Stars forward, Matthew Henry and Bombers forward, Matt Raymond pictured here jawing back and forth in what was a high-animosity game between the two teams Tuesday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Stars Lead Series 2-1

Stars fall 4-2 in Game 3, as Bombers answer back on home ice

Mar 23, 2022 | 12:59 AM

The Battlefords North Stars fell 4-2 to Flin Flon Tuesday night at the Whitney Forum, in Game 3 of the teams’ first round best-of-seven playoff series.

Steven Kesslering scored his third goal in three playoff games in the loss, while Holden Doell added his first of the postseason, and Michael Harroch stopped 39 of 43 shots to keep the team in the game throughout the night.

Special teams play has been a key storyline through the early part of the series, as the Stars scored two power play goals in each of their two wins, and Flin Flon added two of their own in their Game 3 response. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Brett Wieschorster opened the scoring with his first of the playoffs late in the first period, converting on a rebound in front off the rush to make it 1-0 Bombers at the end of the first.

Xavier Lapointe then made it 2-0 just 1:25 into the second, scoring on a shot from the left point on the power play, on a bullet wrister through traffic.

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

Ferland earns Grey Cup ring

'A wonderful human being': High school coach thrilled Logan Ferland is a Grey Cup champion

Nov 17, 2025

However, just two minutes later, the Stars would answer back with two of their own, back-to-back just 23 seconds apart.

First Kesslering’s third of the playoffs made it 2-1, on a quick snap release, followed immediately by Doell’s first playoff goal, set up by Ryland McNinch and Jake Southgate, for a shot from the slot off the rush, fired off the crossbar-and-in to knot the score 2-2.

Rylan Thiessen’s second in his last two games made it 3-2 Bombers just passed the midway mark of the frame on a shot from the line through traffic, before Drew Kuzma iced the night’s victory on a power play goal for his first of the playoffs, to make it 4-2 Bombers late in the third.

At the end of the night, the Bombers outshot the Stars 44-23, with their 2-for-8 billing on the power play making the difference on the night, contrasted by the Stars’ 0-for-6.

Despite the loss, the North Stars still hold a 2-1 series lead in the teams’ best-of-seven first round series, heading into Game 4 Wednesday.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available Wednesday on 1050 CJNB, an hour earlier than usual, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 6 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 6:30 p.m.

In other Game 2 action around the SJHL Saturday, (#1) Estevan beat (#8) Notre Dame 6-1 to take a 2-1 lead in their series; (#7) La Ronge topped (#2) Humboldt 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their series; and (#6) Yorkton beat (#3) Melfort 2-1 in overtime to take a 2-1 series lead as well.

Scoring summary

First period:

14:26 FF Brett Wieschorster (1) ASST: Matt Raymond (1), Mason Kaspick (1)

Second period:

1:25 FF Xavier Lapointe (1) ASST: None (PP)

3:14 BAT Steven Kesslering (3) ASST: Dylan Esau (2), Emmett Wurst (1)

3:37 BAT Holden Doell (1) ASST: Ryland McNinch (3), Jake Southgate (4)

8:56 FF Rylan Thiessen (2) ASST: Jaxon Martens (3), Gabriel Shipper (1)

Third period:

15:11 FF Drew Kuzma (1) ASST: Xavier Lapointe (1), Jaeden Marcier (1) (PP)

4-2 Bombers, the final

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1