The Battlefords North Stars went head-to-head Thursday night in a busy night at the Civic Centre Friday.
With all the activities going on throughout the game, the main thing is that the North Stars looked better than Melfort and held on for the 5-4 win.
A strong first period for the North Stars paved the way for the rest of the game. The North Stars grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first 20 minutes and at one point outshot the Mustangs 12-0.
Luke McColgan scored his first goal as a North Star after Brandon Long and Austin Evans set him up in the slot.
Later in the first period, defenceman Spencer Gosselin scored his first of two goals on the night on a point shot that found its way by Jesse Wilkins in the Melfort net. Ryne Keller drew the lone assist on Gosselin's first goal as a North Star.
In the second, Cody Brown drifted a point shot that beat a screened Casey Parker, who was making his first start in the North Stars' net.
Gosselin responded for the North Stars with another shot from a ways out. This time Long and Josh Betinol drew the assists.
Melfort made it interesting in the third period, as Brandon Sloan scored twice and Godric Tham scored once.
The North Stars' got third period goals from Evan Ripley, with a good point shot that beat Wilkins on the glove side for his first of the season, and Braeden Johnson. Kyle Hall assisted on both third period goals while Tagoona and Ripley also had assists.
The North Stars penalty kill was effective in the game going 6/6, but the power play was 0/4.
Parker made 23 saves for his first win while Wilkins faced 43 shots.
Along with the exciting hockey game, the North Stars also had several fundraising efforts through the game which included the usual 50/50 draw, the Rainbow Toyota Puck Toss, prizes from Battlefords and District Co-op handed out and after the game was the first Kramer Auction Shootout Showdown, which will take place on a monthly basis.
After Parker earned the win he faced the top 10 scorers for the North Stars in a shootout. Betinol and Long were the only two players to find the back of the net against the rookie goalie.
The North Stars will put their 4-5-0-0 record on the line Wednesday against the 9-1-0-1 Yorkton Terriers at the Civic Centre.
