It was a decisive win over the Penrith Bears who sit at the bottom of the AIHL ladder.

“I was really impressed with the imports. They improve every game.

“Tonight showed the quality of what’s to come,” said Coach Don Champagne

Playing to a sold-out rink, the biggest crowd since their first game of the season, the North Stars showed the Bears why they are on top of the ladder.

Bears goalie Dayne Davis was peppered all night with shots from Steve Kaye and Eric Lafreniere, with the defence and centre combination of Robert Starke, Adrian Saul and John Halverson setting up a continual series of dangerous scoring chances.

Davis had several great saves, but too many quality chances were allowed by the Bears defence to give the Bears net minder the help he needed to shut down the North Stars.

At the far end, Newcastle goalie Matt Ezzy had some spectacular saves in the few times that the Bears got quality chances in the North Stars end.

With help from fellow import Lafreniere, Halverson scored the North Stars first goal just 40 seconds into the game, and the two continued to deliver blows to the Bears, crowding the goal and breaking down the Bears defences.

But by the end of the first period the North Stars led 2-0, and came out into the second period to quickly lead 3-0.

By the end of the second period the score sat at a comfortable 6-1.

The North Stars gave chances to three more young players as injuries kept some of the veterans out of the line-up, and were impressive again conceding few chances.

Coach Champagne put backup Chris Kelly into goal in the last period, relieving starter Ezzy after his admirable performance of allowing just one goal from 13 shots.

The Bears did make some ground against the younger players, scoring two goals in the third to Newcastle’s one, and with just over a minute remaining tempers boiled over and blows were exchanged between Ben Morrison and Blair Nicholson.

The win kept the North Stars on top of the AIHL table with 25 points,.

The North Stars play the Ice Dogs in Liverpool next weekend in their next game.

The North Stars next home game will be on Saturday, June 27 at 5pm.