The Ile des Chenes North Stars scored three times in the first period and added three more in the middle frame en route to an 8-3 victory over the Stoney Creek Generals in the opening game of the 2016 Allan Cup at the T.G. Smith Centre in Steinbach.

Devon Leblanc had a hat trick for the North Stars who outshot the Generals 42-25.

“I thought we played well,” said Leblanc. “The first couple of shifts there were some jitters which I expected. We have a lot of the guys who haven't played in a tournament like this. Our goalie (Kris Westblom) played good in the first period and kind of let us settle in, so it was good.”

Tanner Waldvogel and Kory Scoran both scored twice for Ile des Chenes while Anders Strome had the other North Stars goal. 

Zeanan Zimmer, Reid Gow and Ryan Pearson chipped in with two assists each.

Nathan Pageau scored all three goals for Stoney Creek. 

“We got a few early and it just seemed to keep going,” said Ile des Chenes forward Mitch Doell. “They had a bit of a push at the start of the third and we just kept pouring it on and got fortunate.”

The North Stars will play their final round robin game Wednesday (4 p.m.) against the Bentley Generals.

“That's a big one,” Waldvogel said. “You definitely want that day off. You don't want to have to play four in a row to try and win the thing. We know they're a good team so it should be a battle on Wednesday and hopefully we can get the W again.”

An Ile des Chenes win Wednesday and the North Stars will receive a bye to the semifinals on Friday.