Six different players found the goal column as the Battlefords North Stars trounced the Humboldt Broncos 6-2 at the Civic Centre Tuesday night.
It was the North Stars' final home exhibtion game of the pre-season.
The North Stars jumped on the Broncos - who were playing only their first exhibition game of the pre-season - early in the first period. Early shifts pinned Humboldt deep in their zone. One of the best chances from the pressure came when North Stars forward Keaton Holinaty centred the puck from behind the net for Regan Yew. The puck deflected off a Broncos defenceman's skate onto the net. Humboldt goaltender Quentin Abrams' quick reaction kept the puck out of the Broncos' net.
Rusty Axtman's shorthanded goal midway through the first got the North Stars on the board. Axtman took a pass from Jackson Bond, fought off a defender and snapped the puck over Abram's left shoulder.
Less than two minutes later, the North Stars extended their lead. Jordan Townsend skated in the Broncos' zone and wired a shot over Abram's right shoulder to make it a 2-0 game.
Humboldt used their special teams to cut the lead to one. Just as North Stars forward Otto Mitchell's penalty was about to expire, Greg Moro's point shot made it's way through traffic and beat North Stars goaltender Spencer Tremblay.
Before the end of the first, the North Stars struck again. With 37.6 seconds left in the frame, Connor Sych jumped on a loose puck near the blueline. His slap shot from the point got under Abrams' blocker to restore Battlefords' two-goal lead heading into the second.
The North Stars kept the offence coming in the second period. Ryan Fountain made a nice pass from behind the net to Mitchell, catching Abrams' leaning towards the wrong post. Mitchell made no mistake and put the North Stars up 4-1.
Midway through the second, the North Stars capitalized on a Humboldt penalty.Kendall Fransoo's shot from the point bounced off a Broncos defenceman in front of the net and over backup netminder Nathan Hargreave's shoulder to make it a 5-1 game after two periods.
An aggressive play from Humboldt led to a big scrum after the whistle 10 seconds into the third period. Searching for a rebound, Justin Lund ran into Tremblay, knocking the North Stars netminder over. The action drew a crowd, resulting in eight penalties. For the North Stars, Fransoo received five minutes for cross checking and a game misconduct, while Sych and Kurtis Redding were given two minutes each for roughing. Redding also was booked for a 10-minute misconduct. Humboldt's Lund was given two minutes for roughing, with his teammate Michael Korol picking up two minutes for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct.
After the penalties were sorted out, the Broncos used the power play to score again. Teegan Kooman threw a shot on net that Tremblay stop. The rebound stayed around the crease until Colin Woods knocked the puck in to cut the North Stars' lead to 5-2 3:44 into the third.
With 4:07 left in the frame, Logan Nachtegaele crossed the blueline and put a shot on net. His wrister fooled Hargreave and gave the North Stars a 6-2 win.
Tremblay, who played his first full game of the pre-season, stopped 33 of 35 shots turned his away.
Humboldt's goaltending tandem combined to allow six goals on 60 shots.
The two teams play again Wednesday night in Humboldt, which is also the North Stars' final pre-season game.
The North Stars will announce their roster, coaching staff and unveil their new uniforms Wednesday morning at the kickoff breakfast at the Civic Centre. The event runs from 7 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. The cost is $8 for one seat and $60 for a table of eight.
Friday, Sept. 19 is the North Stars' home opener against the Kindersley Klippers. The team will raise their 2014 Kramer Division Champions banner prior to the game.
Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
