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Stars’ teammates gather around to celebrate one of the five goals scored by the Loon-Stewardson-Nivon line on the night, as the Battlefords North Stars rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to take Tuesday's matchup with the Hawks 6-5 in thrilling fashion. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)
An instant classic

North Stars top Nipawin in wild 6-5 tangle with Hawks

Oct 30, 2019 | 12:05 AM

The Battlefords North Stars may have to rebrand themselves the comeback kids, or at least when matched up against the Nipawin Hawks, as realized again Tuesday night.

After falling behind 2-0 by the midway mark of the first period, only to come back to win 3-2 in each of the two previous meetings of the season-series, the Stars saved their wildest comeback performance for the hometown crowd this week at the Civic Centre.

Hawks forward Carson Erhardt opened the scoring just 5:29 into the first period. Snapping a quick shot on goal from the middle of the zone, Erhardt’s fifth of the season put the visitors ahead early, 1-0 Nipawin.

Then, just a minute-and-a-half later, Brodie Girod make it 2-0 Hawks on his sixth of the year, converting on a backhander from in tight for an insurance marker early.

Just like that, for the third-straight game against Nipawin, the Stars found themselves down by a pair not quite midway through the first period. But this time, the hole was not yet done being dug.

Just 1:20 later, Michael Makarenko made it 3-0 in stunning fashion with a high-glove shot that shocked not only the goaltender, but the Civic Centre crowd. In the blink of an eye, the 17-1 North Stars were trailing the defensive stalwart, Nipawin Hawks 3-0 on the big board, and the game was only 8:28 into play.

Stars’ goaltender Adam Dmyterko, who has been arguably the team’s MVP through the season at 11-0 heading in, was pulled after allowing three goals on seven shots. On in place came Parker Rey to finish the game.

But the game was not nearly over.

Rookie goaltender, Parker Rey stopped 19 of the 21 shots sent his way on the night, in a wild game the 19-year-old and his teammates will likely remember for a long time. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Following the first period media timeout, the Stars came out flying, hungry for a rallying point.

After several minutes of pressing the team was rewarded, as forward Rylan Nivon converted his first of the night, and seventh of the season to make it a 3-1 deficit.

In the second the North Stars would continue to surge, outshooting the Hawks 17-7 in the frame. Despite largely tilting the ice surface in their favor with time of possession and shots, the team had to remain patient to get rewarded.

That reward came quickly when it did arrive, courtesy of Quintin Loon-Stewardson.

Snapping home his first of the game at the 16:54 mark of the second while short-handed, Loon-Stewardson then followed up his tally with another to knot the game 3-3 prior to the second intermission.

Loon-Stewardson’s short-handed goal came off a far-side snipe that blitzed over the goalie’s shoulder off a quick release, serving as the forward’s 11th of the season. His second of the game and 12th of the year, came just two minutes later on a five-hole shot delivered home off a turnover, as the puck found the dynamic forward in the slot area.

Heading into the third period a tie contest, the game appeared to be coming to its conclusion going into the final frame. However, as the teams would soon find out, the excitement was just getting started.

Rylan Nivon got the Stars on the board with the 4-3 go-ahead marker on his second goal of the night, and eighth of the campaign.

Coming at the 8:09 mark of the third, Nivon’s second also served as his team’s first lead of the night, nearly blowing the roof off the Civic Centre with crowd delight.

Then, just three minutes later, Matthias Urbanski gifted his team an insurance goal, on another short-handed strike by the home-side. ‘

Picking up the puck at center off a Quintin Loon-Stewardson headman pass, Urbanski blazed down the left-wing sideboards, before then cutting his way across the front of the Nipawin goalmouth in tight, to tuck home his seventh of the season and make it 5-3.

While it looked like Urbanski’s tally would serve as the icing on the cake, it turned out that much like an M. Night Shyamalan movie, the true twist was reserved for the end.

The Hawks struck back with just under six minutes to go in the third on the strength of Jake Tremblay’s seventh, to make it once again a one-goal contest at 5-4 Stars.

Then, with the game at its most climactic moment and the Hawks’ net empty with the team pushing for the tie, Nipawin’s Max Johnson delivered the equalizer.

Coming off a one-timer with traffic in front, Johnson’s fourth of the season tied things up 5-5 with just 2:16 to go in regulation.

But the game would not be decided in overtime.

Instead, rather than hang their heads, or except an extra-session fate, the Stars got right back on the proverbial horse. The team marched down ice and – on a mad scramble – ultimately won the game with just 5.5 seconds to go, on Rylan Nivon’s hattrick goal.

6-5 North Stars, the final.

Stars’ goaltender, Parker Rey stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced on the night in the win.

Hawks’ goalie, Ross Hawryluk was his team’s best player for most of the night, ultimately making 39 saves on 44 shots against.

With the win, the Stars improve to 18-1 on the season. Nipawin, meanwhile, fall to 10-7 on the year.

The North Stars will now look to build on their momentum further this weekend, as the calendar flips to the new month of November. The team will return to action Sat., Nov. 2 at home against the Yorkton Terriers.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on 93.3 The Rock. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey.

Scoring summary

First period:

5:29 NIP Carson Erhardt (5) ASST: Zach Cox (4), Jordan Simoneau (3)

7:09 NIP Brodie Girod (6) ASST: Jordan Simoneau (4)

8:28 NIP Michael Makarenko (6) ASST: Austen Flaman (8)

14:21 BAT Rylan Nivon (7) ASST: Seth Summers (14), Matthew Fletcher (16)
Second period:

16:54 BAT Quintin Loon-Steewardson (11) ASST: Seth Summers (15)

18:56 BAT Quintin Loon-Stewardson (12) ASST: None

Third period:

8:09 Rylan Nivon (8) ASST: Elijah Loon-Stewardson (12), Matthew Fletcher (17)

11:01 BAT Matthias Urbanski (7) ASST: Quintin Loon-Stewardson (11)

14:41 NIP Jake Tremblay (7) ASST: Carson Erhardt (7), Jordan Simoneau (5)

18:44 NIP Max Johnson (4) ASST: Bronson Adams (2), Zach Cox (5)

19:54 BAT Rylan Nivon (9) ASST: Matthew Fletcher (18), Quintin Loon-Stewardson (12)

6-5 North Stars, the Final.

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

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