KT Walters (left) and Emmett Wurst (right) each scored their first career SJHL goals Friday, helping propel the Stars to victory on home ice. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Triumphant return to the ice

Wurst, Walters cash in for career firsts as North Stars take season opener in NB

Sep 25, 2021 | 12:31 AM

It was all smiles and celebration Friday night at the Access Communications Centre, as the Battlefords North Stars took their regular season opener, 3-1 over the Kindersley Klippers.

Forwards Emmett Wurst and KT Walters scored their first career SJHL goals, while Steven Kesslering notched his first of the season, and goaltender Cam Beson stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced for the victory.

At the other end, Klippers’ captain, Mark Snarr scored the lone Kindersley goal on the power play, while keeper, Matthew Pesenti stopped 30 of 35 North Stars’ shots on the night.

Snarr’s power play tally opened the scoring in the contest at the 14:56 mark of the first period. Sneaking down to the high slot from his point position, the veteran rearguard snapped a wrist shot off a pass from Jaxon Georget past a screened Stars goalie, making it 1-0 Klippers.

Kesslering tied the game 1-1 midway through the second, on a scramble play at the side of the goal, alongside Wurst and Matthew Henry. In the midst of all sorts of crease traffic, the Viceroy, SK., product located the puck clearly, to tap it home on the second-effort.

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Wurst’s own then gave the Stars their first lead of the night, late in regulation. With just over two minutes to go on the clock, the first-year standout received a pass on a keep-in from the blue line, only to put it home on a quick snapshot from the mid-slot. His 2-1 Stars goal would prove to be the game winner.

Walters iced the proverbial cake with his first in the final seconds, into the empty net, to solidify the victory for the home side at 3-1 Stars.

The North Stars and Klippers will now get just under 24 hours to rest up and prepare for the back-half of the teams’ opening weekend home-and-home, as they will play again Saturday, Sept. 25 in Kindersley.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will begin with pregame at 7 p.m., and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m., on 1050 CJNB.

Scoring Summary

First period:

14:56 KIN Mark Snarr (1) ASST: Jaxon Georget (1), Ethan King (1)

Second period:

10:14 BAT Steven Kesslering (1) ASST: Matthew Henry (1), Emmett Wurst (1)

Third period:

17:43 BAT Emmett Wurst ASST: Steven Kesslering (1), KT Walters (1)

19:48 BAT KT Walters ASST: None (EN)

3-1 North Stars, the final.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1