NORTH BATTLEFORD ‑ For the first time in two and a half weeks the Battlefords North Stars were hosting an SJHL game Friday, versus the Melfort Mustangs.
They got off to a good start, getting the opening goal and then adding another in the first to take an early 2-0 lead on the Mustangs, and they would not relinquish the lead in a 5-3 victory.
For the North Stars, it was a winning return to the Access Communications Centre in their first home game since Jan. 15, when they won 5-4 in overtime over Kindersley.
Since then, the North Stars had several games postponed due to COVID-19 protocols before returning to the ice Feb. 1 in Humboldt where they beat the Broncos 4-0.
Michael Harroch recorded the shutout in goal in that game, and he got the start again at home Friday night at Access Communications Centre, hoping to keep the winning going. Melfort, meanwhile, was in action for the first time since Jan. 26 when they beat Nipawin at home 3-1.
In the first period, the North Stars got the early jump as Easton Rask opened the scoring for the North Stars at the 8:25 mark with Ethan Scriven and Matthew Henry assisting.
Zane Florence made it 2-0 with 4:09 to go in period one with his 12th of the season. Ryland McNinch and Sam Witt got the assists.
But late in the period, the North Stars landed in penalty trouble. With Dylan Esau off for hooking, and with the North Stars also hit by a bench minor for too many men, Carter Anderson scored from Lucas Ochitwa to bring the Mustangs within one with 1:04 left in the period.
In the second period the North Stars extended the lead with 2:13 left in the frame, with Esau getting his 11th of the season unassisted. That would be all the scoring through two.
In the third, Melfort pulled within a goal at the eight-minute mark with Curtis Hammond's 22nd of the year. But Ryland McNinch put the North Stars back ahead by two on a power play goal.
With less than three minutes remaining, Hammond scored his second of the game on the power play to pull Melfort back within one. But Steven Kesslering responded with his 17th of the season with 1:35 remaining to restore the two-goal lead, and seal the North Stars' win.
The Mustangs outshot the North Stars 31-26, with Harroch stopping 28 in the win. James Venne took the loss for Melfort.
Next for the North Stars is a home game to La Ronge Saturday, while Melfort heads to Kindersley,
