NORTH BATTLEFORD - The Battlefords North Stars are off to a strong start in their playoff series with the Flin Flon Bombers.
The North Stars hammered the Bombers 7-3 in game one of their SJHL quarter-final series at the Access Communications Centre in North Battleford Friday night.
The North Stars prevailed despite being out shot on the night by the Bombers 50-33. But the home side got a standout performance by goaltender Michael Harroch, who has been in and out of the lineup due to injuryies, but has been a dominant force during the times he has been in action.
His return was good news for the North Stars, but even better news was that Harroch stopped 47 shots for the win. More important for the home team, their veteran leaders showed up on the ice to contribute on the score sheet, with captain Ryland McNinch getting a hat trick.
The game was competitive early on as the two teams traded goals. Mason Kaspick opened the scoring at 2:52 of the first period before Matthew Henry responded for the North Stars midway through the period. Then the North Stars took the lead with 13 seconds left in the frame on a shorthanded marker from McNinch, his first of the night.
Jacob Vockler tied it up 2-2 at the 12:38 mark of period two, but penalties to the Bombers ended up costing them. Power play goals from Steven Kesslering and again by McNinch gave the North Stars a 4-2 lead after two,
The Bombers cut the margin to one with a goal from Gabriel Shipper just 59 seconds into the third period, but the North Stars put the game away with three unanswered goals from Dylan Esau at 2:34, Jake Southgate at 5:26, and finally McNinch for the hat trick at 16:27.
The two teams do battle again at the Access Communications Centre at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night, March 19.
