It's been a great start for Matthew Saharchuk in his first SJHL season.
Saharchuk had a goal and two assists in a 5-2 Battlefords' North Stars win over the Millionaires Wednesday night in Melville at the Horizon Credit Union Centre.
The North Stars forward has three goals and four assists in four games this season.
The North Stars got off to another quick start in the first period. Reed Delainey scored on Millionaires goaltender Josh Bykowski 2:02 into the opening frame. Saharchuk and Brady O'Sullivan assisted on Delainey's third goal of the year.
A minute later, Michael Statchuk found the back of the net for the first time, beating Bykowski with an assist from Matthew Havens and Brenden Heinrich to make it a 2-0 lead early in the game.
The lead was extended to three with 7:53 left in the first period. O'Sullivan scored his second of the campaign with assists from Saharchuk and Jake Erickson.
Melville responded less than 30 seconds later. Ben Mack got his first goal of the season from Kirk Bear to make it a 3-1 game heading into the first intermission.
After one period, the North Stars were outshooting the Millionaires 16-7.
There was no scoring in the second period. Battlefords killed off two penalties in the period. Brock Weston took a holding penalty right as the second period ended.
On the ensuing power play, Lane Harbor scored one minute into the third period to cut the lead to one. Brennen Miller and Cole Berreth assisted on the goal.
It was as close as the Millionaires would come in the game. With less than two minutes to play in the third, Saharchuk found the back of the net on a two-on-one rush into the Millionaires zone. Delainey and Nick Fountain picked up assists on the goal.
Heinrich added an empty-net goal with 15 seconds left in regulation to seal the 5-2 victory for the North Stars.
Tremblay made 24 saves for the North Stars for his second win of the season. He has started all four of the North Stars' games so far this year. Bykowski stopped 31 shots in his first loss of the season.
The North Stars (2-1-1-0) stay on the road as they travel to Kindersley Friday night for their third meeting of the year with the Klippers (2-0-0-0). Kindersley has not played since the home-and-home series last weekend. Puck drop for the game is 7:30 p.m.
