Stars' goalie, Josh Kotai made 27 saves Tuesday for his first career SJHL shutout. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Stars Soar to Victory

Kotai picks up first career shutout as Stars blank Wings 8-0

Sep 27, 2022 | 9:42 PM

Seven different goal scorers pitched in on the night and goaltender, Josh Kotai stopped all 27 shots he faced for his first career shutout, as the Battlefords North Stars topped the Weyburn Red Wings 8-0, Tuesday.

Keiton Klein scored a pair on the night, while Kian Bell, Jordan Grill, Wilson Steele, Colby Bear, Easton Rask and Jordan Gibbs also added a tally in the victory.

Klein’s first of the game and team-leading sixth of the season made it 1-0 on a power play goal from the left circle. Set up by Emmett Wurst on a cross-seem pass, Klein buried the shot high short-side on the goaltender for the early Battlefords’ lead.

Bell’s first with the Stars made it 2-0 on a breakaway marker, splitting the defense on a quick burst into the zone upon receiving a stretch feed from Tanner Gold, to cruise in alone on goal.

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Showcasing a dazzling display of stickhandling in tight, Bell ultimately reached around the goaltender to dunk the puck home on the forehand for the insurance marker.

Grill made it 3-0 Stars on a shorthanded breakaway, using his smooth stride to fly in alone, before snapping a quick shot five-hole, to advance the lead further.

Bell found Steele for his first of the campaign in the final minute of the first period, faking a slapshot from the high slot, only to dart a pass right into the wheelhouse of the left-handed Steele inside the right circle, to stretch the lead to 4-0 by the first intermission.

In the second, the Stars picked up where they left off, as Klein scored a shorthanded goal for his seventh of the year on another breakaway. Faking a forehand shot, the veteran then lifted a backhander over the goalie’s shoulder just under the bar for the 5-0 tally.

With just under four minutes to go in the frame, Tynan Ewart worked the puck to Doell, who passed to Bear for a rocket-shot on the one-timer to make it 6-0 on the team’s second power play goal of the night.

The North Stars celebrate following Easton Rask’s third period tally. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Midway through the third, Rask made it 7-0 on his first of the year on a bang-bang shot from the slot, set up by Jake Southgate from behind the goal, before Gibbs’ capped the scoring on yet another Stars’ power play goal.

Serving as the team’s third power play marker of the game, Gibbs ripped a shot from the blue line for his second of the campaign to make it an 8-0 final, serving as the fourth goal of the night from the Stars’ defence.

With the victory, the North Stars are now 5-0 to open the season, heading into their second and final game of the SJHL Showcase, Wednesday morning against the Melfort Mustangs.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available Wednesday on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 10 a.m., with puck drop at 10:30 a.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

8:13 BAT Keiton Klein (6) ASST: Emmett Wurst (2) (PP)

10:37 BAT Kian Bell (1) ASST: Tanner Gold (4), Holden Doell (1)

14:02 BAT Jordan Grill (2) ASST: Bradley Blake (5) (SH)

19:27 BAT Wilson Steele (1) ASST: Kian Bell (3)

Second period:

7:32 BAT Keiton Klein (7) ASST: Easton Rask (SH)

16:19 BAT Colby Bear (2) ASST: Holden Doell (2), Tynan Ewart (2) (PP)

Third period:

9:31 BAT Easton Rask (1) ASST: Jake Southgate (3), Kian Bell (4)

15:53 BAT Jordan Gibbs (2) ASST: Tynan Ewart (3), Jackson Allan (4) (PP)

8-0 North Stars, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1