NORTH BATTLEFORD - Two division rivals were on the ice in a rare Tuesday night game in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
The Battlefords North Stars and the Notre Dame Hounds did battle at the Access Communications Centre in a matchup between fellow members of the Global Ag Risk Solutions Division. In the end, it was the North Stars who filled the Notre Dame net with six goals. They prevailed 6-3 for their second win of the season, while Notre Dame dropped to 0-3.
It was end to end action to begin the game and the North Stars did not take long to score. Steven Kesslering got his second of the season with Holden Doell assisting to make it 1-0 at the 2:02 mark of the first period.
But the Hounds tied it up soon after as Brendan Kerr scored from Elliot Dutil, beating Stars netminder Ulrik Roussel in his first start of the season, to tie the game at 1-1 at the 4:48 mark.
The North Stars then reclaimed the lead soon after as Dace Prymak got his first of the season, with Riley Little getting his first assist at the 6:55 mark.
With 5:40 to go in the first the Stars added to their lead with the first of the season from Jake Southgate, with Little and Wilson Steele assisting.
With 2:08 to go in the period Southgate scored again, beating Joe Kuchaslo in net for his second of the night, with Prymak getting the assist. That made the score 4-1 through one, with shots favouring the North Stars 14-10.
The North Stars could have added to their lead in the second period as they had a 5-on-3 advantage to start the frame, but they failed to capitalize. Shortly afterward the Hounds scored their second of the game as Dutil scored from Sam Kroon at 5:48.
That would be all the scoring for the second period with shots still in favor of the North Stars 25-20.
In the third the North Stars were able to get a timely penalty kill and at the 9:32 mark, a shot by Zane Florence went right through Kuchaslo for Florence’s first goal in the SJHL, making it 5-2. Easton Rask had the assist.
With 3:28 to go Emmett Wurst made it 6-2, with Kesslering and Jordan Grill assisting. It was Wurst’s fourth goal of the young season.
Notre Dame got one back on the power play with 2:01 remaining on the second goal of the night by Dutil, which wrapped up the scoring on the night.
Final shots favoured the Battlefords 33-26.
The North Stars next home game is Friday night at home to the Humboldt Broncos. Proof of vaccination or a negative test will be required for all fans attending Friday night’s game. Fans are urged to get to the Access Communications Centre early.
Priot to that game, they take a trip to La Ronge Thursday to play the Ice Wolves.
