If there's a player in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League who's "been there, done that," it's Mike Stone. The Tiwn Cities Northern Lights goaltender has seen a lot in his three seasons between the pipes, but there's something missing on his personal resume.

"I'm not much of a numbers guy, but I'd love to finish the sason as one of the top goal tenders int he league," he said.

with a little more than a month left in the season, Stone wasn't far off from meeting his gtoal, and in the process, he was keeping the Lights afloat in the race for third place.

"I think he's the best goaltender in the league, and I'm not the only coach who would say that," said Northern Lights coach Eric Fink. "It's rare when he doesn't control a game for us."

Stone fell in love with the junior scene after his first season with the South Suburban Steers in 2001-2. He returned to hep the Lights to the league championship and a niational tournament appearnace last season.

A fringe Junior A player entering this year, Stone admits a bit of frustration not getting a call up, but it hasn't let him lose focus.

"Not everything goes your way," said the Henry Sibley High School (Mendota Heights, Minn) graduate. "I like where I'm at, I get along with the coaches. I don't have have any complaints."

"Mike knew that if things didn't work out with a Junior A team, he coudl play Division III right out of the MNJHL," Fink added. And that, according to Fink, is as close to a sure thing as they come. "I don't really think it will be a problem finding him a place to play."

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