The Battlefords North Stars had the lowest winning percentage in the SJHL last week with a chance to make up ground in the standings with a pair of home games Friday and Saturday.
Game one against Yorkton had a familiar result for the home team. For the second game in a row, the North Stars registered more than 40 shots with their opponents at fewer than 30 and still lost. Yorkton goalie Kale Thomson stood on his head in a 2-0 shutout effort.
The North Stars had bursts of brilliance, but once again showed why they're the most penalized team in the league. Anytime momentum began to shift, the North Stars took penalties to ruin their chances.
Game two was against the division-rival Humboldt Broncos. It was another bad start for the North Stars. They killed off two early power plays, but the Bronces got extended zone time during a delayed penalty for the North Stars and took advantage. Goalie Darren Martin made a spectacular diving blocker save, but the rebound hung around the net when Austin Duzan batted the puck out of the air and into the gaping cage with seven minutes left.
The North Stars kept battling and a flurry of bone-rattling hits quickly gave energy to the fans and the team. During one of many scrums after a whistle, Humboldt took a penalty and it was the North Stars' turn to work some power play magic. Big Igor Leonenko used his size to protect the puck as he went outside on the Humboldt defence before sliding it to the front of the net on a platter for Reed Delainey. He tapped it home to tie the game at one with seven minutes left.
The second period saw the North Stars play possibly the best hockey of their season on home ice, but again a penalty killed them. With Kendall Fransoo in the box for roughing with seven minutes left, Gray Marr beat Martin from the slot to make it 2-1.
That was the only penalty for the North Stars in the frame, which was a good sign for the team. There were a couple glorious breakaway chances, including one by Robin Carlson, who fired it over the net.
The North Stars took 22 more penalty minutes in the third. Twelve came when Ben Greenaway was given a game misconduct for a blow to the head, which started a long delay as penalties were handed out. Humboldt added two more goals, one into an empty net, and went on for the 4-1 victory. But the story of the weekend is penalties, with the North Stars racking up 74 minutes in the box over the weekend.
"We're the most penalized team in the league right now and referees see that before the game starts, so of course they're going to be watching us closer than other teams," said coach Kevin Hasselberg. "That's my responsibility as a coach and right now we've gotta address this and make changes to get our team back on track."
Hasselberg also said changes need to be made "top to bottom" following the North Stars' sixth straight loss on home ice to open the season. Their 4-11 record is the worst in the SJHL and the turnaround to make those changes is a quick one with the team back on home ice Tuesday night to take on Melville.
