Not only is the SJHL Showcase a chance for individual players to put their skills on display, but it also gives teams an opportunity to make up some ground in the standings as all SJHL teams play two games on the weekend under one roof.
The Battlefords North Stars went 1-1 in Weyburn at the Showcase, so they didn't gain a lot of ground, but they did pick up their 14th win of the season and are now set to finish the 2010 portion of the season with four of five games at home.
Friday in Weyburn, the North Stars took on the Kindersley Klippers and had a strong third period helping them earn the 5-2 win.
Kindersley's Taylor Wasden scored the game's first goal, as he beat Kyle Birch in the first period.
The first ended with Kindersley leading 1-0, but in the second the North Stars scored twice to carry a lead into the final frame.
First, it was Boyd Wakelin scoring an unassisted marker for his third of the season. Nearly 10 minutes later, Colin Phaneuf scored his 13th of the season from Kyle Hall and Blake Tatchell.
The third period was more of the same for the Battlefords. Keith Grondin scored his team's leading 20th of the season on the powerplay from Brody Luhning. Tony Oak finished off a pass from Wakelin for his fourth of the season, and later, Grondin scored his second of the game from Tatchell, again on the powerplay.
D Jay McGrath scored for Kindersley with two minutes left, but after pulling their goalie, the Klippers couldn't get any closer.
Birch stopped 34 shots for his seventh win of the season while Sean Cahill stopped 27 in a losing effort.
The North Stars were 2/6 on the powerplay and killed off all five shorthanded situations.
Also the two newest North Stars, Luke Hannas and Mitch Galbraith, tried to spark the team with fighting majors, Galbraith in the first and Hannas in the third period.
Saturday, Graham Hildebrand was in net for the North Stars and as expected it was an exciting game against the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
La Ronge scored three powerplay goals in the first period, as Doug Lindensmith scored once and Marc Andre Carre had two goals.
For the North Stars, Tanner Schwab scored his fifth of the season from Travis Cech and Oak.
After trailing 3-1 after 20 minutes, the North Stars scored three special teams goals to take the 4-3 lead after the second period.
Schwab's second of the game from Tatchell and Phaneuf was scored on the powerplay. Next it was Phaneuf's turn, as he scored shorthanded from Tatchell and Woody Klassen. Phaneuf capped off the second period scoring adding a goal late in the period on the powerplay from Chris Neurauter and Cody Folstad.
Ten minutes into the third period, Travis Eggum tied the game for the Ice Wolves. Then with less than five minutes to play, Aaron Enns scored the game-winning goal for the Ice Wolves, who took the 5-4 win.
Adam Bartko earned the win with 24 saves while Hildebrand faced 33 shots in the loss.
The North Stars were 2/6 on the powerplay and 3/6 on the penalty kill with one shorthanded goal.
The North Stars have nearly a week off, as they now set their sights on Notre Dame Friday. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre. Sunday, the Battlefords go to Humboldt.
Some North Stars' roster moves were made before the Showcase tournament and both involved players heading back east. Samuel Houle is no longer with the North Stars after being acquired Oct. 25 from Ste. Agathe Montagnards. Houle had one assist and 11 penalty minutes in nine games. The other player heading back east is Shayne Morrissey. Morrissey had seven goals and seven assists in 31 games with the North Stars. The rookie forward was traded to Carleton Place of the Ontario Junior Hockey League for future considerations.
