. Sault Ste. Marie at Sudbury, Jan. 22. Game time is 11 am.