The Battlefords North Stars were back in their home locker room Tuesday night to begin a lengthy home stretch of Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League action and they impressed.
"It is a really good feeling to be home, said goaltender Graham Hildebrand, who got the shutout win Tuesday. "I know every guy on the team is happy to be home right now."
The North Stars showed their pleasure with playing at the Civic Centre again, as they were the better team all night, especially in the first two periods, as they took on the Melfort Mustangs for the fourth time this season. For the fourth time, the North Stars beat the Mustangs, this time by a 3-0 score.
The North Stars held the Mustangs off the scoreboard all night and keep them off the shot clock for nearly the first seven minutes. By that time, the North Stars had a 1-0 lead.
Connor Quinn made a nice pass from the half boards to Jared Samborski and followed up the plan picking up the rebound and scoring his first as a North Star. Samborski drew the assist.
"It feels great it is about time," said Quinn of his first goal. "I was kind of gripping the stick pretty tight the last couple of games, but I'm glad I could finally make it happen."
Quinn's goal held up to be the game winning goal and Melfort was fortunate to escape the first period down just one goal. The ice was tilted in the North Stars' favour, as the home team out shot Melfort 13-8 in the first period and half of the Mustangs' eight shots came during a 1:13-long 5-on-3 power play.
In the second, the line of Quinn, Samborski and Jared Kambeitz was on the attack again. The play started in the North Stars' defensive zone and across the neutral zone, as Kambeitz streaked down the right wing. What appeared to be a strategy all night of throwing the puck at the net from anywhere paid off, as Kambeitz wristed a shot on net and Melfort's Jesse Ehnisz got a glove on the shot, but it trickled behind him and into the net. Dallas Jorgensen and Curtis Toneff had the assists on Kambeitz's third of the season.
The North Stars added more insurance later in the second. Seconds after killing off a penalty, the North Stars broke out of their zone and Braeden Johnson made a beautiful saucer pass to Blake Tatchell. He deked and scored his ninth of the season. Rollins also drew an assist on the play.
It was 17 days between home games for the North Stars, but they gave the home town crowd of 563 something to be excited about with a their ninth win of the season.
"Kevin (Hasselberg) is always preaching hard work and we kept at it all game," said Quinn. "There were a couple shifts they had it in our end, but we stuck to the game plan and it worked out for us."
Melfort was 0/4 on the power play while the North Stars were 0/5 and out shot the Mustangs 38-27.
The North Stars will be back in action Friday, as they host the 10-2-1-0 Nipawin Hawks. Saturday, the North Stars host the 5-4-0-1 Notre Dame Hounds.
