It didn't take long for the Battlefords North Stars to take control of their 30th game of the season against the Estevan Bruins Tuesday night at the Civic Centre.
The North Stars kicked off the second half of their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season with a 5-1 win on home ice.
Blake Tatchell started the scoring for the North Stars 26 seconds in, as he put a backhand under the crossbar after two quick passes from Brody Luhning and Woody Klassen.
The second line connected later in the first period, as Tanner Schwab fired what he and his teammates describe as a "half clap" by Estevan's Steven Glass. Kyle Hall and Luhning assisted on Schwab's seventh of the season.
The North Stars were well in control with five minutes left in the first period until they were issued a penalty for cross checking. Estevan's number one ranked power play in the SJHL made the Battlefords pay, as Taylor Reich pounced on a loose puck in the crease for an easy tap in.
At the end of the period, Grayden Turner and Dylan Schellenberg dropped the gloves in a spirited fight, as both players threw a bunch of punches. Turner missed most of the game, as his fingers were cut from Schellenberg's helmet. Schellenberg was cut from his own visor.
After out shooting the Bruins in the first period 13-5, it was more of the same from the North Stars in the second frame.
Klassen blasted his sixth of the season by Glass while Brett Miller and Zach MacLellan drew the assists. Three minutes later, Tatchell scored his 27th of the season, from Tim Rollins and Curtis Toneff, with a solid shot from the slot.
Boyd Wakelin added his seventh goal of the season in the third period with a shot from the hash marks and Roger Tagoona and Schwab had the assists.
The North Stars out shot the Bruins 32-16 and won their eighth straight game.
"We set out a game plan and executed it fairly well," said assistant coach Blair Atcheynum after Tuesday's effort. "Holding them to 15 or 16 shots tonight is a big accomplishment for us. They are a high scoring team and we smothered them pretty good defensively and didn't give up a lot of opportunities."
Graham Hildebrand benefitted from the strong defensive play earning his 13th win of the season.
The North Stars had 11 different players earn at least a point Tuesday and once again the offensive effort was led by Tatchell, as he extended his point streak to 20 games. The last game he didn't earn a point was Oct. 7. Complementing Tatchell's play was some secondary scoring, which has become more of a focus lately for the North Stars.
"We are starting to get scoring from all lines now, it has been one of our concerns in the last little while," said Atcheynum. "The Tagoona, Hall and Schwab line is really stepping forward and we are getting scoring from everyone right now. The young line with Keller, Quinn and Samborski were all around the net tonight and had a number of chances. That is a positive thing to see. We just want to continue to build on that."
After the game, Schwab talked about his line producing points more consistently in recent games and the winning streak and success through the first half of the season.
"The coaches have been pretty patient with us," said the second year forward. "We got off to a slow start, but I think we are just building chemistry and maybe starting to read each other a little more and things are starting to go in. It (winning streak) is obviously pretty exciting, it is a nice change from some of the past few years of my hockey career here, but we just like to focus on the next game and not let it get to our heads too much."
The North Stars will take their eight-game winning streak on the road this weekend for a three-day road trip through Melville Friday, Yorkton Saturday and Melfort Sunday.
"We set ourselves up nice for it," said Atcheynum. "We have a couple of days to prepare and get ready for this road trip. It is going to be a good test again. We don't change a whole lot in our mindset. We still focus on the process and the team goals we set forward and that is what we shoot to accomplish every night and the results take care of themselves."
