North Stars reflect on first-half milestones (Pt. 2)

Ethan Scriven’s first goal came against the Yorkton Terriers and served as the Stars’ fifth of the night en route to a 6-5 win in Yorkton. Coming in his sixth game with the team, he said he still remembers feeling some relief to get that first one on the board.

Ethan Scriven poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“I was definitely snake-bitten for a bit there, but when you go to the net, sometimes you get lucky,” he said with a lighthearted shrug. “My mom is one of my biggest fans, so she reached out right away [following the game], and was probably the most proud,” he added.

Scriven has two goals and 10 points in 24 games this past year.

Colby Bear – First goal, Oct. 8, 2021

Colby Bear’s first came just 2 minutes into the second period of his second game with the Stars.

Cashing in for the team’s first of the night in at 3-2 win over Humboldt; looking back, Bear said it was a moment he’ll remember for some time.

Colby Bear poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“It felt really good, and I was lucky enough to get it in my second game, which was really exciting,” Bear said. “I’m just glad I got it out of the way, and the boys all came over on the bench with a lot of head taps and congratulating me, so there was lots of smiles and I think I was smiling for a while after that one.”

In 18 games with the Stars this season, Bear has six goals and 10 points.

Easton Johns – First goal, Oct. 8, 2021

Scoring his first against the Broncos the same night as Bear and only about five minutes later, was Easton Johns.

In just his second game with the Stars, Johns said it was a special night made even more so by having his family in attendance at their first game of the season.

Easton Johns poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“I think Goldie (Tanner Gold) went around behind the net and then popped it out front, where there was about eight screens in front, so I fired a quick little one-timer and found the back of the net,” Johns said. “My parents actually came to that game, so it worked out pretty nice that they were there and I had a good talk with them after, so it was awesome they got to see that.”

Johns has a goal and three points in eight games with the Stars this season.

Matthew Henry – First goal, Oct. 9, 2021

The following night, in the back-half of the Stars’ back-to-backs with the Broncos, Matthew Henry also notched his first goal with just 2:30 to go in the first period against Humboldt.

Henry said it was all thanks to a won faceoff, and nice preparation of a play by his veteran linemate, Dylan Esau.

Matthew Henry poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“I remember lining up for the draw, and there was a particular play that Zaw [Esau] drew up, so I went backdoor and it was a nice pass over and a tap in goal, so I was pretty excited and I didn’t really know what to do, so I just cheered!”

Henry has three goals and 11 points for the Stars at the holiday break.

Easton Rask – First goal, Oct. 13, 2021

Easton Rask’s first of the campaign would go on to serve as the game-winner as well, in a 4-1 North Stars win over Melfort at the Northern Lights Palace on Oct. 13.

As one who prides himself on playing a defence-first game, Rask said he remembers being a bit pleasantly surprised when the puck went in.

Easton Rask poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“It kind of caught me by surprise as it was just a shot from the point, so it kind of took me a second to realize it went in,” Rask said. “Then all the guys just started coming up, so I was super happy when I put that one in. I’m pretty sure some of the guys were even happier than me, but it felt awesome, for sure.”

Rask said his older brother Tian, who played his final year of junior with the Mustangs, was the first to send him a text of congratulations, waiting for him after the game.

“My brother was one of the first ones to give me a text and it was actually against his old team in Melfort there, so he was pretty cheesed about me scoring it against Melfort of all teams,” he added with a laugh.

Rask has a goal and six points this season heading into the new year.

Tanner Gold – First goal, Oct. 16, 2021

Tanner Gold notched his first goal in a North Stars’ 10-3 thrashing of La Ronge. Kicking off the scoring brigade just 57 seconds into the night’s contest, Gold said he still remembers the play well.

Tanner Gold poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“It was actually my first shift of the game and I was on the blue line when the puck popped out to me and I was lucky enough to put it home, so it was a great feeling,” Gold said. “Lots of smiles, lots of hugs from the guys and head taps, so it was great.”

Gold has a goal and three points in 22 games heading into the holiday break.

Wilson Steele – First goal, Oct. 22, 2021

Though limited to just nine games prior to Christmas due to a long-term upper body injury, defenceman Wilson Steele cashed in for his first career SJHL goal in the Stars’ 5-3 win over the Millionaires.

Wilson Steele, pictured here in action for the North Stars. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“I remember jumping in the rush in the offensive zone, and getting a pass in front from Doell from behind the net,” Steele recounted. “I remember one-timing it and putting it bar-down, so that was pretty special to get the first one, and, also something to find out, I did it with a broken wrist too,” he added with a laugh.

Steele has a goal and six points in nine games this season.

Keiton Klein – First goal, Nov. 2, 2021

It was a cold night in Wilcox forward Keiton Klein won’t soon forget, as the forward scored his first career SJHL goal – and the shootout winner as well for good measure – in the Stars’ 6-5 win over Notre Dame.

Keiton Klein poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“I remember getting a nice pass off the wall in the d-zone, and I came down on a two-on-one where the defenceman kind of took the pass away,” Klein said. “I shot low blocker and scored, and then getting the shootout winner there too was nice, as Mikey [Harroch] helped us get the win there too, so it was one to remember for sure.”

In 19 games this year, Klein has a goal and 10 points heading into the new year.

This concludes the North Stars’ first goal milestones from the first-half of season. As the year progresses, and milestones continue to come, one thing is for certain, there’s no greater feeling then scoring that first goal.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

North Stars reflect on first-half milestones (Pt. 2)

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