In a game that saw a combined 88 shots over the course of 65 minutes, a single attempt on goal proved to be all the difference.
Battlefords North Stars defenceman Kendall Fransoo scored the lone goal in the shootout as they came away with a 4-3 road win over the Flin Flon Bombers at the Whitney Forum.
The North Stars looked to have taken an early lead in the skills competition on a shot by Reed Delainey, only to have an official wave it off, much to the chagrin of the North Stars bench.
Despite the controversy over that play, Taryn Kotchorek played a key part in making that a moot factor as he stopped all four shots he faced in the shootout.
The North Stars, who outshot the Bombers 46-42, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period after goals from Levi Kleiboer and Owen Lamb.
The Bombers, who upset the North Stars in last year’s Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League semifinal, roared back late in the second period as Brandon Lesko and Jason Lavallee socred in a 37-second span.
Connor Manegre halted any momentum the Bombers may have had just 15 seconds after the Bombers tied the game as he scored his first career SJHL goal to give the North Stars a 3-2 lead.
Ben Lanfermann tied the game back up at the 8:41 mark of the third period to set the stage for overtime.
The Bombers had a chance to score on a power play when Kleiboer was called for holding, but key shot blocks from the North Stars penalty kill units kept the game tied up.
Kotchorek turned aside 39 shots for the North Stars, who have won three games in a row and now have a 7-3-0-0 record for the season.
The Bombers, who dropped to 6-1-1-1 and saw their three game win streak come to an end Friday, received a 43 save performance from Zac Robidoux in the loss.
The two sides will square off again in Flin Flon Saturday night. The opening faceoff is slated for 6:30 p.m.
Friday’s SJHL Recap
The Kindersley Klippers earned their third straight victory and also brought an end to the Humboldt Broncos’ four game win streak with a 4-3 shootout triumph in Humboldt.
Cole Plotnikoff had the only goal in the shootout for the Klippers, who were led on offence by two-points performances from blueliners Andrew McCann and Clive Rozdeba.
Erik Gardiner, who made his SJHL debut for the Broncos after he was reassigned from the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats earlier this week, had a pair of goals in the loss.
A 12-round shootout was finally decided by a shot from Cole Woodliffe, as the Weyburn Red Wings forward scored the only goal in the breakaway contest as his side picked up a 4-3 win over the visiting Notre Dame Hounds.
Braden Mellon and Carson Rose had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings in the win, while Tyler Podgorenko completed a two-point night with a game-tying power-play goal for the Hounds with just four seconds remaining in the third period.
In the first Highway 10 battle of the season, Mathieu Jallabert potted a pair of goals for the host Melville Millionaires, as they snapped a three-game losing skid with a 3-2 win over the Yorkton Terriers.
Brandon Wells was stellar in goal for the Millionaires, as he made 42 saves to give the Terriers their third straight loss.
Kaelan Holt became the first player to crack double digits in the SJHL this year as he scored his 10thgoal of the season in the Estevan Bruins 5-3 win over the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
Michael McChesney had a pair of assists for the Bruins, who handed the Ice Wolves their eighth straight defeat.
Wednesday’s SJHL Recap
In a battle between Viterra Division rivals, Jeremy Lagler led the way for the Weyburn Red Wings with a goal and three assists as they doubled up the host Estevan Bruins 6-3.
Ian Parker also contributed to the Red Wings cause with a pair of goals and an assist.
Kaelan Holt, Tyler Hengen and Jayden Davis all scored for the Bruins in the loss.
In Kindersley, Josh Bly had the only goal in a shootout as the host Klippers picked up a 4-3 win over the Melfort Mustangs.
Bly had two assists during regulation, including one on Jordan Evans’ game-tying power play marker in the third period.
Miles Warkentine had a goal and two assists for the Mustangs, who have now lost seven straight games.
Chaz Smedsrud broke out in a big way for the Notre Dame Hounds as he scored his first two SJHL goals and had an assist in a 6-1 win over the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
Ben Duperreault had a goal and two assists in the victory while Jordan Greenfield-Flemon made 19 saves in his first career start.
SJHL Standings (After Friday)
Finning Division
1. Humboldt Broncos – 8-1-0-1 – 17 points
2. Battlefords North Stars – 7-3-0-0 – 14 points
3. Notre Dame Hounds – 5-4-0-1 – 10 points
4. Kindersley Klippers – 4-3-0-0 – 8 points
Sherwood Division
1. Flin Flon Bombers – 6-1-1-1 – 14 points
2. Nipawin Hawks – 4-2-2-0 – 10 points
3. Melfort Mustangs – 3-6-0-1 – 7 points
4. La Ronge Ice Wolves – 1-10-0-0 – 2 points
Viterra Division
1. Estevan Bruins – 6-2-0-1 – 13 points
2. Weyburn Red Wings – 6-3-0-1 – 13 points
3. Melville Millionaires – 4-6-0-0 – 8 points
4. Yorkton Terriers – 2-4-2-0 – 6 points
SJHL Scoring Race (After Friday)
1. Chris Van Os-Shaw (Humboldt) – 17 points
2. Ben Duperreault (Notre Dame) – 16 points
3. Trevor Posch (Humboldt) – 15 points
4. Kaelan Holt (Estevan) – 14 points
5. Daniel McKitrick (Humboldt) – 14 points
6. Matt McNeil (Estevan) – 13 points
7. Reed Delainey (Battlefords) – 12 points
8. Adam Dawe (Notre Dame) – 11 points
9. Lynnden Pastachak (Estevan) – 11 points
10. Dondre Watson (Flin Flon) – 10 points
11. Carson Rose (Weyburn) – 10 points
12. Connor Logan (Battlefords) – 10 points
13. Tyler Podgorenko (Notre Dame) – 10 points
Saturday’s SJHL Schedule
- Battlefords vs. Flin Flon – 6:30 p.m.
- Kindersley vs. Melfort – 7:30 p.m.
- La Ronge vs. Weyburn – 7:30 p.m.
- Melville vs. Yorkton – 7:30 p.m.
