The Battlefords North Stars saw their win streak to start 2019-20 come to an end Tuesday.
The Yorkton Terriers knocked off the North Stars 6-2 in Yorkton, handing the Battlefords its first loss of the campaign and stopping the North Stars winning streak at seven games.
On paper, it seemed like an easy matchup for the North Stars, facing a Terriers team that had only won one game going into Tuesday.
What’s more, the Terriers had been embroiled in the whole Greg Mulhall controversy that has rocked the league.
His 25-game SJHL suspension for running Melville goaltender Berk Berkeliev turned into a full-season ban, after incendiary remarks by him about running Berkeliev were posted on Facebook. The Terriers promptly released Mulhall from the team.
The Terriers seemed like a squad happy to have closure to the entire Mulhall situation, as they capitalized early and often on the North Stars.
Chantz Petruic got the Terriers on the board first, with the assist from former North Star Ryan Granville.
But the North Stars tied it on a goal from Logan Spence with Hunter Rambow assisting.
Rylan Nivon gave the North Stars the 2-1 lead in period two, but after that it was five Terriers goals in a row.
Alec Zawatsky tied it and then Steven Norum (on the power play) gave the Terriers the lead through two period. Then in the third, Riley Egan gave the Terriers a 4-2 lead.
Ryan Ries gave the Terriers a 5-2 insurance goal midway through the third. Petruic’s empty net goal with over two minutes left completed the scoring.
Despite a 45-28 advantage for the North Stars on the shot count, it was not to be. Philippe Bond got the win in net for Yorkton; Parker Rey took the loss.
The North Stars had no time to rest, however, as they were scheduled to be right back on the ice in Melville Wednesday night.
