The Nipawin Hawks had a chance to earn the longest win streak in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League this season Saturday night at the Civic Centre.
Battlefords North Stars captain Kendall Fransoo made sure that didn’t happen.
The blueliner scored a pair of goals in the first period as the North Stars snapped the Hawks’ 13-game win streak with a 4-2 victory.
“We were winning battles tonight, and that’s something we didn’t do the last time we played them,” Fransoo said.
“On the first goal, Reed (Delainey) was driving hard to the net and (Hawks goaltender Kristian) Stead couldn’t see the puck coming and on the second goal I got the puck after we won the face-off, so it was just a result of coming out on top in those one-on-one battles.”
Delainey scored the game-winning goal for the North Stars in the second period, as he dove for a loose puck on the side of the net during a power play.
“I thought Reed was fantastic tonight and that was one of the best games I’ve seen him play all year,” North Stars head coach and general manager Nate Bedford said.
“He was all over the ice, he was hitting everything that moved and the fact that he scored that goal was well deserved.”
Coby Downs sealed the win for the North Stars in the third period, as they avenged a 2-0 loss they suffered in Nipawin on Jan. 29.
“Nipawin controlled things in the first period but I thought we did a better job of dictating the pace over the final 40 minutes,” Bedford said.
“They have an excellent work ethic and it was a good game to be a part of. Going up against good teams like that is a lot of fun, especially as a coach.”
Joel Grzybowski made 28 saves to help the North Stars win their fifth straight game, while Stead turned aside 31 shots in the loss.
Daven Smith and Tanner Thompson scored for the Hawks, who are now six points behind the Flin Flon Bombers for first place in the Sherwood Division though they do have two games in hand.
The North Stars, who now have a 42-8-1-0 record and are 12 points ahead of the Bombers for first place in the SJHL standings, will travel to Melfort Friday for their final meeting of the regular season with the Mustangs.
They will then do battle with their divisional rivals the Humboldt Broncos Saturday in a 7:30 p.m. battle at the Civic Centre.
