After 20 minutes of hockey, the Battlefords were off to a perfect start for their weekend hosting the Melville Millionaires Friday and travelling to Melfort Saturday.
Through the first period of Friday's game at the Civic Centre the North Stars led 2-0 and outshot the Millionaires 16-4. They were more physical and they were the much better team.
Jake McMillen scored his first goal of the season from Ryne Keller and Brody Luhning two minutes into the game. McMillen moved down the left-wing after two great passes got him the puck and he snapped it by Melville's Troy Trombley.
In the final minute of the first period, on a power play, Luhning scored his third goal of the season. Robbie Newton and Kyle Hall had the assists and at that point, everything was going according to plan.
In the second period, Melville woke up. They hit the post early in the period and that was a sign of things to come, as they created scoring chance after scoring chance and capitalized on most of their opportunities. Melville scored four straight goals in a span of seven minutes in the second period and led 4-2. Lucas Froese, Christian Magnus, Russell Trudeau and Allan Killback all beat Connor Creech and helped Melville earn the lead.
Luhning drew the North Stars to within a goal, as he one-timed a point shot on a power play. Braeden Johnson and Spencer Gosselin drew the assists on the goal.
Melville's Ian McNulty and Trudeau scored later in the second period and the Millionaires carried a 6-3 lead into the third period after seven goals in total were scored in the second frame.
Johnson scored his first goal of the season for the North Stars three minutes into the third period, but that was as close as the home team would get. Newton and Hall again drew the assists on the North Stars' fourth goal.
Things went from bad to worse for the North Stars in the third period, as Melville scored four more times and skated to 10-4 win.
Creech made his third start of the season and was replaced by Casey Parker after allowing four goals. Creech returned to the net after Froese's second of the game made it 9-4 for Melville.
Sean Aschim, Adam Dibella and Travis Lemaire also scored for Melville, as they were 5/7 on the power play, scoring on the last five advantages.
The North Stars were aware of the lack of effort and weak defensive play in the second and third period of Friday's game, but were able to redeem themselves Saturday against the Mustangs.
Melfort scored on a lucky bounce late in the first period and took the 1-0 lead, but the North Stars quickly answered in the second period. Twenty seconds into the game, Roger Tagoona scored his second of the season from Kyle Schmidt. The next shift, 41 seconds later, Hall scored from Johnson and Austin Evans.
Hall capped off the scoring in the third period, with his third of the season from Schmidt and Cody Bird.
The North Stars and Mustangs also had two fights, as Zach Walker and Tagoona dropped the gloves after Walker delivered a check from behind. Later in the third period, Dillon Forbes and former Battlefords North Stars listed player Nathan Zimbaluk dropped the gloves.
Creech was strong in the North Stars' net bouncing back and earning his second win of the season with 19 saves.
The North Stars moved to 2-2-0 on the season and are 2-0 in Saturday games and 0-2 on Friday night games.
The next action for the North Stars is Oct. 11 at home to the Notre Dame Hounds.
