There are different ways to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. People tend to flock to parties, or choose to get together with family and friends for the countdown.
For the North Stars, however, a 4-2 win in Kindersley was the perfect way to end a successful year.
After a ten-day break, it looked as though the Battlefords were as fresh as ever.
The game didn't begin how they imagined it, though.
After a slow start to the opening frame, the Klippers capitalized on their first power play opportunity of the tilt. North Stars killer, Daniel Lange, corralled a pass from Austin Calladine and one-timed his 19th of the season and fourth against the black and white into the back of the net.
Igor Leonenko, as he has done so many times this season, brought the North Stars back into the game, beating a sliding Nathan Hargrave with a back hand shot past his glove. Jake McMillen, who now has five points in his last three games, made the initial shot. Connor Sych also collaborated on the goal.
The Battlefords deadly power play struck just three minutes later.
Hargrave flipped the puck into the netting while down a man, which gave the North Stars a two-man advantage for a delay of game penalty.
The big defenceman, Kendall Fransoo, also has a big slap shot. After a face off was won straight back to him, he let one loose, hitting Hargrave in the shoulder before Coby Downs picked up the rebound to give the North Stars a 2-1 lead. Downs has been hot in the last couple of games after a scoring drought, recording a point in each of his last three. The goal would be his first of two in the game.
The North Stars definitely had their opportunities on the power play in Kindersely, drawing ten penalties, and capitalizing on two.
Leonenko scored his second of the game from his spot just north of the right face off dot after a passing play with Layne Young in the slot. His snapshot beat Hargrave just past his glove, hitting twine to give the Battlefords a two-goal lead.
Not to be outdone, Kindersley crawled back within one after Josh Bly scored his second of the season. Matt Vandersloot made the inital shot that Rewerts kicked into the air, giving Bly time to make it 3-2.
Downs went on to score his second of the game to restore the two-goal advantage, putting away the Klippers for the sixth time against them this season. A deflection off a Cody Spagrud shot did the trick.
The Klippers tried to mount a come back in the third period, firing 14 shots on Ryan Rewerts, but none were able to beat the North Stars netminder.
Rewerts made a solid return to action after being cleared to play. The netminder kicked away 26 of 28 shots for his first win since November 14th, making himself look big on a night the North Stars created more space between them and the Finning Division.
The Battlefords now play their second of a home and home series against the Klippers Saturday at the Civic Centre.
