In his pre-season debut Monday night, MacGregor Sinclair made a statement for a potential top-six role with the Battlefords North Stars this season.
The Irma, Alta. product potted home both goals for his team as they came away with a 2-1 win over the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Bonnyville Pontiacs at the Civic Centre in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League exhibition play.
Following the game, Sinclair was quick to credit his linemates Dakota Huebner and Layne Young for his success.
“All three of us played well,” Sinclair said. “There were a few times that we were hemmed in our own end but we found a way to get the puck out and I was lucky enough to bang in a couple of goals.”
Sinclair, who had 22 points in 50 games in his rookie campaign, gave the North Stars an early lead on a goal-mouth scramble during a five-on-three power play and followed that up with a gorgeous top-shelf snipe past Pontiacs goaltender Sandro Silvestre in the second period.
Young assisted on both goals while Matthew Fletcher and Noah Form also had helpers.
It was a far better effort from the North Stars compared to what happened a night earlier in Bonnyville as they dropped a 5-2 affair to start off their pre-season.
“One thing that was a big improvement was our faceoffs,” North Stars head coach and general manager Brandon Heck said. “We were lucky if it was around 33 percent in Bonnyville and we got it to 50 percent tonight, which isn’t where we want it to be, but it makes things a lot easier.
“We had better legs tonight and we were better on the forecheck, which allowed us to force them into making more mistakes.”
Another element of Monday’s performance that pleased Heck was the North Stars’ penalty kill, especially as they clung to a one-goal lead.
With defenceman Sunil Sahota picking a five-minute spearing penalty and a game misconduct with just a few minutes remaining, and the North Stars already without blueliners Fletcher and Connor Mangere due to 10-minute misconducts earlier in the final frame, the team utilized several players in different roles to help them out of a difficult situation.
“The boys were able to rally through it,” Heck said. “I look at a guy like Elijah Loon-Stewardson who went back on defence and was out there battling a guy who was 50 pounds heavier and five inches taller than he is. It all came down to who wanted it more.”
Taryn Kotchorek made his first start of the pre-season Monday and turned in a solid effort as he turned aside all 18 shots he faced in 40 minutes of work.
“It took a little bit to shake the rust off but I felt good out there,” Kotchorek said. “The biggest thing is just getting used to the speed from in-game situations again along with the shots that you are facing, as the puck is coming at you a little faster than in the scrimmages.”
The Pontiacs scuttled the North Stars shutout bid early in the third period when P.J. Marrocco slid the puck by Jake Taylor, but that would be as close as they would get.
“I thought the physical play was more than what we saw last night and that was a really great test for our younger guys as we see if they are ready to play in Junior A or if we need to move them elsewhere to help with their development,” Pontiacs head coach and general manager Rick Swan said.
“That’s why it’s great to play the North Stars. They push the pace early to play at that physical level and it really helps us when we put together our final roster to see how our guys respond.”
Silvestre was saddled with the loss after making 16 saves in 30 minutes of work, while Braedan Stephen turned aside all 18 shots he faced in the second half of the game.
A new face was added to the North Stars lineup Monday as Dawson Vallier suited up on the blueline.
The Lloydminster native played for his hometown Midget Bobcats last season and had six points in 17 games.
No other changes have been made with the roster, though Heck said a couple of cuts may be announced Tuesday morning.
The North Stars will be back in action Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre, as they’ll welcome a Humboldt Broncos team that will be playing in their first pre-season game.
The two sides will square off against Wednesday in Humboldt.
Monday SJHL Recap
The most dramatic pre-season battle of the day came in Melville as former Battlefords Stars forward Jaden Shewchuk scored in overtime to give the host Millionaires a 3-2 win over the Yorkton Terriers.
The Millionaires had a 2-1 lead throughout the third period and seemed set to take the win before William Brochu potted home his second goal of the afternoon with just one second remaining.
Clayton Eisler and Rin Beny also scored in the victory.
In off-ice news, the Millionaires made a trade Monday as they dealt forward Brayden Labant to the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Whitecourt Wolverines for forward Aidan Steinke and future considerations.
Labant, an 18-year-old from St. Paul, Alta., was acquired from the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints earlier this summer where he had four points in 25 games last year.
Steinke, who is also 18 and resides in St. Albert, Alta., is coming off a 22-point campaign in 32 games for the St. Albert Midget Raiders and had two assists in six games for the Wolverines this past season.
In Melfort, Nipawin Hawks blueliner Josh McDougall had an impressive performance as he scored a goal and setup three others in his team’s 4-0 win over the Melfort Mustangs.
Brodie Girod, Keilan Olson and Drew Wotta also scored for the Hawks, while goaltenders Lance Alm and Tyler Thompson combined for a 23 save shutout.
Monday also saw the Estevan Bruins and Notre Dame Hounds kick off their exhibition schedules in Wilcox as the Bruins prevailed in a 7-4 affair.
Full scoring details from that encounter are not yet available.
In addition to the North Stars’ home game against the Broncos, four other contests will take place Tuesday.
The Weyburn Red Wings will get their pre-season underway with a home game against the Notre Dame Hounds, while the Hawks will host the Mustangs.
Meanwhile, the Flin Flon Bombers will travel to The Pas, Man. for a date with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s OCN Blizzard.
The Estevan Bruins will also take on a MJHL opponent as the Waywayseecappo Wolverines will pay a visit to Affinity Place.
