The Battlefords North Stars' weekend included an epic comeback, two come-from-behind shootout wins, $3,400 raised in the Shootout Showdown auction and 1,553 fans on hand to watch the action Saturday night.
Where to begin?
The Battlefords North Stars are on four-game winning streak after a 3-2 shootout-win in La Ronge Saturday and a 7-6 shootout-win Friday at home to Estevan. That puts them just two points behind the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League leading Humboldt Broncos.
Saturday marked the first win in three tries for the North Stars in La Ronge this season. Tim Rollins scored his 14th goal of the year to tie the game with eight minutes left in the third period. Jared Samborski had the assist on the game-tying goal.
Earlier in the game, Klay Kachur pounced on a rebound and scored his first goal since being acquired by the North Stars in January. Rollins and Brett Miller drew assists on what was the game's first goal.
La Ronge had second period goals from Aaron Enns and Nathan Boyer, but couldn't solve Graham Hildebrand the rest of the night. He was impressive with 38 saves in 65 minutes and he turned away all three La Ronge shooters in the shootout for his 22nd win of the season.
Brody Luhning was the first shooter for the North Stars in the shootout and beat Myles Hovdebo for the win. Hovdebo made 31 saves in the loss.
The previous night, as expected, it was the largest crowd of the season for the Battlefords North Stars - 1,553 fans found their way to the Civic Centre for what was the third-last home game of the season.
By no means did the North Stars impress in the first period, but late game dramatics made for one of the most exciting games of the season.
Estevan's Matt Dochylo scored the game's first goal, as he swatted in the bouncing puck on a broken play just 38 seconds into the game.
Later in the period, Dylan Smith beat Connor Creech glove side after a quick transition from the Bruins back into the North Stars' zone. Later, former North Star Calder Neufeld jumped on a loose puck on the power play to beat a helpless Creech. The Bruins led the North Stars 3-0 after 20 minutes and out shot the home team 13-8.
Along with Neufeld playing against his former team, Zach MacLellan and Dominic Perrault were also facing former teammates from the North Stars.
In the second, the North Stars came out with more life. Kyle Hall scored shorthanded after receiving a beautiful saucer pass from Rollins on a two-on-one. Hall's 11th of the season was also assisted by Dillon Forbes.
Tatchell pulled the North Stars to within a goal with three minutes remaining in the second, as he settled the puck and scored glove-side for his 38th of the season from Jordan Ethier and Matt Sheeran.
The North Stars looked to be in much better shape heading into the third period, but after going down two men late in the second period Neufeld made them pay with a good shot from below the faceoff circle.
With 20 minutes left, the North Stars trailed 4-2, but the Battlefords trailed Estevan 3-1 heading in to the third period Jan. 29 and scored four goals in the third period earning the 5-3 win.
Friday was similar for the North Stars, but with a more entertaining flare for the hometown large crowd.
Tatchell scored his 39th goal of the season four minutes into the third. He skated away from the boards along the top of the circle and ripped a slapshot on the power play. The shot beat Steven Glass clean on the glove side and pulled the North Stars to within a goal. Mitch Berg drew the lone assist on the goal.
Cole Olson regained the two-goal lead five minutes later for the Bruins. That goal came a minute after Luhning and Michael Hengen dropped the gloves in a spirited fight in the Bruins' zone.
Minutes later, the North Stats' rallied again, this time it was a unlikely source - Robbie Newton scored his first goal of the season. Defence partners Sheeran and Travis Sparrow drew the assists on the goal.
Estevan answered back the next shift, as Dochylo scored his second of the game. He dumped the puck in on Creech from the blue-line and Creech couldn't handle the puck, as he was down in the butterfly position. The puck slid between his legs and gave the Bruins the 6-4 lead.
After Tatchell was sent off the ice for a coincidental roughing penalty he returned and scored his hat trick goal and for the fourth time in the game the North Stars trailed Estevan by one goal.
After more scoring chances for the North Stars later in the period, they were forced back into their own zone with less than 20 seconds left. The Bruins missed the empty net from centre ice and Luhning moved the puck up quickly. After two quick passes in the neutral zone, Hall was at the crease and tapped the loose puck by Glass to tie the game.
Tatchell and Luhning had the assists on the goal that was credited to Braeden Johnson at the time.
No matter who was given credit, the game was tied with four seconds left in regulation and overtime was needed. The North Stars were buzzing with chances in the extra frame, but were denied so the game went to a shootout.
After the first three shooters missed, Neufeld scored for the Bruins and it was up to Tatchell to score to keep the shootout going. With his patented deke to the backhand Tatchell scored.
Creech made up for the earlier blunder stopping the next seven Bruins' shooters and in the ninth round, Luhning scored to give the North Stars the 7-6 victory.
The North Stars have trailed heading into the third period of their last three games, but have outscored their opponents 9-2 in those third periods and have won seven of their last eight games improving to 37-12-0-2.
Fans were also treated to a bonus shootout after the game. The top 10 scorers, with the exception of Woody Klassen, were auctioned off between periods and an elimination shootout took place. Klassen and Boyd Wakelin didn't play in either game on the weekend, as they are sidelined with upper body injuries.
Tatchell and Ethier were the only two shooters to score in the first round and move on. After both were stopped by Hildebrand in the next round Tatchell scored in tie-breaker and the team's top scorer, who was named the North Stars' player of the month before the game, sent NorSask Farm Equipment manager Leon Lozowchuk home happy. Lozowchuk purchased Tatchell for $1,400 in the auction and earned a profit of $2,000 on what was a great night for the North Stars, their budget and their fans.
The North Stars continue their hunt for first place with four straight road games this week. They travel to Yorkton Tuesday, Melville Wednesday and Flin Flon Friday and Saturday.
