After winning in Swift Current, the Battlefords Midget Stars looked for their second win of the season, as they hosted the Beardy's Blackhawks Wednesday at the North Battleford Civic Centre.
Beardy's put 16 shots at the Stars' net in the first period, but Blair Mahon played spectacularly, making several big saves and keeping his team in the game early.
The Stars rewarded their goaltender with a goal late in the first period, as Kihisis Derocher picked off a pass in the Blackhawks' zone and found Carter Danczak by the far post for a tap in. Danczak's seventh of the season put the Stars' up 1-0 after 20 minutes.
Beardy's tied the game in the second, as Mahon was tangled up with players and couldn't move to his right to stop a rebound shot.
Stars' captain Blake Young responded for the home team nine second later. Young moved in off the face off at centre ice and snapped a shot by former Battlefords Midget Stars' goalie Regan Santoro. Regan Yew drew the assist on Young's goal.
The Blackhawks looked to tie the game once again with a 5-on-3 power play for 52 seconds, but Mahon made a diving glove save to rob the Blackhawks' forward. However, after the first of two penalties expired, the Blackhawks scored to tie the game.
After 40 minutes, the last place Battlefords Stars were tied with the first place Blackhawks.
In the third, Beardy's broke out for five goals, while the Stars managed just two. Young scored his third of the season from Yew and Pfeifer while defenceman Reece Fenrich had a shot redirected by Santoro for his first of the season. Fenrich's goal was an unassisted marker.
Elliot Peterson and Braden Oleksyn led the Beardy's offence with two goals and two assists each while Brett Boehm had a goal and two assists.
Mahon made 42 saves on the night while Santoro stopped 27 shots earning the win.
The Stars' roster was somewhat depleted Wednesday, as three players were out of the lineup due to injuries and coach Lorne Nielsen called on his old team, the Unity Midget AA Lazers, to help fill the void.
Mitch Bachman, Braden Lacoursiere and Mark Ganter all suited up for the Stars and saw a regular shift in even strength situations. It was Lacoursiere's second game this season while Bachman and Ganter dew into the lineup for the first time.
The Stars were back in action Tuesday night in Saskatoon against the 6-7-1-1 Blazers.
