In the course of 60 minutes Friday night at the Civic Centre, the Battlefords North Stars put up a shot total that it sometimes takes a team a couple of games to reach in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
On their way to an eighth straight victory, the North Stars fired 72 shots at Yorkton Terriers netminder Nolan Maier as they cruised to a 5-2 triumph.
“It was a lot of fun out there tonight,” North Stars forward Dakota Hubener said. “We played really well in the first period and the guys we’re having a blast out there.
“Their defence was a little bit slow tonight and we just took a lot of chances on their net by throwing everything at them. We probably could have capitalized on a few more opportunities though.”
A key component in the North Stars not scoring more goals was the play of 16-year-old netminder Nolan Maier, as the Saskatoon Blades prospect made 67 saves.
Another factor in the score not being as lopsided as it could have been was the fact that the North Stars were quite as dominant offensively in the second half of the game.
“We didn’t play a full 60 minutes and that’s something we need to a much better job at when we play these guys again tomorrow night,” Hubener said.
“We expect the rematch to be much different than tonight’s game. We need to come out hard and keep that level of play up in all three periods.”
Hubener and his linemate Layne Young led the North Stars on offence with a goal and two assists each.
“I think all three of us were working the puck really well down low,” Hubener said of the line, which also features MacGregor Sinclair. “Our cycle game was pretty on par today.”
Keith Anderson and Chaseton Braid both had a goal and an assist in the win, with Braid’s finding the net for the first time as a North Star.
Levi Kleiboer got things rolling with a top-shelf snipe from the point in the first period, while Cole Keenleyside and William Brochu both scored for the Terriers in the second frame.
Kolby Matthews improved his record to 5-0 with a 17-save performance.
The North Stars will complete a six-game home stand Saturday in a rematch with the Terriers at 7:30 p.m.
They will begin a three game road swing Tuesday night against the Kindersley Klippers.
