You can add Graham Hildebrand's name to the long list of Battlefords North Stars, who didn't play any exhibition games with the team, but the veteran goalie appeared to be the missing link. At least that was the case Friday, as he played in his first game since the playoffs in March and earned the North Stars' first win of the season.
The North Stars hosted the defending champion La Ronge Ice Wolves at the Civic Centre before the Thanksgiving long weekend and looked to put a complete team effort from start to finish.
Just minutes into the first period the Ice Wolves tested Hildebrand, but he made a great pad save and that appeared to be a sign of things to come.
"He looked good tonight," said North Stars coach and general manager Ken Pearson of his goaltender. "I thought he was square to the pucks, he kept the puck alive when he needed to and came out with a big save on Lindensmith early in the first where he went post-to-post and we knew he was on his game at that point."
Both teams had some powerplay time in the first, but there was no scoring as the North Stars led 12-9 in shots.
La Ronge drew first blood two minutes into the second as Taylor Piller moved in from centre and circled around the net, centered the puck and had it deflect off a North Stars' defenceman and through Hildebrand's legs.
Three minutes later, the North Stars responded as Tony Oak battled for a loose puck in a scramble around Adam Bartko's net and shoveled it into the empty cage. Oak's second of the season was assisted by Brandon Esposito and Colby Cave, who was called up from the Midget Stars.
La Ronge responded two minutes later on a powerplay when Phil Belanger walked the blue line and wristed a shot glove side on Hildebrand.
That lead held for just over seven minutes, as Colin Phaneuf was sprung on a breakaway after a beautiful pass from Keith Grondin blue line to blue line. Folstad also drew an assist on Phaneuf's team leading fifth goal of the season.
In the final minute of the second period, the North Stars broke the tie and earned their first and only lead of the game on the powerplay. Woody Klassen and Blake Tatchell played catch with the puck and then Klassen teed up a slapshot and hit the top corner for his third of the season. Tatchell and Grondin had the assists.
The North Stars played strong defence in the third period and Hildebrand made a handful of pad saves to keep the home team in front and that was the way it finished 3-2.
"I thought they (North Stars teammates) played awesome, they were clearing the front of the net, there weren't very many second chances. They moved the puck behind our net and out of the zone and I thought they did a fantastic job tonight," said Hildebrand, who made 30 saves for the win.
Both teams were 1/5 on the powerplay, while Bartko made 33 saves. Woody Klassen and Graham Hildebrand were unanimous game stars picked by various media outlets and the online game sheet, with three other Ice Wolves getting recognition.
"It felt good, I still have a few steps to make - you know getting back into that game mentality," said Hildebrand. "My adrenaline was flowing so hard tonight it really didn't matter."
The win moves the North Stars to 1-5-1-1, but they remain in the basement of the SJHL.
"The win is huge for our confidence," said Pearson following the game. "To be able to play in a tight game like this is good and we bent a little bit at times, but didn't break and that just shows the character of these guys. I called out a lot of these guys earlier in the year, but they responded well."
Spirits were high in the locker room following the team's long awaited first win and now they hope things start to come together as they head out for four straight road games.
"It is unbelievable that we haven't won until now," said Hildebrand. "We have a good group of guys in here. We hadn't been getting any bounces and the breaks haven't been going our way, but tonight I thought we played hard enough it didn't matter. We put in a full 60-minute effort tonight," said Hildebrand.
Part of that 60-minute effort included Cave, Hildebrand and Christopher Neurauter, who was acquired from Estevan for Calder Neufeld, all playing in their first games with the North Stars this season. Neurauter had four assists and 21 penalty minutes in three games with Estevan this season.
Another North Stars roster note was that Dakota Johnson returned to Nova Scotia to play closer to his family. Johnson played five games with the North Stars.
