By Nathan Kanter

Rough ending caps off exciting win on Hockey Day

Jan 22, 2017 | 12:33 AM

The North Stars and Notre Dame Hounds gave fans just about everything they could wish for during Saturday’s finale on Hockey Day in Saskatchewan in Shellbrook.

There was drama thanks to an early goaltending change, there were plenty of hits both ways, there were tons of goals – incuding a four-goal middle frame – there were flashes of elite goaltending, and best of all, it was all capped off with three separate fights at the buzzer.

Also, the North Stars won the game 5-3.

“We were pretty frustrated, overall, with our guys,” North Stars associate coach Braedan Johnson said after the game. “We kind of got into a little lull [where] we were playing their kind of game. After the second period, we kind of adjusted a few things and wanted to focus on the things that make us successful throughout the whole year and I think we did that [in the third]. In the firsrt two periods, I don’t think we established the forecheck or won many battles.”

The tussles at the end certainly left a mark, where Troy Gerein, Connor Manegre, and Zach Nedelec made sure the Hounds got the message that Battlefords won’t tolerate what they felt was a cheap shot after Riley Mohr made a senseless hit at the buzzer on Nedelec.

Fond Memories

North Stars' 20-year-olds reflect on junior hockey experience: Part 2

2h ago

Fond Memories

North Stars' 20-year-olds reflect on junior hockey experience: Part 1

20h ago

Trades in Sask.

Skilled trades need not limited to building homes

Apr 17, 2024

“When the game is 5-3 and the puck is dumped in with one second let, I dont know why you enagge in a hit and obviously he did,” Johnson said. “We’ve established ourselveas as a team that’s going to stick up for ourselves and I think that’s what we did. If it ends up in a suspension, I think we have to look further into the video and see why things played out the way they did.”

One other storyline was a power play that clicked, going 2-for-6, and a penalty kill that continued to smother the opposition’s power play, as they killed off all eight penalties.

Coby Downs got the first goal with the man advantage, while Connor Sych got the other.

“There’s so much skill in that dressing room and the hockey IQ is through the roof,” Johnson said when asked about the power play’s success. “We don’t really preach want to do on the power play, it’s what they give us. They adapt very well. It’s a five-man unit. They use each other within the whole offensive zone.

“We’re happy with the way things unfolded.”

With the goal, Downs now has points in 13 straight games.

There was also a moment of adversity the North Stars overcame early in the game when Joel Gryzbowski allowed two goals on his first three shots and was pulled, only to be put back in a couple minutes later.

It’s something head coach Nate Bedford has done before, once, although that time – against Weyburn in October – it didn’t result in a win.

Tonight it did, as Gryzbowski stopped 20 of 21 shots after allowing those first two goals, to nab his 16th win this season.

“That was Nate’s decision, obviously with his goaltending background it has some effect,” Johnson said. “I think as a group we needed to refocus, it wasn’t just Joel. After getting put back in, he refocused and so did the team.”

After Gryzbowski allowed two quick goals, the North Stars took over the first period, but still trailed 2-1 after 20 minutes. The shots on goal after the first were 23-8 in the North Stars’ favour.

Then Ben Allen tied it in the second on a penalty shot, before Sych’s power play marker gave Battlefords a one goal lead.

Quickly, however, Notre Dame would tie it, after Chad Smedsrud netted a hat-trick.

Before the middle frame was out, Logan Nachtegaele potted home a rebound to regain the lead. Owen Lamb would add the empty netter.

In Layne Young’ absence, his linemate Allen stepped up in a big way too, not just with the tying penalty shot goal, but also by adding two assists.

“His ability to read the ice is what makes him special,” Johnson said. “He sees plays develop before they actually do happen.

“You can’t discredit a guy who’s an unreal kid off the ice, he does eerything you ask for, and then on the ice he leaves it all on the line.”

Allen now has 30 points in 32 games this season.

The North Stars, now 35-7-1 this season, will host the last-place La Ronge Ice Wolves on Tuesday at the Civic Centre.

Young will make his return to the lineup.

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m., with the Ultra Print pre-game show set for 6:45 on CJNB/CJNS.