North Stars eliminated from playoffs after loss to Bruins in game 5
It all seemed to end in an instant for the defending Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League champions.
Not literally, but still, with the North Stars entering the third period of Thursday’s elimination game tied 2-2 with the Estevan Bruins, everything seemed within reach. This team had gutted out one-goal victories before, and there was no better place to do it than in front of their home fans when it mattered most: the SJHL playoffs.
But when Bruins captain Jake Fletcher whistled a wrist shot short side past Taryn Kotchorek after a rebound came to him with under nine minutes left in regulation, the life seemed to be sucked out of the Civic Centre.
An all-too quiet “Go Stars Go” chant following that goal didn’t last very long, and soon after, Bruins sniper Kaelan Holt increased the visitors lead to 4-2. Holt’s empty-netter with 2:08 to go in the third period to make it 5-2 made Estevan’s victory all but a certainty, and Zach Goberis made sure with a second empty-netter in the final minute.