It appears the Battlefords North Stars may have started their holidays a week early, as they have struggled in their last three games.
Obviously the message to the team from coach Kevin Hasselberg is to put those games behind them and move forward.
"We need to focus all our energy and attention on Wednesday's game," said Hasselberg, as his team will wrap up the 2011 portion of the schedule Wednesday at home to the Humboldt Broncos at the Civic Centre.
The North Stars hosted the Flin Flon Bombers Thursday with Blake Tatchell, Tim Rollins, Boyd Wakelin and Matthew Sheeran all sidelined with injuries and Jared Samborski watching the game due to a suspension. The North Stars couldn't buy a break, nor did they compete hard enough to earn one.
The good news for the North Stars is that Jordan Ethier was in the lineup for the first time this season.
Either was acquired last week from the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL. Ethier played eight games with the Chiefs, but began the season with the La Ronge Ice Wolves playing 26 games and recording 22 points to start his 20-year-old season. In return the North Stars sent future considerations to Chilliwack.
"He is good with the puck, he has vision and awareness," said Hasselberg of the newest North Star.
Ethier's debut was spoiled by the Bombers winning 9-1 and stretching the North Stars losing streak to three games.
Dillan McCombie scored his first of three goals in the first period on a power play and the Bombers led 1-0 after 20 minutes.
In the second, Brett Penner scored a power play goal while McCombie, Dylan Balaski and Cameron Blair all scored for the Bombers.
Roger Tagoona scored his fifth of the season for the North Stars on a nice set up by Kyle Hall after he picked up a pass from Travis Sparrow in his own end. Dillon Forbes drew the second assist on the home team's only goal.
The third period had more of the same, Greg Wiwcharuk, McCombie, Balaski and Andrew Allan scored for the Bombers to complete the scoring.
Both Connor Creech and Graham Hildebrand saw action in the North Stars net Thursday, as Creech suffered the loss after allowing five goals on 25 shots. Hildebrand replaced him late in the second period and allowed four goals on 10 shots.
The third period also had some rough stuff. First Tanner Quinn fought Justin Schoffer in defence of a teammate and later Travis Sparrow fought Brandt Weldon after nailing a Bombers' forward along the boards. The player hit went to the hospital later that night because of a possible concussion and a separated shoulder and as a result of the hit Sparrow was suspended four games.
So with the captain out of the lineup Wednesday, the team will be able to have Jared Samborski back and Tatchell, Wakelin and Rollins are all considered day-to-day by Hasselberg and the coaching staff.
Simply put, the team had to answer why the Flin Flon game resulted in such a lopsided score. But the players gathered at the Civic Centre early Friday morning to begin the process of moving on from the 9-1 loss and learning from it.
The North Stars remain in first place in the SJHL with a 28-8-0-2 record and Wednesday will face Humboldt, who sits second in the Bauer Conference with a 25-10-1-2 record.
