For a second straight weekend, the Sudbury Technica Major AAA Peewee Wolves were pushed, and for a second straight weekend, coach Michel Brunette and company did what needed to be done.

The Wolves picked up a win and pair of ties in games with the Timmins North Stars, securing third place in the league standings and avoiding the first-round playoff battle that pits the fourth- and fifth-placed teams in a best of three mini-series.

Sudbury's ability to get out to a quick start has proved helpful on countless occasions this year, and this three-game set was no different.

Mathieu Dokis-Dupuis provided a spark just 25 seconds into Game 1, breaking the ice for the Wolves, with linemates Brett Jacklin and Billy Moskal increasing the margin to 3-0 by midway through the second period.

The North Stars, however, are a resilient bunch, getting on the board prior to the end of the middle frame courtesy of a goal from Callum Sackrider.

The visitors evened the mark in the third as both Danny Katic and Philippe Caron managed to beat Sudbury netminder Scott Adams, leaving the teams settling for a 3-3 draw in the curtain-riser.

There wasn't a whole lot more to choose between the teams in Game 2 as the locals held on for a 3-2 win. Moskal and Jacklin were joined on the scoresheet by defenceman Brandon Atkins, with Chad Denault and Caron countering in a losing cause for the North Stars.

Good things apparently do happen in threes, at least for the Major Peewee Wolves, who completed the weekend with a 3-3 draw in their third encounter in less than 24 hours. Jacklin, Atkins and Moskal duplicated their scoring exploits of the previous evening, with Katic, Denault and Cameron Svec finding the back of the net for Timmins coach Matt Tremblay and company.

The Wolves bumped their record, in the process, to 9-12-5 (23 points), with a pair of games remaining against the first place Nickel City Sons this week to wrap up their regular-season schedule.

At 9-15-4, Timmins will now enjoy a one-week break before kicking off the NOHL post-season by welcoming the Soo Greyhounds (4-18-3) north on the weekend of February 16th and 17th.

Sudbury will face either Nickel City or North Bay (the pair are separated by just two points), whichever finishes second as the first-place team awaits the winner of the Timmins vs. Sault Ste Marie series.

This same scenario will be played out in all three remaining Northern Ontario AAA leagues that cover the peewee and bantam-age divisions.

Schedule information will be provided on the league website, www.nobhlaaa.com, as soon as the times, dates and venues are set.