Coming into tonight’s tilt at the Civic Centre the Red Wings had bested the Battlefords two games to one in the season series, with the latest matchup a 7-0 victory for the North Stars.
The Battlefords created their chances firing 38 shots on net but, ultimately, it was Carter Phair and the posts that did the North Stars in, losing 2-0.
In the opening frame Troy Gerein blasted a shot just south of the left faceoff dot. It beat the netminder under the glove but the ring of the post echoed throughout the arena to keep it scoreless.
Weyburn found the score sheet 18 minutes into the first on a power play, that, for them, has been lacking this season. Jeremy Lager went D-to-D with Ian Parker before firing a harmless wrist shot that bounced off the defence. A sprawling Taryn Kotchorek had no chance with a sitting puck on the far side of the crease, Tucker Neuberger picked up the trash to make it 1-0 Red Wings.
“Their power play came through, they were one for four, we were zero for three. That was the game winning goal and that was the difference in the hockey game. It was very much like a playoff game.” An openly frustrated Kevin Hasselberg said.
A couple of days before the tilt Hasselberg said that the 60 minutes against Weyburn will come down to special teams, and it did.
In the second it was Gerein, yet again, looking for his first of the season, but hitting the post with a blast from the point on the power play.
A scramble late in the final frame with the net empty almost had Kendall Fransoo provide the equalizer. The fans behind the net jumped as he took a snapshot from the left faceoff dot. The audience at the Civic Centre was ready to throw their teddy bears onto the ice for the annual teddy bear toss, but once again the puck rung off the post.
Weyburn added an empty net goal late in the third to put the game out of reach.
Kotchorek had a solid night in net stopping 22 of 23 shots, finally recording the first blemish on his record.
Tomorrow we may see a rookie in between the pipes with Ryan Rewerts sidelined. Joel Grzybowski of the Saskatoon Blazers has the opportunity to step in for his first Junior A start against one of the only teams that have beaten the North Stars at home this season, the Notre Dame Hounds. Hasselberg says he wants to defend home territory.
“No matter how you look at it, this is our rink. You want to create that identity of this being a very difficult place to play. We have to be on top of teams. This rink we have to have that culture, the atmosphere is good in terms of the fans bringing it.”
Connor Sych, Reed Delainey and Layne Young will be out of the lineup due to the team Canada West try out. Troy Gerein will move up to forward and Levi Kleiboer will also factor in.
The North Stars are 2-0-0-1 against the Hounds this year.
News-Optimist THREE STARS
1) Carter Phair (38 SVs, SO)
2) Taryn Kotchorek (22 SVs, 1 GA)
3) Rory Davidson
