The Battlefords Midget AAA Stars hosted the Tisdale Trojans for two games at the Civic Centre last weekend. The teams split the games. The Stars won 5-2 Saturday afternoon, while the Trojans beat Battlefords 5-4 Sunday.
The Stars had a strong opening to the game Saturday, as they did not allow a shot to the Trojans for the first seven minutes of the period.
Battlefords struck first on the power play with less than nine minutes to play in the period. Graham Gove's shot beat Trojans goaltender Brandon Holtby shortly before time expired on the power play.
Tisdale tied the game less than 40 seconds later. After a scramble in front of the net, the puck found Wyatt Hinson's stick at the bottom of the faceoff circle. He snapped it past Battlefords' goalie Ryan Rewerts to even the score.
With eight seconds left in the first period, the Stars broke the tie. Spencer Bast chipped the puck over Holtby and Josh Bly buried the puck to make it a 2-1 game heading into the intermission.
The second period featured nine penalties between the two teams. The Stars capitalized on one when Josh LaFramboise scored a highlight reel goal. LaFramboise batted a rebound out of mid air to extend the Stars' lead to two.
Tisdale cut the lead to one on a costly turnover in the Stars' end. Battlefords' defenceman Traye Tkatchuk fanned on a pass. Brandon Arnold jumped on the loose puck and snapped it through Rewerts' five hole with 1:33 left in the second.
In the third, the Stars pulled away with two goals from Corbin Schmidt. His first came five minutes into the period. Schmidt's shot from the point found its way through traffic to beat Holtby. Schmidt's second was another shot from the point that found the top corner over Holtby's glove.
Rewerts stopped 34 shots to earn the win for the Stars. Holtby made 31 saves for the Trojans in a losing effort.
The Trojans came out strong Sunday afternoon, using a strong fore check to put pressure on the Stars' defence. The pressure resulted in a goal midway through the first period. Rewerts sprawled to make a save, but the puck was knocked away. Tanner Nagel was able to tap the puck in to give Tisdale a 1-0 lead.
The Stars tied the game just before the period ended. With eight seconds left in the period, Kaleb Dahlgren snapped the puck in the top corner on the short side to even the score at one before the first intermission.
Tisdale came out strong again and the pressure resulted in the Trojans regaining the lead. Rylan Freed's centering pass deflected off Stars' defenceman Tkatchuk and slid past Rewerts for the goal.
Battlefords tied the game three minutes later. Dahlgren scored his second of the game, collecting a rebound and beating Trojans' goalie Kye Steinke.
The Trojans jumped back in front less than two minutes later. Matthew Perkins' shot from the point was tipped by Tristen Elder and found its way through Rewerts' legs.
The Stars responded on an average rush into the Trojans' zone. Layne Young snapped the puck over Steinke's blocker from the top of the faceoff circle.
In the third, Brennan Riddle beat Rewerts from the point. Rewerts initially appeared to make the save, but the puck found its way through his body to give the Trojans a 4-3 lead early in the period.
Battlefords tied the game two minutes later off another innocent rush into the zone. Schmidt's rush pushed the defenseman back as he snapped the puck off of Steinke's glove arm.
The Trojans took the lead for good with less than six minutes left in the third. Rewerts again appeared to cover the puck, but Hinson dislodged it from under the goaltender's glove and knocked the puck in the net.
The Stars came close to tying the game when Alex Pernitsky hit the post on a late Battlefords' power play.
Rewerts made 28 saves in a losing effort for the Stars. Steinkie stopped 41 shots for the Trojans in the win.
Battlefords' next game is Thursday night on the road against the Beardy's Blackhawks. The Stars (15-5-4-1) fall to second in the SMAAAHL behind the Notre Dame Argos.
