At this point, the numbers that the Battlefords North Stars are tallying up against the Kindersley Klippers could be filed in the science fiction genre.
Following a 4-0 win at the Civic Centre in their home opener Saturday, the North Stars have topped their Olympic Buildings Division rivals in their last 13 meetings and their last 22 regular season contests.
They’ve also picked up 11 straight wins over the Klippers in North Battleford and are currently riding a 263-minute shutout streak that started on Feb. 22 of this year.
“When you play these guys 10 times a year, you get to know them quite well and we seem to get under their skin a little bit,” North Stars goaltender Taryn Kotchorek said.
“Lately we’ve been keeping them to the outside and making sure that we keep their shots from out there,” North Stars forward and captain Layne Young added. “They take a decent amount of long-range shots and we know that Taryn is going to stop the puck every time.”
Having come away with a 1-0 overtime win a night earlier in Kindersley, it seemed like both teams were destined for another scoreless draw through regulation as their rematch was deadlocked at zero through 40 minutes.
That all changed in a span of four minutes and four seconds as Young took the game over by breaking the tie with a goal and then setting up the first Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League markers for Dakota Huebner and Keith Anderson.
“We had all kind of chances coming into the third period but we were finally able to bare down and do the little things right,” Young said.
“There was a thought in the back of our heads that it was playing out like it had a night ago and we wanted to score earlier than we had in that one, so we’re all happy that it worked out the way that it did.”
Anderson would complete his three-point night by earning an assist on Connor Manegre’s power play goal with 1:59 left on the clock, while Matthias Urbanski picked up two assists in the victory.
At the other end of the ice, Kotchorek was his usual unflappable self as he turned aside all 33 shots he faced for his second shutout in as many nights.
In fact, no goalie in the SJHL has started the season with back-to-back shutouts since at least 2006, which is the furthest back that scoresheets are available on the league website.
“I’m just focussed on making one save at a time, as there’s not point in overthinking about things,” Kotchorek said after winning his 17th straight game, in a streak that started last January.
“Our defence is doing such a good job of blocking shots right now. It’s like last year, as everyone is getting in front of everything so that we don’t give up chances and we’re getting back on defence so that we don’t allow many odd-man rushes.”
While his teammates couldn’t solve Kotchorek, Klippers netminder Justen Close did his part for the second straight night as he made 38 saves in a losing effort.
The North Stars are now off until Saturday when they’ll host the Estevan Bruins at 7:30 p.m.
That contest will be the first time the two teams have met since last season’s semifinals, which the North Stars won in four straight games.
Saturday SJHL Recap
In the first game of the season for both teams, Brayden Camrud’s overtime goal propelled to the host Humboldt Broncos to a 3-2 win over the Notre Dame Hounds.
Logan Schatz had two assists, including one on Camrud’s game-deciding play, for the Broncos to lead the way on offence.
Graysen Cameron and Kaleb Dahlgren also scored in the victory, while Chaz Smedsrud and Olivier Lantagne replied for the Hounds on goals that were setup by Chance Longjohn.
Saturday’s game also saw the SJHL debut of the lone 2001-born player on an opening night roster as forward Luke Mylymok took the ice for the Hounds.
Mylymok is committed to the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs and joins Melfort Mustangs defenceman Tyler Heidt (Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves) as they only players in the league currently committed to NCAA Division I programs.
Rookie Chrystopher Collin continued his torrid start to the season as he potted a hat-trick in the Flin Flon Bombers’ 4-2 win on the road against the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
Dylan Burton had the other goal for the Bombers, while Bryce Fiske and Jason Bednarski countered for the Ice Wolves.
A spread out offensive attack was the key to the Melfort Mustangs success Saturday in Nipawin as they picked up a 5-3 triumph against the Hawks.
Justin Ball led the way with a goal and two assists, while blueliners Nolan Kadachuk and Loch Morrison each dished out a pair of helpers.
Kayle Tosh, Tanner Zentner and Carson Albrecht also scored for the Mustangs, as they chased Hawks goaltender Lance Alm from the game after 22 minutes of action.
Nipawin was led offensively by Logan Casavant, who had a goal and an assist each.
Thomas Lenchyshyn and Michael Grant also scored in the loss, which saw Brett Harasymuk pick up two assists.
The Estevan Bruins had an impressive showing of their own offensively as they skated away with a 5-1 win over the host Melville Millionaires.
Zach Goberis led the charge with a goal and two helpers, while Michael McChesney had a goal and an assist in the win.
Tanner McKechnie, Isaac Embree and TJ Irey also scored for the Bruins, while Troy Williams found the back of the net for the Millionaires in the third period.
Sunday SJHL Schedule
- Weyburn vs. Yorkton – 4:30 p.m.
- Humboldt vs. Notre Dame – 6 p.m.
Standings
Olympic Buildings Division
1. Battlefords North Stars – 4 points (2-0)
2. Humboldt Broncos – 2 points (1-0)
3. Notre Dame Hounds – 1 point (0-0-1)
4. Kindersley Klippers – 1 points (0-1-1)
Sherwood Division
1. Flin Flon Bombers – 4 points (2-0)
2. Melfort Mustangs – 4 points (2-0)
3. Nipawin Hawks – 1 point (0-1-1)
4. La Ronge Ice Wolves – 0 points (0-2)
Viterra Division
1. Estevan Bruins – 4 points (2-0)
2. Yorkton Terriers – 2 points (1-0)
3. Weyburn Red Wings – 0 points (0-1)
4. Melville Millionaires – 0 points (0-2)
Scoring Race
1. Zach Goberis (Estevan) – 7 points (2 goals and 5 assists)
2. Michael McChesney (Estevan) – 5 points (2 goals and 3 assists)
3. Chrystopher Collin (Flin Flon) – 4 points (4 goals)
4. Justin Ball (Melfort) – 4 points (1 goal and 3 assists)
5. Layne Young (Battlefords) – 4 points (1 goal and 3 assists)
Goals Against Average Leaders
1. Taryn Kotchorek (Battlefords) – 0.00
2. Logan Bateman (Yorkton) – 1.00
3. Maxim Sidelnik (Estevan) – 1.00
4. Brenden Newton (Flin Flon) – 1.50
5. Sam-Jaxon Visscher (Humboldt) – 1.92
