The Notre Dame Hounds got a lump of coal in their stocking for Christmas, courtesy of the Battlefords North Stars.
The North Stars head into the holiday break on a positive note, soundly beating the Hounds 6-3 Friday night at the Civic Centre. The first place North Stars now head to the holiday break period on a three game winning streak.
At times the North Stars’ play seemed more akin to a basketball team Friday. The team looked like the Harlem Globetrotters through much of the first and second periods, passing the puck and skating rings around the Hounds.
On the flip side, the Hounds came out of the gate looking like the Washington Generals. They let in four successive North Stars goals, enough to drive their starting goalie Riley Kohonick out of the net.
Jaxon Steele got things going at the 3:39 mark to make it 1-0, and they added to the lead 16 seconds later on Timon Prexler’s goal.
Ryland McNinch made it 3-0 at 5:38, and at the nine minute mark Steven Kesslering made it a four goal lead, forcing the Hounds to bring out the hook for Kohonick. Logan Dyck went the rest of the way for the Hounds in net.
Notre Dame came back with two goals to end the first period, with Olivier Lepine scoring on the power play and Ben Hamilton adding one more to cut the margin to two goals at the end of one period.
But the North Stars regained control 33 seconds into period two on a goal by Elijah Loon-Stewardson shorthanded, and he added another goal at the 12:25 mark of period three to make it 6-2.
With 3:53 remaining in the game tempers erupted when Guillaume St. Onge took a cross-check to Walter Somers’ chin with his stick. Somers responded by immediately dropping the gloves and unloading on St. Onge.
Both got major fighting and game misconducts, but it was St. Onge who took an additional cross checking penalty.
With 1:32 left, the Hounds’ Kevin Anderson scored to make the final 6-3 for the North Stars.
Final shots favoured the Battlefords 41-29; Parker Rey stopped 26 shots for the victory.
The North Stars now enjoy some holiday time off before resuming action again in the new year on Jan. 3 in Kindersley, versus the Klippers.
