The Battlefords North Stars returned to their winning ways at the SJHL Showcase event in Warman.
The North Stars prevailed 5-4 over the Estevan Bruins in a game that wasn’t decided until the ninth round of the shootout session.
Following a disappointing 8-4 result against the Flin Flon Bombers Saturday night, the North Stars were looking to rebound against the Bruins, a team poised to go all-in for a title run this season with Estevan hosting the Western Canada Cup next spring. Monday’s meeting was the first between the two clubs this season.
The Bruins opened the scoring with a goal from Braden Oleksyn in the first period, but Igor Leonenko tied it up shortly after at 1-1.
In the second, Levi Barnstable got his first of the year, but the North Stars tied it again with Dustin Gorgi scoring from Coby Downs.
A power play goal by Zach Douglas gave the Bruins the lead later in the period, and it would be 3-2 through two.
But, with under a minute to go, Jake McMillen tied it up. That made it 3-3 heading into the third period.
In the third, the Bruins took a 4-3 lead on Owen LaClare’s goal, but Jordan Weist managed to put one past Tyler Fuhr to tie the game at 4-4.
Overtime proved hair-raising for the North Stars as they had to kill off an Estevan power play to start the extra frame. But they got through the overtime without giving up a goal, and the game moved to a shootout.
The shootout was a long one, going nine rounds before Jordan Wiest notched the winning goal.
It was their hardest-fought contest of the season, but the North Stars had prevailed 5-4 over the Bruins.
Ryan Rewerts got the win in net for the North Stars as they moved to 7-2 on the season.
The North Stars were due to face Humboldt in their second Showcase game Wednesday morning.
North Stars 5 Humboldt 0
The North Stars got off to a fast start as Jake McMillen, from Layne Young and Townsend, put them up 1-0 in the first period.
By the end of the second period, the North Stars had added two more with Jordan Townsend and Igor Leonenko’s goals added to the score sheet.
Coby Downs added to his goal total to make it a four-goal cushion in the third period.
The final score was 5-0 for the North Stars, completing the sweep of their two games at the Showcase in Warman. Final shots on goal were overwhelmingly for the North Stars 36 to 15. Taryn Kotchorek got the shutout win in net.
The first-place North Stars now get some welcome time off before they play Humboldt again Friday, Oct. 16, at the Civic Centre.
