The Battlefords North Stars probably deserved a better fate Sunday night at the Civic Centre.
The box score reads a double overtime 3-2 win for the Kindersley Klippers in game two of their SJHL quarter final series, but it was the North Stars who had their fair share of chances to win the game.
Friday the North Stars opened the series in Kindersley, less than 24 hours after winning game five over the Estevan Bruins in their survivor series.
Nick Fountain had a hat trick in the 5-2 win.
Nothing went right for the North Stars in the opening game of the series, as they dropped a 9-0 decision.
Kindersley scored early and often, with four goals in the first to chase Spencer Tremblay before four more in the second and one in the third on Ryan Rewerts.
Game two didn’t get off on the right foot for the North Stars.
Just 1:38 into the game, Edam native Owen LaClare snapped a wrist shot past Tremblay, who appeared to be screened by his own defenceman, to give the Klippers an early lead.
Five minutes later, Nick Fountain powered to the front of the net and tried to jam the puck past Evan Weninger, but the rebound jumped out in front of the net, and Jake McMillen pulled the puck to his forehand and shot it over the blocker of Weninger to tie the game.
Igor Leonenko got the other assist.
The Klippers answered quickly however, as not even two minutes later, with Jordan Townsend in the penalty box, Devin Case one-timed a pass from Joel Webb that deflected off the leg of Connor Sych and past Tremblay to restore the Klippers lead.
The shots were 18-10 in favour of Kindersley after the first.
The second period saw the North Stars outshoot the Klippers 14-7, as they had a pair of power play opportunities.
Klippers captain Shaun MacPherson was giving a penalty for kneeing when he and Baxter Kanter collided, but MacPherson got the worst of it, as he had to be helped off the ice by his teammates.
He returned for the third period.
North Stars defenceman Jake Calvery appeared to take a shot off his wrist in the first and left the ice, but did return later in the game.
Late in the period, Fountain brought the puck to the left side of the net, faked a shot to get Weninger to go down before pulling the puck to his backhand and acting like he was going to go behind the net.
Instead, he brought the puck back to his forehand and slid it past a helpless Weninger to tie the game with 37 seconds left in the second period.
The parade to the penalty box for both teams continued in the third.
After Cody Spagrud was given a penalty for boarding, Kanter was given a double minor for high-sticking on what appeared to be a shoulder-to-shoulder hit in the Klippers zone.
Just six seconds after the puck was dropped, Michael Statchuk and Darcy Deroose were pushing each other in front of the North Stars net, and were both given unsportsmanlike penalties.
Deroose, who was extremely vocal with his displeasure of the officiating throughout the game, couldn’t believe he was given a penalty, and proceeded to slam his stick into the glass as he went into the penalty box.
He then threw his gloves, stick and helmet around the box, and was given a 10-minute misconduct for his actions.
Late in the period, Fountain was given a tripping penalty, and he too slammed his stick against the glass in disgust, and was handed a 10-minute misconduct.
The North Stars were given an excellent opportunity to win the game in the final minute when Graham Lanigan was penalized for holding with 46 seconds left in the game.
They were unable to capitalize in the third or in the first overtime period, as they finished the game 0-for-8 with the man-advantage.
They were given a second chance in overtime on the power play as the Klippers were given a too-many men call, but it was the Klippers who ended up having the best opportunity.
Seventeen-year-old Connor Navrot was serving the penalty, and as soon as he stepped out of the box he received a breakaway pass.
He came in on Tremblay and tried to pull the puck to his backhand, but lost control as the puck went harmlessly into the corner.
With five minutes left in the overtime, Kendall Fransoo went hard into the boards with a Kindersley player, which shattered the glass.
The two teams were told to go to their dressing rooms for an early intermission, and returned shortly after the glass had been replaced and the ice was resurfaced.
After the 5:10 that was remaining in the first overtime, the two teams switched ends.
Leonenko had the best North Stars chance of the night to win the game when he was awarded a penalty shot in double overtime.
He was given the chance because a Klippers player intentionally knocked the net off its moorings after Leonenko had a breakaway chance seconds before.
He was unable to win the game for the North Stars, as when he tried to pull the puck to his backhand he lost control.
A few minutes later, the Klippers won the game when Deroose managed to jam the puck past Tremblay while doing a fly by of the net.
Tremblay remained in his net, lying on his back in disbelief while his teammates surrounded him to show their support.
The North Stars now head back to Kindersley for game three Tuesday.
Game four goes at the Civic Centre Wednesday night.
