It was quite the night for the North Stars’ top line, as Quintin Loon-Stewardson, Elijah Loon-Stewardson and Rylan Nivon combined for six points in Wilcox Thursday evening. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Shooting Stars

Stars prove top dogs in 4-2 double-up of Hounds

Nov 29, 2019 | 12:15 AM

The Battlefords North Stars reinforced their status as top dog Thursday night in Wilcox, as the team defeated the Notre Dame Hounds 4-2 on the night to improve to 25-3 on the season.

The Stars’ top line led the way for the Battlefords, as Elijah Loon-Stewardson and Rylan Nivon pitched in a goal and a helper apiece, while Quintin Loon-Stewardson added two assists of his own.

Defenceman, Seth Summers also provided additional spark from the back end with three assists on the evening, while Matthew Fletcher and Logan Spence bookended the scoring for the team.

Goaltender, Austin Schwab stopped 34 of 36 shots against to secure the win for the Stars.

Hounds’ forward, Sho Takai scored each of his team’s two goals in the loss, while Notre Dame goaltender, Riley Kohonick stopped 28 of 32 shots in the loss.

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Fletcher opened the scoring just 36 seconds into the night, as the Battlefords’ captain notched his seventh of the season on a shot from the right point to make it 1-0 Stars early.

The game remained a one-goal contest until the final 2:31 of the first, when Sho Takai countered with a tally of his own to get the Hounds on the board. His seventh of the season, Takai’s goal would also cap the scoring for the opening frame, as the first came to a close, 1-1.

Just over five minutes into the second, however, the Stars struck again, this time on the power play.

Coming courtesy of Elijah Loon-Stewardson’s ninth of the season, the Stars’ man-advantage strike put the team ahead for good on the night at 2-1.

Rylan Nivon made it 3-1 North Stars near the end of the period on a quick shot that appeared to catch the Hounds’ goaltender off guard. Nivon’s 10^th of the campaign, the goal would go on to serve as the eventual game-winner.

In the third, Sho Takai notched his second of the night and eighth of the season on the power play on a shot from in tight to give his team hope for a late surge.

That flicker of hope was blown out soon after though, when Stars’ forward, Logan Spence cashed in for his second of the season. Spence’s tally came on a net drive tip, to seal the deal and victory for the Battlefords, making it 4-2, the final.

The North Stars will now enjoy the short shelf life of the night’s victory, before returning to action Friday night against the Weyburn Red Wings.

Taking place at Crescent Point Place in Weyburn, Friday’s game will cap the team’s three-games in three-nights road swing.

Friday’s game will be broadcast on NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

0:36 BAT Matthew Fletcher (7) ASST: Seth Summers (18), Quintin Loon-Stewardson (13)

17:29 ND Sho Takai (7) ASST: Will Lavigne (1)

Second period:

5:47 BAT Elijah Loon-Stewardson (9) ASST: Rylan Nivon (24), Quintin Loon-Stewardson (14) (PP)

16:20 BAT Rylan Nivon (10) ASST: Elijah Loon-Stewardson (14), Seth Summers (19)

Third period:

9:04 ND Sho Takai (8) ASST: Jarrett Penner (7), Jared Hamm (9) (PP)

16:48 BAT Logan Spence (2) ASST: Matthias Urbanski (17), Seth Summers (20)

4-2 North Stars, the final.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1