The Battlefords North Stars wrapped up a stellar regular season home schedule Friday night, pulling out a 5-4 win over the Kindersley Klippers.
It did not come easily. The North Stars had a 2-0 lead in the first period and a 3-1 lead in the second, but the Klippers fought back to take a 4-3 lead in the third.
But late goals in the third period by Quintin Loon-Stewardson (his 29th of the season) and finally by Ryland McNinch at 16:55 gave the North Stars the win.
The game meant little as far as the standings went, as the North Stars are securely the No. 1 seed while Kindersley is out of the playoffs.
As a result the North Stars also took the opportunity to rest a number of starters and heal up some injuries, though a few who sat out the Humboldt game were back in the lineup Friday. Still, fans got their money’s worth as the two traditional rivals played hard in a closely fought contest.
The night was also a big one for captain Matthew Fletcher, fresh off the announcement of his league award as SJHL Defenceman of the Year. He scored two goals: one was a first period goal with Seth Summers assisting to make it 2-0, and then scored at the 11:36 mark of the second to give them the 3-1 lead. Fletcher also recorded an assist on Loon-Stewardson’s goal.
It was also a good night for Austin Becker who scored the first goal at 9:55 on the power play.
Austin Schwab got the start, and the win, for the North Stars, who outshot the Klippers 36-32.
It was the 45th win of the season for the North Stars, against ten losses and two overtime defeats.
Stars lose in KIndersley
The North Stars did not do as well the next night, losing 3-1 in Kindersley.
Noah Lindsay and Liam Fraser scored twice before Quintin Loon-Stewardson got his 30th of the season from Jaxon Steele and Holden Doell at 18:15 of period two.
A period three goal by Ethan King sealed up the game for the Klippers, who outshot the North Stars 29-26.
The North Stars wrap up the regular season with their final game Saturday night in Kindersley. They begin the first round of the playoffs next Friday and Saturday nights at the Civic Centre, with Humboldt and Nipawin still battling it out to decide the seeding of the last two playoff berths. If Humboldt wins its final regular season game on Tuesday night, it will be Nipawin who faces the North Stars Friday.
