Urbanski plays hero; leads North Stars to thrilling first win

Matthias Urbanski had scored the overtime winner, and given the Stars their first taste of victory this season.

The Battlefords North Stars got the proverbial “monkey off their back” Thursday night, with an exciting, if not intense affair for fans in attendance at the Civic Centre in North Battleford.

After struggling to light the lamp early on in their first couple of games, the Battlefords North Stars rectified that crux thanks to an early breakthrough from one of their core veterans.

The North Stars opened the scoring while short-handed at the 16:09 mark of the first period, thanks to a bit of a misplay by Mustangs’ goaltender, Hunter Arps. After a textbook clear down the ice by the Stars, the Melfort-native, Arps, wandered out of his goal crease, only to see his attempted headman of the puck be deflected thanks to an aggressive stick by 17-year-old North Stars’ forward, Tanner Robin. The puck caromed right onto the stick of Brayden Buziak, who made no mistake, giving his team a 1-0 lead with the goalie caught out of position.

Robin would pick up the lone assist on the play, getting him a point on the board early in his first-ever SJHL game.

Justin Ball would answer back for the Mustangs, just about a minute and a half later, blazing in on goal and putting the puck high short-side on the North Stars’ Grzybowski.

Jacob Bayne was sure to answer before the first period was over, giving his team their second lead of the night, making the score 2-1. Bayne’s goal was the first by a North Stars defenseman this season.

With about six-and-a-half minutes to go in the second, while on a North Stars’ power play, MacGregor Sinclair received a gorgeous feed from Matthias Urbanski to send him in solo on the Melfort net. “Sinc,” as he’s affectionately known by teammates, would then open the goaltender up with a quick side-to-side deke, before sliding the puck five-hole on the forehand to gift his team an insurance marker, at 3-1.

The cushion wouldn’t last long, however. Just six minutes later, Melfort’s Colin Schmidt scored a power-play goal of his own to bring things back to being a one-goal contest.

Further adversity would come the way of the North Stars in period three when, less than a minute into the final frame, Tyson Meyers would light the lamp to tie the game.

As the third period raged on, it became clear that this would be a tight game right to the very finish. When regulation time wrapped with the two sides still in a three-goal-apiece stalemate, overtime was needed.

The Oliver, BC product, Urbanski scored at the 4:41 mark of overtime; about twenty seconds before a shootout would be deemed necessary to determine a winner. For Matthias Urbanski, the goal was his first of the season, and third point of the night.

The North Stars are back in action this Saturday in Humboldt to take on the Broncos. Fans can catch the pregame show at 7:15 p.m. on 93.3 The Rock, with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First Period:

16:09 BAT Braydon Buziak (1) ASST: Tanner Robin (1) (SH)

17:36 MLF Justin Ball (4) ASST: Carson Albrecht (4)

18:11 BAT Jacob Bayne (1) ASST: MacGragor Sinclair (2), Matthias Urbanski (2)

Second Period:

13:31 BAT MacGregor Sinclair (2) ASST: Matthias Urbanski (3) (PP)

19:00 MLF Colin Schmidt (1) ASST: Tanner Zentner (2), Carson Albrecht (5) (PP)

Third Period:

0:58 MLF Tyson Meyers (1) ASST: None

Overtime:

4:41 BAT Matthias Urbanski (1) ASST: Elijah Loon-Stewardson (1), Cody Spagrud (1)

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Urbanski plays hero; leads North Stars to thrilling first win

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