NORTH BATTLEFORD - The Battlefords North Stars wasted no time in their game with the Melville Millionaires at Access Communications Centre Friday.
Three first period goals and a goal early in period two set the North Stars on their way, but as the game went on the Millionaires clawed back to make a contest of it. In the end the North Stars had to hang on for a 4-3 victory, their second straight win to begin 2022.
The visiting Millionaires, came into Friday’s game with momentum after shocking the league-leading Humboldt Broncos 5-3 Tuesday night. It was a result on the out-of-town scoreboard that was welcomed by the North Stars, as they continue to chase the Broncos in the divisional race.
But any momentum the Mils had coming in was quickly doused Friday, as the North Stars shut them down early and often.
Just 1:12 into the game, Keiton Klein’s second of the season made it 1-0 from Jake Â鶹ÊÓƵgate and Riley Little.
At the 15:48 mark Tynan Ewart scored on a four-on-four situation to make it 2-0, Evan Waldie assisting. Then, with 3:09 to go in the period it was Zane Florence who put the puck in for his 10th of the season, making it 3-0. Colby Bear and Jordan Grill assisted.
Shots through one period favoured the North Stars 16-12.
It was deja vu all over again to start the second period, as the opening goal of the period was scored by Klein, again just 1:12 into the frame, and with an assist from Â鶹ÊÓƵgate. The only difference this time was that Ryland McNinch got an assist as well.
It was at that point that Mils starting goaltender Jared Thompson departed the game, replaced by Alexis Giroux.
The Millionaires were finally able to get on the board with a power play goal at the 7:38 mark with the North Stars' Ryland McNinch in the box for hooking. Nicolas Samson got the goal unassisted. That would be all the scoring for period two.
In the third period the Millionaires capitalized on a double minor assessed to the North Stars’ Jordan Grill for tripping by slew foot ‑‑ defined as the act of using your leg or foot to knock an opponent's feet from under him. Charles-Thomas Larochelle got the power play goal, with Samson assisting at 3:07.
At the 10:35 mark of period three the North Stars’ Matthew Henry was tossed out of the contest, having been assessed a two-minute blow-to-the-head penalty and a game misconduct. But Melville was unable to capitalize on the ensuing power play.
With 3:31 left the Mils pulled within one as Samson got his second of the night on a shorthanded goal. That set up a furious final few minutes, as the Mils desperately tried to tie the game, pulling Giroux for the extra attacker. But the one-goal lead held up for the home team.
Lowen Kenyon got the win, stopping 30 shots. The North Stars outshot the Millionaires 42-33.
Next up for the North Stars is a trip to Humboldt Saturday night, while the Millionaires play in Kindersley.
The North Stars were wearing their alternate orange jerseys for the contest, in recognition of “Every Child Matters.” The team invited representatives of Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs to their Every Child Matters ceremonial puck drop at centre ice. Mayor David Gillan of North Battleford and Mayor Ames Leslie of Battleford also took part.
