Stars’ forward, Ben Hiltz is swarmed by young North Stars' fans as he leaves the ice following a three-point outing against the Broncos, Friday. The performance earned the Weyburn, SK., product First Star honours in his 200th career game. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

A night to remember

Hiltz leads way on milestone night, as Stars top Broncos for seventh straight

Feb 1, 2020 | 12:18 AM

Friday night at the Civic Centre was one North Stars’ forward, Ben Hiltz will likely not soon forget.

Playing in his 200^th career Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) game, Hiltz picked up the game winning goal to go along with a pair of assists, to help lead the North Stars to a 5-2 victory over the rival Humboldt Broncos at the Civic Centre.

“That has to be some of Hiltz’ best hockey,” Stars’ assistant coach, Rob Holoien said following the game. “He’s turning it up a notch in the second half and tonight he put the team on his back which was pretty special to see. Even besides the goal and the two helpers, he killed off a 5-on-3, just working hard and pursuing the puck; he was [awesome] for us.”

Steven Kesslering, Quintin Loon-Stewardson, Seth Summers and Jaxon Steele also scored for the Stars in the win, while goaltender Kristian Lyon turned in a 32-save effort for the victory.

Humboldt’s Tyson McLean and Logan Kurki scored for the Broncos on the evening, while goalie Michael Harroch stopped 32-of-37 in the loss.

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With the victory, the Stars have now won seven straight. The team’s 39-7-2 record gives them 80 points this season, and a sizable 17-point lead in the league standings over second place overall.

The loss adjusts the Broncos’ record to 21-19-8, as the team sits seventh in the playoff picture.

Kesslering opened the scoring for the Stars in his return to action, after missing two of the last four games due to an upper body injury.

The Viceroy, SK., product wasted no time getting back in the swing of things, potting his seventh of the season just 4:37 into the first to make it 1-0 early off a rebound in front.

Quintin Loon-Stewardson then made it 2-0 Stars with his team-leading 27^th at the 11:28 mark.

Cashing in on a 2-on-1 rush chance, Loon-Stewardson ripped home a bullet shot upstairs, depositing a perfect cross-seem feed from Austin Becker in the process, to give the Wisconsin Wonder his second primary assist of the outing.

Although the Stars appeared firmly in the driver’s seat, ahead 2-0 following the first period, the Broncos did answer back with a pair of their own in the second.

McLean cut his team’s deficit in half with a shorthanded tally just 1:37 into the middle frame, before Kurki cashed in for his 15^th as well. Like that, it was an even 2-2 tie at the end of two periods, heading into the second intermission.

However, in the third, Hiltz took over.

The veteran scored the eventual game winner on a one-timer at the 4:15 mark of the third, making it 3-2 Stars on his 16^th of the season.

Hiltz then added the primary assist on Summers’ 11^th of the season, and another helper on Steele’s eighth of the campaign, making it 5-2 North Stars, the final.

The two teams will now look to regroup quickly, as the back-half of their home-and-home series this weekend will be played Saturday night in Humboldt.

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

Scoring summary

First period:

4:37 BAT Steven Kesslering (7) ASST: Austin Becker (30), Timon Prexler (7)

11:28 BAT Quintin Loon-Stewardson (27) ASST: Austin Becker (31), Noah Form (21)

Second period:

1:37 HUM Tyson McLean (6) ASST: Max Gudnason (7) (SH)

11:14 HUM Logan Kurki (15) ASST: Max Gudnason (8)

Third period:

4:15 BAT Ben Hiltz (16) ASST: Jaxon Steele (9), Matthew Fletcher (33)

8:05 BAT Seth Summers (11) ASST: Ben Hiltz (25), Matthias Urbanski (28)

11:56 BAT Jaxon Steele (8) ASST: Noah Form (22), Ben Hiltz (26)

5-2 North Stars, the final.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1