Staff
Following a tough 6-1 loss to the Prince Albert Mintos on the road last Thursday, the Battlefords AAA Stars had a much better effort away from home this week.
Thanks to three straight victories in a four-day stretch, the Stars have improved to 9-11-1-1 in Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League play this year.
They now also hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the SMAAHL standings, as they lead the Swift Current Legionnaires by a single point.
Their winning ways began at the Flying Dust Reserve Arena Thursday, as the Stars came away with a 4-3 shootout win over the Beardy’s Blackhawks.
After the Blackhawks tied the game on the power play with just 58 seconds left in the third period, the Stars came up big in the skills competition.
Jaden Shewchuk kept his team alive with a goal in the third round and Dylan Esau scored the game winning goal in the fifth round.
Esau, Shewchuk and Austin King-Cunningham all scored for the Stars in regulation, while Adam Beckman had a pair of assists.
Lance Alm made 34 saves to earn the win.
Dodge Long scored a pair of goals for the Blackhawks, including the game-tying goal late in regulation.
Quinn MacDonald led the way for the home team with a goal and two assists.
Alm was stellar in goal once again for the North Stars Saturday in a 5-0 win over the Tisdale Trojans, as he made 21 saves for his third shutout of the season.
Dayton Buchanan and Shewchuk led a spread out offensive attack for the Stars, as they had a goal and an assist each.
Luke Reid dished out a pair of helpers, while Esau, Matthew Flodell and Tyson Meyers also found the back of the net.
Ethan Anders made 23 saves in the loss for the Trojans, who allowed two empty-net goals in the third period.
Shewchuk continued his strong weekend on offence in Sunday’s rematch in Tisdale, as he scored with 45 seconds left in overtime to give the Stars a 4-3 win.
Meyers led the way for the visitors with two assists, with the other goals coming from Jordan Mish, Parker Gavlas and King-Cunningham.
Joseph Young was spectacular in net for the Stars, as he made 43 saves in nearly 65 minutes of action.
The Stars will look to continue their winning ways at the Civic Centre Tuesday, as they’ll play host to the Mintos at 7:30 p.m.
The Mintos, who are just three points ahead of the Stars in the standings, feature the league’s top scorer in Logan Barlage.
A prospect of the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos, the 15-year-old has 36 points in 21 games this year.
