Rarely does an Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team have an opportunity to play a morning game, but Saturday the Battlefords North Stars did as part of the SJHL Showcase in Estevan.
The North Stars capped off a perfect weekend, as they beat Melfort 4-1 the morning after downing the Yorkton Terriers.
"We were certainly pleased with our effort and our preparation going into those games," said North Stars head coach and general manager Ken Hasselberg. "Having the tough times and the different schedule didn't seem to throw anybody off. We just seemed to stay the course and kept working.
Hasselberg was able to get all his players into the lineup during the two games in Estevan and Saturday Conner Creech proved once again to have Melfort's number.
Creech allowed just one goal, but the North Stars played strong in front of him, as they led 2-1 after the first period and added two more goals in the third while keeping the Mustangs to under 20 shots all game.
Blake Tatchell scored his eighth of the season, while Tanner Schwab and Braeden Johnson scored their fifth goals of the season and Kyle Hall hit the empty net for his third of the campaign.
The night before, Graham Hildebrand made 19 saves in the 5-2 win over Yorkton. Tatchell, Boyd Wakelin, Schwab, Johnson and Brody Luhning found the back of the net for the North Stars.
The two wins bring an end to seven straight games away from the Civic Centre for the Battlefords North Stars, who started a stretch with 10 of their next 11 games on home ice Tuesday.
The long stretches on the schedule haven't appeared to hinder the North Stars, as they sit at 8-4-0-1 and in third place in the Bauer Conference.
Hasselberg has been pleased with the way his team has been able to adapt to the schedule and stay focused on the task at hand all season.
"The schedule was certainly tough," said Hasselberg. "I think it was just a matter of our focus and attention to the details of our game. We set small, attainable goals, but it all reflects on our effort on the ice and the kids have really bought in."
Having said that, Hasselberg adds, "We are certainly excited to be coming home now," as they were scheduled to play Melfort Tuesday, Nipawin Friday and Notre Dame Saturday.
The next four weeks of the schedule will add up to a third of the North Stars' total home games this season so it could be a statement month for the Battlefords, but coach Hasselberg ensures they remain focused on a game-by-game basis.
"Every game is important and has a different importance on the season," said Hasselberg. "We take things a day at a time and one game at a time so we don't want get lost at looking at standings and jostling for positions thinking about playoffs too early. We want to stay the course."
The North Stars looked to do that Tuesday, but Hasselberg was unsure if one of his veteran forwards would be in the lineup, as Wakelin suffered an injury in Estevan on the weekend. According to Hasselberg, Wakelin is day-to-day while the rest of his team is a bit banged up but able to start this long stretch of home games.
