What a way to end the 2010 portion of the schedule. The Battlefords North Stars were looking to gain ground on Flin Flon and separate themselves from Nipawin and did so as they played those two teams Thursday and Saturday capping off the 2010 portion of their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League schedule.
Thursday at the Civic Centre, the North Stars hosted the Bombers and earned a 6-4 win.
Kyle Birch got the start for the North Stars and played well while giving his team a chance to win and making some big saves late in the first and third periods.
In the first, on a powerplay, a Bombers' defender covered the puck in the crease meaning the North Stars would take a penalty shot. Blake Tatchell was the chosen player and proved coach Blair Atcheynum right.
Tatchell moved in, faked the shot and deked to his backhand, as P.J. Musico was helpless on his backside.
"Going into the penalty shot I was looking to shoot low blocks," said Tatchell. "He didn't really give me much so I just tried to put a move on him and it worked out."
On the same powerplay, Deven Stillar was tripped up on a breakaway and the Bombers were awarded a penalty shot, but this time the goalie won the battle, as Stillar couldn't beat Birch.
Kyle Hall and Tim Rollins broke out two-on-one while shorthanded later in the first and, after a beautiful back door saucer pass from Hall, Rollins chipped his eighth of the season by Musico.
The North Stars weren't done there, as Mitch Galbraith scored his first goal as a North Star with Travis Cech drawing the assist.
In the second, Flin Flon scored two quick goals, the first coming off the stick of Jesse Mychan on the powerplay and the second from Dillan McCombie.
Tatchell stole the momentum back for the North Stars later in period, as he sifted through the Bombers' defence, patiently stick handled around Musico and calmly slid a backhand into the open cage. Tatchell's second on the night and 20th of the season, assisted by Luke Hannas, put the North Stars up 4-2 heading into the break.
Early in the third, Hannas did the scoring while beating Musico for his third of the season.
Flin Flon tried to mount a comeback and, after Doug McLeod and Riley Storzuk scored, it was Birch's turn once again to make some huge saves to keep his team in the lead.
After two big saves by Birch, Samuel Fortier hit the empty net to secure the win.
Birch made 42 saves while Musico stopped 30.
"He played a great game," said Tatchell of Birch following the win. "He has been playing good hockey lately. It was just a great finish for him and he made some key saves that really had a big part in the win."
Other than a bit of a lull in the second, the North Stars played a strong team game despite their head coach Ken Pearson not being on the bench following a two-game suspension pending from the game against Kindersley.
"It was a hard fought game and it came down to the last minute, but I guess we played a good 60 minutes and we met their physical play," said Tatchell. "It was a big confidence builder going into the break."
Saturday, the Bauer Conference's fifth place North Stars hosted the sixth place Niapwin Hawks. With the North Stars leading by four points in the standings, a win was huge since Niapwin had five games in hand.
The North Stars confidence continued to show, as they were ready for the Hawks. Just 1:31 in, Hall scored his 15th of the season from line mates Colin Phaneuf and Keith Grondin, giving the home team the early lead.
Tony Oak was back in the North Stars' lineup after serving a one-game suspension and it didn't take long for him to make an impact. The shift following the goal, Oak dropped the gloves with Grant Jensen. The fight seemed to spark Nipawin, as minutes later Dan Szerlip scored for the Hawks. The first ended 1-1 with the North Stars firing 13 shots at Brody Hoffman in the Hawks' net.
The Hawks scored twice early in the second, as Jonathan Ceci scored both for the Hawks.
The North Stars answered with three straight second period goals. First it was Fortier scoring from Tatchell and Galbraith. Woody Klassen scored his eighth from Tatchell. Then, Tatchell scored unassisted.
The North Stars led 4-3 heading into the third and Fortier took over and ensured a North Stars' win.
Fortier completed the hat trick, as he was set up by Cody Folstad once, and Tatchell and Phaneuf later in the third. Fortier now has seven goals with the North Stars.
Birch was in net for back-to-back wins and earned his ninth win improving his record to 9-9-0-0 while the North Stars take a 17-20-1-1 record into the New Year.
The North Stars will return Jan. 1 for practice and take to the ice against the under 17 Team Sweden squad in international-exhibition action at the Civic Centre. The regular season schedule resumes Jan. 5 at home against the Notre Dame Hounds who beat the North Stars at home 7-4 Dec. 10.
