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Stars' goaltender Parker Rey, pictured here, stopped all 14 shots he faced on the night after Adam Dmyterko shut the door through the first period-and-a-half, as the Stars shut out the Bobcats on the night. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)
Shooting stars

North Stars shine in 3-0 blank of Bobcats

Sep 6, 2019 | 11:02 PM

The Battlefords North Stars played their second preseason game at the Civic Centre on Friday as the team shut out the Lloydminster Bobcats 3-0.

The victory brings the Stars’ record to 1-1 through their opening two games of the exhibition schedule, while Lloydminster falls to 0-2.

Despite Friday night being an preseason game between teams from different leagues, the competitive spirit came through as the game went along, setting up what should be a feisty game Saturday night as the teams play each other for the second time in 24 hours. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The North Stars opened the scoring 6:48 into the second period of play, courtesy of the Wisconsin Wonder Austin Becker. A goal of the highlight-reel variety, Becker’s tally came off a gorgeous stretch-feed from fellow second-year, Seth Summers.

In the blink of an eye, Summers wired a pass flat on the tape for Becker to receive in stride. Breaking in alone with the opposition on a line change, Becker faked a forehand shot and flinched a change to the backhand before sliding the puck past the goaltender on a dazzling display of skill to make it 1-0 North Stars.

The tally gives Becker two goals in two preseason games heading into Saturday.

Just as it looked like the contest may remain a one-goal game heading into the third, the Stars were handed a power play opportunity inside the final minutes of the frame.

Making the most of the opportunity, 16-year-old Stars’ prospect, Riley Girod snapped a shot home from the mid-slot inside the final minute to grant his team an insurance marker at 2-0 to end the second period.

Girod said the goal capped off what was a great night in his first taste of SJHL action.

“It was just an exciting time,” he said. “[For the goal] I came in to the right spot and the puck was right there, so I just put it on net, and eventually it went in. It was a great environment; the fans are probably the best in the league and I love them for that.”

Sophomore forward, Kaden Boser scored to make it 3-0 late in the third period. Capitalizing on a two-man advantage on the 5-on-3 power play, Boser received a pass from Seth Summers and lasered the puck home from the right faceoff circle.

Stars’ goaltender Adam Dmyterko played the first half of the contest, stopping each of the 10 shots he faced. Following his teammate’s lead, rookie netminder Parker Rey stopped 14/14 shots in the second half.

For Rey, the performance comes after stopping 26/28 shots in the first half of the Stars’ opening game against Bonnyville, as the 18-year-old continues to make his case for a roster spot.

Lloydminster’s Cale Edler saved 22 of the 23 shots directed his way through the opening half for the Bobcats, while Garrett Larsen made nine stops on 11 shots to close out the game.

The two teams will face off once again in just-under 24 hours, as the back-to-back home-and-home series comes to a close Saturday night with a rematch at Centennial Civic Centre in Lloydminster. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

No scoring.

Second period:
6:48 BAT Austin Becker ASST: Seth Summers

19:59 BAT Riley Girod ASST: Brett Gammer, Holden Doell (PP)

Third period:

16:22 BAT Kaden Boser ASST: Seth Summers, Timon Prexler (PP)

3-0 North Stars, the final.

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

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