After losing 9-6 in Kindersley Tuesday night, the Yorkton Terriers had something to prove and unfortunately the Battlefords North Stars were in their way when the two teams met Wednesday night in North Battleford.
The best team in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Sherwood Conference proved why they hold that title when they took on the North Stars. Good goaltending by Devin Peters, scoring potential and a complete team effort resulted in a 4-1 win.
A minute into the game, Brent Struble converted a two-on-one pass to beat Graham Hildebrand, who was making his third straight start, and the Terriers led 1-0 early.
Four minutes later, Struble struck again making it 2-0 on a powerplay.
Later in the first, Mitch Galbraith squared off with Terriers captain Blaine Tendler and it appeared to spark the North Stars, as they played better in the second half of the first, but it wasn't enough to get them on the scoreboard.
Yorkton increased their lead eight minutes into the second, as Craig Eisenhut beat Hildebrand.
The North Stars' offence responded five minutes later, as Cole Gibson continued his hot streak and scored on a backhand for his 16th goal of the season. Cody Folstad did some great work in the defensive zone to set up the play and draw the only assist.
The Terriers took a 3-1 lead into the third period and wouldn't give it up. Devon McMullen hit the empty net adding an insurance marker late to seal the victory.
According to the shot stats, the North Stars failed to hit the net in the third period and were outshot 32-23, however, Peters was the game's first star.
The North Stars did a good job staying out of the penalty box, as they were shorthanded only once, but Yorkton scored on the one opportunity while the North Stars were 0/3.
This weekend the North Stars head out for a two-game road trip. First the 22-24-1-1 North Stars will be in Nipawin Friday to play the 16-26-3-1 Hawks. Saturday, the Battlefords play the 28-11-3-4 Melfort Mustangs.
The North Stars remain in fourth place in the Bauer Conference two points back of Humboldt for third and four points up on Flin Flon, who have three games in hand on the North Stars.
