North Stars lead semi-final series over Yorkton 2-0

The Battlefords North Stars started their SJHL semi-final series with the Yorkton Terriers with their biggest offensive output of the post-season, filling the Yorkton net with six goals.

They followed it up Saturday with their worst offensive output of the post-season: one goal. But it was still enough to win the game, as Quintin Loon-Stewardson's overtime winner gave the Stars a 1-0 win and a 2-0 series lead heading to Yorkton Tuesday and Wednesday.

For head coach Brayden Klimosko, the second game was a tough one to watch at times.

"Yeah, it was tough, we were frustrated," said Klimosko. "A little bit frustrated, a little bit tired. We've played a lot of hockey lately, and we didn't have the jump tonight, but we found a way, and that's what good teams do is find a way."  

North Stars 6 Yorkton 2

The Battlefords North Stars initially didn't look any worse for wear in game one, after their gruelling series with the Flin Flon Bombers.

They throttled the Terriers 6-2 on Friday to open their SJHL semi-final series. For the Terriers, they might still have had a bit of a hangover from their thrilling 4-3 upset of the Nipawin Hawks on Tuesday night. 

Yorkton actually opened the scoring on the night with a goal from Cole Keenleyside in the first period on the power play. But the North Stars answered back with second period goals from Elijah Loon-Stewardson on the power play, by Dayton Heino to take the lead, and then by Braydon Buziak.

With the North Stars on a two man advantage after Yorkton's Kurri Woodford took a high sticking penalty early in the third, it was Quintin Loon-Stewardson who extended the lead to 4-1. Still on the power play, Ryan Gil made it 5-1 soon after, and then just seconds afterwards at the 2:09 mark a fight erupted between the North Stars' Kaden Boser and Mason Mullaney of the Terriers. Both took major fighting and game misconduct penalties.

Yorkton got a goal back from Kishaun Gervais, but Austin Shumanski completed the scoring late in the game, for a 6-2 final score.

The North Stars dominated on shots on goal for most of the game, outshooting the Terriers 43-31. Joel Grzybowski got his fifth win of the post-season, stopping 29 shots.

North Stars 1 Yorkton 0 (OT)

Game two was a different story entirely as the two teams struggled to put any points on the board. North Stars netminder Grzybowski as well as Ryan Ouellette of the Terriers settled in for an old-fashioned goaltender's duel that lasted well into the first overtime.

The overtime proved to be the best period for the North Stars in the game, as Yorkton had to fend of a number of North Stars chances. Finally, Quintin Loon-Stewardson scored the game winner at the 11:37 mark, with assists from Buziak and Seth Summers.  

It was Grzybowski's second shutout of the post-season as he stopped 40 shots; Ouellette stopped 41 of 42 in defeat.

For the North Stars it was their fifth overtime game of the playoffs, and their third overtime post-season win of 2019. They now have a couple of days to rest before game three in Yorkton Tuesday night.