By Nathan Kanter

North Stars overcome tough test in Hawks; win 4-2

Feb 11, 2017 | 10:23 PM

The Battlefords North Stars overcame a slow first period to defeat the hottest team in the league on Saturday night by a score of 4-2.

Although they were slow out of the gate, the North Stars found themselves leading the Nipawin Hawks 2-1 after 20 minutes, thanks to two goals from captain Kendall Fransoo.

Battlefords was outshot by the Hawks 13-8 in the opening frame.

“[In the] first period, they really took it to us,” North Stars head coach Nate Bedford said after snapping Nipawin’s 13-game winning streak. “I think we looked like we were willing to be reactionary as opposed to controlling the pace of the game and that’s usually not us. That was a little bit different but after 20 minutes we had a good talk about being a little bit tougher and wanting to dictate the pace and I thought we were better in the second and third.”

Tanner Thompson of the Hawks tied the game in the second on a pretty power play goal but Reed Delainey answered with a power play marker of his own just six minutes later.

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Coby Downs brought the crowd to its feet with a tremendous third period goal on a semi-breakaway that gave the North Stars their first two-goal lead of the game. From there, they didn’t look back, going on to win their 42nd game of the season.

“Sometimes it’s a little bit difficult [in previous games] when you’re playing lesser teams to stay motivated but guys were really going [tonight],” Bedford said. “That was a back and forth type game. Both goalies played well [and] both teams were rolling four lines and six ‘D’.

“Nipawin played really well and jeez they work hard. [Hawks head coach] Doug [Johnson] does a great job over there…and no one works harder than those guys. It’s pretty impressive. I’m not saying I don’t want to play them in the playoffs, we’ll play whoever we get, but they’re a hard working team and they’ll take it to anybody if you let them.”

Fransoo’s First Period Goals Set the Tone

North Stars captain Kendall Fransoo had a two-goal night for the second time this season, to bring his goal total on the year to 10. Last year he had a career high of two.

The first goal was a seeing-eye wrister through traffic, while the second was a one-time rocket set up by ‘D’ partner Connor Sych.

“People don’t understand how good he is,” Bedford said of his captain. “He seldom gets beat 1-on-1. Anything you ask him to do, he does. You can yell and scream at him and tell him he’s the worst player in the world and he goes back and proves you wrong. Just my type of guy and my type fo kid and we’re lucky to have him. The fact that he has 10 goals right now is just proof that he’s an offensive guy as well as a defensive guy.”

Fransoo’s two points tonight moved him from sixth in the league among defenceman to fourth, with 33 points. Only Eric Sinclair, Josh Rieger, and Tyler Podgorenko have compiled more points this season.

Gryzbowski Dialled in

North Stars goaltender Joel Gryzbowski stopped 28 shots of the 30 he faced to get his 19th win of the season and was extremely calm in the crease all night long.

His save percentage is second in the league at .932 after tonight.

“The amount that he played the puck makes our life as a team much easier so I was really happy with that,” Bedford said. “That doesn’t come up on the score sheet. That doesn’t come up in the statsline. But he was able to control the pace of the game by getting out and being aggressive with the puck.

“I have a hard time saying anything bad about [our] two goalies…I think I can count on one hand how many times they’ve played poorly this year.”

Delainey’s Power Play goal his Sixth Game-Winner of the Season

Bedford said Delainey had one of his strongest games of the year.

He came in with just four points in his last 10 games, but potted his 14th goal of the season and added an assist

“Delainey was fantastic tonight,” Bedford said. “I thought he was all over the ice. He was hitting everything that moved and the fact that he scored that goal is good for him, he deserves it.

“That’s how you know how much character you have, when you go 10 games, you have four points, and then your best game is against probably the second or third best team.”

Delainey’s six game-winning goals are tied for the second-most in the league, behind only teammate Coby Downs, who’s eight game-winners rank first.

Potential Records not on Bedford’s Mind

The North Stars are now just two wins away from the tying the all-time franchise mark of 44.

There are still seven games left to get there.

But Bedford, in his first year as head coach, said it’s not something he’s been thinking about, at all.

“As far as records go, not me,” he said when asked if it has crossed his mind. “I haven’t scored a goal this year. I haven’t stopped a puck. So I can’t really get involved in team records. I’m just a passenger.

“But good for them. It’s tough to be a player and be dialled in for that long, and for two years. I’m happy to be a part of the group.”

Last year, Battlefords had 43 wins in the regular season.

This season, they are 42-8-1 with seven games left.

They are also one win away from mathematically clinching first overall in the SJHL.

Battlefords has six days off before facing Melfort on Friday on the road.