Stars’ 'AP' call-up, Holden Doell (#14) celebrates with teammates Seth Summers (#27), Quintin Loon-Stewardson (#22), Jaxon Steele (#19) and Matthew Fletcher (#4) following a Battlefords’ goal Friday night at the Civic Centre. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Rivalry alive

Stars top Klippers 5-4 in Friday thriller to cap home schedule

Feb 29, 2020 | 12:31 AM

The Battlefords North Stars gave their hometown crowd a show Friday night, topping the division rival Kinderlsey Klippers 5-4 in dramatic fashion, for a win in their final home game of the season.

Stars’ captain, Matthew Fletcher led the way for his team with two goals and a helper on the night, while Austin Becker, Quintin Loon-Stewardson and Ryland McNinch added a goal apiece in the victory and goaltender Kristian Lyon stopped 28-of-32 Kindersley shots for the win.

Just one night after being named SJHL Top Defenceman for the 2019-20 season, Stars’ captain Matthew Fletcher picked up two goals and an assist in Friday’s 5-4 win over the Klippers at the Civic Centre. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Scott McKenzie, Boston Maxwell, Ethan King and Liam Fraser chipped in with goals for the Klippers in the loss, while Steven Bacovsky turned aside 31-of-36 Stars’ shots.

Becker’s 22^nd opened the scoring for the Stars midway through the first period. Snapping home a quick tally on the power play, the goal served as the forward’s fifth in his last six games.

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Fletcher’s first of the night, and 12^th of the season then made it 2-0 on a well-placed slapper from the point to give the Battlefords an insurance marker.

Although McKenzie would answer back with a power play goal late in the frame to cut the Klippers’ deficit in half, the Stars’ remained in the driver’s seat at 2-1 to the end of the first.

In the second, Fletcher’s second goal of the night and 13^th of the season made it 3-1 North Stars at the 11:06 mark. Coming on another rocket shot from the point, the Saskatoon product’s goal was set up by Elijah-Loon-Stewardson and Becker, giving each player their second point of the night.

Despite being down two, Kindersley fought back to tie the game with back-to-back goals from Maxwell and King, making it 3-3 heading into the second intermission.

In the third, Fraser’s team-leading 29^th made it 4-3 Klippers, giving the visitors their first lead of the night.

That lead was short-lived, however, as Quintin Loon-Stewardson cashed in just under a minute later to put his team back on even footing at 4-4.

Then, in the final four minutes, McNinch cashed in on a wrister on a partial 2-on-1, set up on a pass from ‘AP’ standout, Holden Doell. Making it 5-4, McNinch’s sixth of the year and second in his last two games would go down as the game-winner on the night, delivering the Battlefords to victory.

With an assist on the game winner Friday night, Stars’ ‘AP’ call-up, Holden Doell has now picked up a point in each of his first two games with the Battlefords. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The win marks the Stars’ 45th of the season, making the 2019-20 team the second-winningest Stars’ roster in franchise history.

The North Stars and Klippers will now get just under 24 hours to rest and regroup, before returning to action for part two of the teams’ home-and-home this weekend, Saturday night at the West Central Events Centre in Kindersley.

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

Scoring summary

First period:

9:55 BAT Austin Becker (22) ASST: Seth Summers (36), Ben Hiltz (36)

13:15 BAT Matthew Fletcher (12) ASST: Seth Summers (37), Elijah Loon-Stewardson (36)

18:49 KIN Scott McKenzie (14) ASST: Tyler Traptow (17), Brendon Borbely (17) (PP)

Second period:

11:06 BAT Matthew Fletcher (13) ASST: Elijah Loon-Stewardson (37), Austin Becker (37)

12:41 KIN Boston Maxwell (2) ASST: Sean Michalevich (6)

15:14 Ethan King (5) ASST: Ethan Mack (10)

Third period:

5:45 KIN Liam Fraser (29) ASST: Sam Witt (6)

6:19 BAT Quintin Loon-Stewardson (29) ASST: Matthew Fletcher (36)

16:55 BAT Ryland McNinch (6) ASST: Holden Doell (2)

5-4 North Stars, the final.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1