Steven Kesslering scored three goals Wednesday night, to bring the hats out of the stands at the ACC with his hat trick performance. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Four point night

Kesslering hat trick leads way as Stars top Hounds 6-1

Sep 22, 2022 | 12:58 AM

Steven Kesslering notched his second career hat trick on his way to a four-point night Wednesday, to lead the Battlefords North Stars to a 6-1 win over Notre Dame on home ice.

Goaltender, Josh Kotai also headlined the victory for the Stars, making 40 saves on the night, while captain, Jake Southgate picked up his first two goals of the season and Keiton Klein added his fourth to stay red-hot in the win.

Kesslering’s first of the game opened the scoring midway through the first period, on a dazzling display of speed and hands. Bursting in alone on a breakaway from the red line, the Viceroy, SK., product then went forehand-backhand-forehand to slide the puck through the Hounds’ goalie’s legs for the 1-0 marker.

Later in the first, Kesslering then set up Southgate’s first of the night on a shorthanded jam-play at the side of the goal. Coming with just under three minutes to go in the first, the goal made it a 2-0 Battlefords’ lead at the first intermission.

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Kesslering’s second of the game came just seven minutes into the second period, on a wrister from the mid-slot, over the goalie’s shoulder to the top-right corner; before capping his hat trick bid with just under a half-minute to go in the frame, making it 4-0 on another breakaway cash in.

This time busting in with speed, Kesslering snapped a wrist shot clean to the top corner, to make it a 4-0 Battlefords’ advantage into the second intermission.

In the third, Klein’s fourth of the young season pulled him back into a tie with Kesslering for tops on the team, firing home a one-timer on the power play to truly blow the doors off the game at 5-0.

Southgate’s second of the night made it 6-0, also coming on the power play, serving as the team’s third tally of the night on the man advantage.

Notre Dame’s Ryland Hueging scored his first of the season to make it 6-1 midway through the third on the power play, while goalie, Tucker Inabinet stopped 26 of 32 shots on the night in the Hounds’ crease.

With the win, the Stars improve to 3-0 with just one more game to go, this Friday against Melville, prior to the league showcase in Warman next week.

Friday’s game against the Millionaires will be played in North Battleford, and will be available on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

10:21 BAT Steven Kesslering (2) ASST: None

17:11 BAT Jake Southgate (1) ASST: Steven Kesslering (2) (SH)

Second period:

7:03 BAT Steven Kesslering (3) ASST: Bradley Blake (2) (PP)

19:31 BAT Steven Kesslering (4) ASST: Wilson Steele (2)

Third period:

5:20 BAT Keiton Klein (4) ASST: Jordan Gibbs (2), Jackson Allan (3) (PP)

7:04 BAT Jake Southgate (2) ASST: Colby Bear (2) (PP)

8:25 ND Ryland Hueging (1) ASST: Luke Helgeson (1), Marko Djordevic (1) (PP)

6-1 North Stars, the final.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1