The 12-2 Battlefords North Stars were the highest scoring team in the entire Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League going into home action against Nipawin and Notre Dame Friday and Saturday.
The North Stars had scored 66 goals and had 37 goals scored against them going into the weekend, and the team was doing well in the individual statistics as well. In fact, by weekend's end five of the top seven scoring leaders were Battlefords North Stars players: Dustin Gorgi and Layne Young tied for second with 23 points (two behind Travis Mayan of the Mustangs), followed by Igor Leonenko with 21, and then three with 19 points —Kris Spriggs of Nipawin, Jake McMillen and Coby Downs.
With Connor Sych in 10th spot with 17 points, that meant six of the top 10 scorers in the SJHL were North Stars just 16 games into the season.
North Stars 4 Nipawin 2
The North Stars got on the scoreboard early Friday night against the Nipawin Hawks, Reed Delainey getting the first goal just 56 seconds into the game to make it 1-0. Igor Leonenko assisted.
But with Leonenko in the box for holding, Garrett Dunlop scored to tie it at 1-1, Evan Mignault assisting on the goal. The call proved controversial on the North Stars bench, as someone shouted "you had the wrong guy!"
The period ended 1-1, with shots even at 11-11. Between periods, fans crowded into the lounge where the TV was showing the Blue Jays-Royals game six of the AL championship series.
There was no scoring in the second period although the North Stars had several chances on a number of power play opportunities in the period. Shots were 25-22 North Stars through two.
Just 1:11 into the third, however, the Hawks took the lead as Eric Bolden beat Rewerts to make it 2-1. Keegan Kjargaard got the assist.
The North Stars went on the power play again and good saves by Kristian Stead kept Nipawin in the game. Stead ended up facing an onslaught of North Stars shots on the night. But Dustin Gorgi put home the tying goal to make it 2-2 in the third, his eighth of the season. Rylan Freed and Troy Gerein assisted at 8:51.
With 2:29 remaining, Coby Downs finally put the North Stars in front to stay with a shot from just inside the face off circle. It was his eighth of the season with Gorgi getting the assist.
With the North Stars in the lead late and with the Hawks pulling their goaltender for the extra attacker, a potential fourth North Stars empty-net goal was waived off on an offside, and then a fight ensued between McMillen and Dunlop. They watched the end of the game from the box as the North Stars' Layne Young notched the empty-netter to wrap up their 13th win of the season and seventh in a row, 4-2. Final shots were 41-28 North Stars.
Notre Dame 4 North Stars 3 (SO)
Rewerts got the night off as North Stars were back into action again Saturday night against the Notre Dame Hounds, but they looked flat for much of the night against their Finning Division rivals.
The first period saw little offence, particularly from the North Stars. The period was highlighted with Igor Leonenko almost poking one past the Notre Dame net minder late in the period.
Shots through one were even at seven. Despite a slow start, the play for the North Stars had definitely picked up as the period ended, and they quickly capitalized as the second period began.
Igor Leonenko scored from Ryan Rosenberg and Layne Young at the 25-second mark of the second period.
But the North Stars were hurt by penalties in the period. Back to back penalties to Kendall Fransoo and then to Jordan Wiest had the North Stars on their heels. But right after they killed those penalities off, with 8:29 left, the Hounds tied the game on a goal by Brady Third from Rhett Kingston and Gavin Apperson.
The North Stars had their chances as the period unfolded, including a shot that hit the goalpost, but Notre Dame out shot the North Stars and then capitalized again before the period ended.
Gage Ramsay broke through to beat Taryn Kotchorek to make it 2-1 with 3:23 remaining, Ian Williams getting the assist. Shots through two favoured Notre Dame 23-17.
In the third, the North Stars caught a break. A fight between Tanner Nagel and Brady Third enlivened the period with 11:24 to go, and with Third getting the additional interference penalty the North Stars went on the power play.
A long shot by Connor Sych deflected off a Hounds player and in with 9:55 remaining to tie the game at 2-2.
With 2:52 left, a long shot by Jordan Wiest, from Delainey and Townsend, somehow made it through the traffic and into the net beating Alexi Thibaudeau to make it 3-2.
But the lead did not last long as Sych was called for boarding. Peyton Hogan tied it just eight seconds into that power play, with 2:15 remaining on the clock.
Overtime beckoned for the North Stars. Shots on goal through three favoured Notre Dame, 33-29.
In overtime, the North Stars got a golden opportunity as Notre Dame was called for too many men with 2:48 remaining. The North Stars had the Hounds on their heels and even forced Thibaudeau to make a sprawling save.
But time expired on the power play, and overtime as well. For the third time this season the North Stars were in a shootout situation.
Both teams missed their opportunities to score until Jack Flaman beat Kotchorek on the Hounds' third and final shot of the shootout to win it for Notre Dame 4-3.
While the North Stars still earned one point in the standings, it was the end of the seven-game winning streak and also the North Stars' first loss on home ice.
Final shots favoured Notre Dame 35-34.
The North Stars now have a record of 13 wins, two losses and one shootout loss. They now have six days off before they hit the road again later this week for their three-day weekend southeast road trip against Weyburn, Estevan and Notre Dame.
