Coach Don Champagne was a little worried when his team was down 3-0 with two minutes left in the first period, and there was added pressure to put on a good show for the massive crowd.

The game started to turn around late in the first period after some key saves by North Stars goaltender Matt Ezzy, and then a strike-back goal by imported Canadian Eric Lafren-iere with under a minute remaining.

The goal lifted the spirits of both crowd and team and from then on the North Stars seemed to have the momentum, carrying through into the second and third periods.

The second period was full of tension as the teams exchanged rushes and penalties, both goalies performing admirably to keep their teams in the game.

A Newcastle goal from John Halverson was the only break in the tension, ending the second period with the Dogs in front 3-2 and a big task still ahead for the North Stars.

The end-to-end jousting continued in the third period but with 9.25 minutes to go, Ben Morrison tied the score three all with help from Halverson and Gicu Oprea.

Maintaining the momentum to keep the North Stars first game in their favor, quick plays by Lafreniere and Casey Minon resulted in a goal to take the score to 4-3.

Eighty seconds after the fourth goal Halverson scored the fifth, sending now boisterous crowd into a roaring frenzy.

The game ended 5-3 the North Stars way, despite the advantages opponents Sydney Ice Dogs seemed to hold with a complete team and having already played their first season of the year.