Two of the most penalized teams in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League took to the ice Friday in Nipawin and it resulted in the Battlefords North Stars earning their third win of the season by a score of 6-2.
It was a battle the entire team contributed to as Kendall Fransoo, Tanner Quinn, Dillon Forbes and Blake Young among others had key shot blocks in the game. Latrell Charlson threw some big hits and goaltender Darren Martin played extremely well between the pipes making 35 saves.
Nipawin started the scoring, but the North Stars grabbed the momentum four minutes later when Luke McColgan found a loose puck around the Hawks' net after a Spencer Gosselin point shot. Taylor Reich also earned an assist on the play.
The first period ended 1-1.
In the second, the North Stars scored early and grabbed a lead they would never relinquish. This time it was Jake Erickson getting a point shot through traffic and Jake McMillen finding the back of the net. Nearly a minute later, Igor Leonenko scored on a power play with a wrap around. Reich and Kyle Schmidt were credited with the assists on the team's third goal. The North Stars continued to work hard and scored 30 seconds later when Forbes got a point shot through and newcomer Alex Bechtold scored his second goal in as many games. Quinn also drew an assist.
Nipawin tried to grab the momentum back in the second period with a fight, but Forbes stood his ground against Carter Coben and the North Stars finished the second period with a 4-1 lead.
Nipawin pressed hard early in the third to get back in the game and they scored near the midway point to make it a 4-2 game.
The North Stars did a great job killing off two penalties back-to-back after the Hawks' second goal. In the final minute they were rewarded, as Blake Young hit the empty net with Brenden Heinrich drawing the assist. With the Hawks' goaltender back in the net Ryne Keller scored from McColgan and Quinn to finish the night.
The North Stars improved to 3-5-0-0 on the season and take a few days off before they travel to Melfort Wednesday.
