One step forwards and one step backwards appears to be the order of the day for the Battlefords North Stars at the moment.
Following an impressive 4-0 performance on Sunday over the Mefort Mustangs, the North Stars dropped a 4-2 decision to the Melville Millionaires in their second and final game of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League showcase event in Warman.
“On Sunday I felt like we had come a little bit closer together as a team but it was night and day for us yet again,” North Stars general manager and head coach Nate Bedford said.
“I expected a better effort in this game and we didn’t get it.”
The key turning point in Monday’s game came in the second period as the North Stars held a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Reed Delainey and Connor Logan.
With defenceman Ryan Rosenberg, Kendall Fransoo and Cody Spagrud all sitting the box for penalties, the Millionaires scored three power play goals in a 76-second span to move out in front 3-2.
“We took some bad penalties and we weren’t even able to kill off anything off,” Bedford said.
“I don’t know one guy that blocked a shot on a penalty kill or if we stopped more than three pucks on a penalty kill. It’s frustrating to say the least.”
Kole Byrks, Curran Reeve and Tucker Scantlebury led the charge for the Millionaires, with Keegan Milligan rounding out the scoring with a power play goal of his own in the third period.
“It was a little bit of a role reversal from what happened to us against the North Stars at home last Wednesday,” Millionaires general manager and head coach Devin Windle said.
“We were flat early on and the North Stars came out flying. Those power plays marked a huge change in game as those goals gave us a lot more energy.”
Scantlebury had a goal and two assists for the Millionaires while Alex Maticic dished out three helpers. Goaltender Colby Entz made 24 saves to earn his first career win.
Delainey and Logan each had a goal and an assist while Ryan Rewerts turned aside 16 shots in the loss.
The North Stars return to action Saturday night when they travel to Melfort for a date with the Mustangs.
The two clubs will square off again Tuesday in a 7:30 p.m. meeting at the Civic Centre.
Monday’s SJHL recap
The closest matchup of the four games in Warman on Monday needed to be decides in a shootout as the Humboldt Broncos picked up a 5-4 win over the Estevan Bruins.
Chris Van Os-Shaw and Trevor Posch both score in the shootout for the Broncos, who were ranked 16th nationally in the latest CJHL Top 20 rankings that came out Monday.
Posch led the way on offence with a pair of goals while Daniel McKtrick and Michael Korol both had a goal and an assist each.
Kaelan Holt continued his strong start for the season with two goals for the Bruins, witch included the game tying goal with 17 seconds left in the third period.
Matt McNeil had a goal and two assists while Michael McChesney also lit the lamp in the loss.
Blueliners Tyler Baier and Regan Seiferling had a goal and an assist each for the Yorkton Terriers as they led their team to a 3-1 victory over the Nipawin Hawks.
Corwin Stevely had the other goal for the Terriers while Hawks forward Michael Grant ruined Greg Maggio’s bid for a shutout in the third period.
In the late game, the Weyburn Red Wings defeated the Flin Flon Bombers 4-3, despite being outshot 45-26.
The Red Wings were led on offence by Mike Eskra, who had a goal and two assists. Landon Walters scored twice and Shaun Fleming made 42 saves to earn his first career win.
Mason Etter, Kristian St. Onge and Dondre Watson found the back of the net for the Bombers, who were ranked 12th nationally earlier in the day by the CJHL.
SJHL Standings (After Monday)
Finning Division
- Humboldt Broncos – 5-1-0 – 10 points
- Battlefords North Stars – 4-3-0 – 8 points
- Notre Dame Hounds – 2-3-0 – 4 points
- Kindersley Klippers – 1-2-0 – 2 points
Sherwood Division
- Flin Flon Bombers – 3-1-1 – 7 points
- Melfort Mustangs – 3-2-0 – 6 points
- La Ronge Ice Wolves – 1-3-0 – 2 points
- Nipawin Hawks – 0-2-2 – 2 Points
Viterra Division
- Estevan Bruins – 3-1-0-1 – 7 points
- Weyburn Red Wings – 3-1-0-1 – 7 points
- Melville Millionaires – 3-3-0 – 6 points
- Yorkton Terriers – 2-2-1 – 5 points
Tuesday’s Schedule (All Games in Warman)
- Melfort vs. Estevan – 10 a.m.
- Yorkton vs. Flin Flon – 12:30 p.m.
- La Ronge vs. Notre Dame – 3 p.m.
- Weyburn vs. Kindersley – 5:30 p.m.
