Regan Yew scored twice to lead the Battlefords North Stars to a 5-3 win over the Humboldt Broncos Saturday night at the Civic Centre. The North Stars swept the home-and-home series against the division-leading Broncos.
Martin Smith was behind the bench for the second straight game. The AAA Stars' coach was filling in for Kevin Hasselberg who was still away with Team West at the World Under 17 Championships.
Humboldt had the first scoring chance of the game early in the opening frame. Broncos forward Rhett Blackmur was alone in front of the net, but his shot floated over the net on North Stars goaltender Michael Gudmandson's glove hand.
The North Stars got on the board first five minutes into the period. With Stuart Symenuk in the box for the Broncos, Nick Fountain's shot caused a scramble in front of the net. Ryne Keller found the rebound and netted the puck to give the North Stars a 1-0 lead.
Battlefords kept up the pressure and were rewarded with a goal a minute later. Jack Petrino got in behind the Broncos' defence, deked to his left and beat Humboldt goaltender Cade Spencer with a backhand shot.
The Broncos took advantage of a power play to cut into the North Stars' lead. Austin Evans was sent off for cross checking with 12:24 to play in the period. Gudmandson stopped Cody Pongracz's shot, but the North Stars goalie could not control the rebound. Logan Sproule was at the edge of the crease and potted the rebound to make a 2-1 hockey game.
Yew gave the North Stars another two-goal lead with less than five minutes to play in the first period. He beat Spencer in tight and was cross-checked by Symenuk as he began to celebrate the goal with his teammates. Symenuk was given a penalty for cross checking, but Battlefords did not take advantage.
The Broncos gained some momentum back late in the first. After a bad change by the North Stars, Matthew Audette went in on a breakaway and beat Gudmandson with 19 seconds left in the period, cutting the North Stars lead to 3-2.
In the second, Gudmandson preserved the Battlefords' lead in the early moments. He stopped Blackmur on a breakaway to keep the North Stars up one.
The North Stars extended their lead again 4:27 into the period. Yew finished off a cross-crease pass from Reed Delainey. Josh LaFramboise, called up from the AAA Stars for the game, registered his first point in the SJHL with an assist on the goal.
But Battlefords did not keep the two-goal lead for long. With Petrino serving a two-minute minor for tripping, the Broncos scored again with the man advantage. Gudmandson made the initial save on Pongracz's shot, but could not keep it in his trapper. Gray Marr pounced on the rebound to make the score 4-3.
The North Stars claimed their third two-goal lead of the game with eight minutes left in the second period. While Braden Lacoursiere was in the box for tripping, Blake Young and Petrino broke into the Broncos' zone on a shorthanded rush. Young chipped the puck over a Humboldt defenceman's head to Petrino, whose shot was stopped. The rebound found Young's stick, who buried the rebound to give the North Stars a 5-3 lead.
Frustrations between the two teams showed with six minutes left. Battlefords defenceman Kendall Fransoo and Symenuk squared off for a fight. Symenuk got the take down and both men served five minutes for fighting.
The third period belonged to Gudmandson. Less than two minutes into the period, he stopped Pongracz on a partial breakaway.
Gudmandson made a couple of good saves during a Humboldt power play. He was able to keep the puck out of his goal as Humboldt players buzzed in front of Gudmandson and hacked at a loose puck. On the same power play, a strange bounce off the end boards led to a chance in the slot for former North Star Brandon Long. Gudmandson made the save to preserve the two-goal lead.
The North Stars goalie came up big in the final two minutes. Jarrett Fontaine redirected a point shot in front of the net, but Gudmandson stopped the puck with his pad. Gudmandson made another big save with his glove off a quick shot from Pongracz after a faceoff.
Gudmandson made 34 saves against his former team, picking up his ninth win of the season.
Spencer stopped 26 shots en route to his eighth loss of the season.
The North Stars (20-16-0-2) are now six points behind Humboldt (22-11-1-3) and Kindersley for first place in the SJHL's Kramer division.
Battlefords' next two games are in La Ronge against the Ice Wolves on Wednesday and Thursday night. The North Stars return home Jan. 11 to face off against the Yorkton Terriers. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
