The Battlefords North Stars are not a team to make excuses, but an injured and ill roster made for a difficult two games against two Sherwood Conference teams.
Thursday, the North Stars played in Yorkton, a team they have beat twice before this season. The North Stars earned a point, but lost 3-2 in overtime.
The North Stars had two players, Braeden Johnson and Luke McColgan, skate in warmup, but were later scratched because of illness and an injury meaning the North Stars played Yorkton with nine forwards and seven defencemen.
It was an aggressive game as Yorkton tried to take advantage of the North Stars' short bench. They took 45 penalty minutes in the game including a checking to the head penalty and a major penalty for charging.
The North Stars fell behind early in the game, but were able to tie it before the first period ended. Joren Johnson, the newly acquired defenceman, scored his first goal in the league with Ryne Keller drawing the assist.
There were no goals in the second period and in the third, the North Stars took the 2-1 lead. Five minutes into the period, Brody Luhning scored his seventh of the season from Johnson on a power play.
Yorkton tied the game with less than three minutes left in the third period and forced overtime.
In the extra frame, Josh Betinol was in the box for hooking and the Terriers scored on the power play. The loss snapped the North Stars' five-game winning streak.
Connor Creech made 25 saves while his counterpart, Dawson MacAuley, turned away 20 shots.
Friday, the North Stars played in Melville and this time dressed two affiliated players, Bryce Hall and Travis Marit, to help fill out the lineup.
Casey Parker also made his fourth appearance of the season and first since Oct. 28.
Parker was busy facing 42 shots, as the North Stars lost 5-3.
A strong second period by the Millionaires made the difference, as they scored four times in just over 10 minutes.
Melville struck first blood scoring in the first period.
In the second period, Austin Evans scored his six goal of the year from Kyle Hall and Blake Young. After that, Melville scored four straight goals, including one on a power play. The last one came with nine seconds left in the second period.
The North Stars tried to make it close in the third period, as Jake McMillens scored from Betinol and Brandon Long and Long scored shorthanded late in the game from Luhning and Betinol. That was as close as the North Star would get.
The North Stars fall to 13-12-1-0 on the season and trail the Nipawin Hawks by two points in the Bauer Conference.
The North Stars also have the Melfort Mustangs three points behind in the standings. The Mustangs will be at the Civic Centre Wednesday and then the two teams will meet in Melfort Friday in the second of two crucial games in the conference standings.
