For some the annual southern road trips in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League are less than desirable. The Battlefords North Stars not only got a chance to tour some university campuses and watch former North Star Blake Tatchell, they salvaged the road trip with a win Monday in Wilcox.
The North Stars faced Estevan Friday, Weyburn Sunday and Notre Dame Monday.
The North Stars won 4-1 over the Hounds and Connor Creech earned his fifth win of the season.
Tanner Quinn started the offence with his first goal of the season late in the first period with captain Robbie Newton earning the assist.
Austin Evans scored in the second period unassisted and that held up to be the game-winning goal.
Brandon Long netted his fifth of the season early in the third period with Jake McMillen and Justin Waskewitch earning the assists.
Notre Dame scored a power play goal in the third period, but Spencer Gosselin hit the empty net to seal the 4-1 win.
Creech made 23 saves for the win and the North Stars killed off three of four power plays. They also failed to score on their five opportunities.
Saturday, Casey Parker was in net for the North Stars, but received little help offensively, as the North Stars scored just twice. McMillen and Newton scored in the first period, but the Red Wings scored twice in the second period and three more times in the third to earn the 5-2 win.
Both teams had 31 shots on net, as Jean-Philippe Boucher earned the win in Weyburn's net.
Friday, was Ben Greenaway's first game after being injured in pre-season and he got on the score sheet with his first of two fights on the weekend.
Defenceman Keenan Martens also made his North Stars debut on the weekend and so did Kendall Fransoo, a Battlefords product, who is playing midget AAA in Notre Dame. He was an emergency call up, as Dillon Forbes didn't play in the final two games of the road trip. Fransoo was able to suit up in Notre Dame for the North Stars.
The North Stars fell behind 3-0 heading into the third period of Friday's game, but Luke McColgan scored to make it a 3-1 game. Estevan scored into the empty net to make it a 4-1 final.
Creech made 31 saves in the loss while Curtis Matinu faced 40 shots and Darcy DeRoose led the Bruins' offence with two goals and an assist. Roger Tagoona, who was traded to Estevan, played with the Bruins and was held off the score sheet and had a minor penalty for roughing after the whistle.
The North Stars will be back on the ice Friday at home to the La Ronge Ice Wolves. The North Stars are two points up on the Ice Wolves with a 6-7-0-0 record. La Ronge is 4-9-0-2 on the season.
