The chemistry may not be there yet among the Battlefords North Stars players, but overall they didn't look too bad Saturday in the season opener against Kindersley.
The North Stars had an impressive crowd of 1,117 to kick off the season, but couldn't send the fans away happy after losing 7-6.
Some players had just a day and a half of practice with the team while one other, Dakota Johnson, had just the morning skate with his teammates before suiting up.
The North Stars came out flying early and didn't allow a shot on goalie Alex Sirard until the 11-minute mark of the period. Unfortunately the North Stars couldn't convert offensively until late in the first period. After a great fore check by Shay Neufeld, Colin Phaneuf skated with the puck behind the net and tried to centre a pass. It was blocked, but a Klipper chipped the puck into his own net. Phaneuf was credited with the first goal of the season with Neufeld and Woody Klassen drawing the assists.
Less than two minutes later, Kindersley tied the game as Kurt Leedahl fired a wrist shot from the point that snuck under the cross bar and by a screened Sirard to tie the game.
Before the period ended, the Klippers were on the powerplay and it was Leedahl again with a point shot. This time Sirard got a piece of it, but deflected it over his own shoulder and into the net. Kindersley led 2-1 at the first intermission.
Early in the second, Sirard appeared to shake off the rust after making two good saves to keep his team close. It worked and minutes later, Brett Miller went down the wing and jammed in a rebound, but it was half a second after the whistle blew and the goal was disallowed keeping Kindersley in front 2-1.
The North Stars found themselves on a 5-on-3 powerplay minutes later and capitalized after good puck movement down low. Cade Kimery snuck in from the point and was fed a pass from Calder Neufeld and tied the game. Klassen also had an assist on the goal.
Five seconds after the next powerplay expired, the North Stars scored again. This time it was after a beautiful centering pass from Tim Rollins to Shayne Morrissey. The North Stars rookie didn't miss the open net putting his team up 3-2. Along with Rollins and Morrissey, another new North Star, Zach MacLellan, earned his first point with an assist on the goal.
Kindersley responded with a powerplay goal of their own two minutes later, as Andrew Dommett tapped in a cross crease pass.
The North Stars used the powerplay again to retake the lead. This time it was Miller in the slot. His first shot attempt was blocked, but he stayed with it and got a shot by Scott Hellyer's blocker. Blake Tatchell and Jacob Chiblow had the assists.
The North Stars continued to pressure in the second period, but were unable to increase their lead and the score was 4-3 for the home team after two periods.
Two minutes into the third, Shay Neufeld increased the lead after he jammed the loose puck into the cage. Josh Daley and Klassen had the assists.
On the ensuing faceoff, Neufeld appeared to get hit in the face with a high stick. He dropped to the ice and eventually made it to the North Stars' bench, but while he was moving to the bench Kindersley was moving towards the net and Sanfred King scored.
At 3:55 of the third the scoring didn't end. Kindersley tied the game as Brett Penner scored on a long wrist shot off the rush.
The North Stars' Rollins made it four goals in just over three minutes, as he scored on a wrist off the post and in off the rush. His shot hit a defenders stick and beat Hellyer. Tanner Schwab and Morrissey drew the assists.
The Klippers pressed for the tying goal. After a long shift with the North Stars running around in their own end, Braeden Adamyk finally made them pay on a one-timed shot.
The game looked set to go into over time, but with less that 30 seconds left on the clock, Nathan Tomac turned the puck over in the North Stars' end to the most dangerous Klipper, Dommett, and he made no mistake, picking the top corner and helping the Klippers spoil the North Stars' home opener.
The final score was 7-6 and the shots were 39-32 in favour of the home team.
The North Stars got a chance to retry winning their first game of the season Tuesday as they hosted the Humboldt Broncos. Kyle Birch and Graham Hildebrand were not expected back in the lineup. The North Stars' coaching staff believed it is just a few things that need to be tweaked since they played well Saturday. Next for BNS is a home-and-home with Melfort Friday and Saturday.
