Forward, Holden Doell had a monster night for the Stars, picking up three goals and an assist to lead the team to victory. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Bounce back victory

Doell hat-trick leads way as Stars cool Bruins

Oct 16, 2022 | 12:00 AM

Holden Doell brought the hats to the ice Saturday night at the Access Communications Centre, scoring three goals in a hat-trick performance to lead the Stars to a 7-3 win over Estevan.

The victory comes over the league’s hottest team, snapping a seven-game winning streak for the Bruins, and adding to the North Stars’ league leading record, now 11-0-1.

In addition to Doell’s four-point night (three goals, one assist), four defencemen also scored for the Stars. Nik Smolinski added the first of his SJHL career, while Jordan Gibbs, Tynan Ewart, and Tanner Gold also chipped in to round out the scoring.

In the crease, Stars’ goalie Justen Maric was also sharp throughout the night, stopping 32 of the 35 Bruins’ shots he faced to backstop the team in the win.

Tanner Gold was a tower of strength in the Stars win Saturday night, picking up a goal and an assist in addition to his usual matchup minutes defensively. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

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Gibbs’ fourth of the year opened the scoring just over three and-a-half minutes into the contest, converting on the rebound of a Jackson Allan shot on a bang-bang play in front of the goal.

Doell’s first of the game, and fourth of the year, then made it 2-0 Battlefords just a minute later, set up in almost the exact same spot Gibbs had scored. Doell converted a crafty pass from behind the net from Jake Southgate, to give the team an insurance marker not-yet five minutes into the game.

Smolinski’s first of his junior hockey career made it 3-0 on a wild play that saw the Bruins’ goalie hook an errant puck over his own head and into the goal, after Smolinski had just played the puck into the offensive zone.

In the second, the Stars again came out with a hot start, as Doell’s second of the evening made it 4-0 just 1:18 into the middle frame. This time the Martensville product converted on the rebound of a Kian Bell shot that glanced clean off the crossbar, deflecting right to Doell at the right side of the crease.

Doell then set up Ewart’s second of the year, taking the puck for a stroll around the offensive zone in a loop, before finding the defenceman right in front of the net for the tap-in; 5-0.

After Estevan answered with a pair of goals late-second and early-third to make it 5-2, Gold ensured there would be no chance of a comeback on the night.

Stripping the puck off a streaking Cody Davis, who was cutting in full-flight to the Battlefords’ zone, Gold then started the transition rush the other way and finished the play on a rebound put-home in front of the net for his first of the season.

Estevan’s Jagjeevan Phangura made it a 6-3 game with a persistent effort in front, though that is as close as the Bruins would come on the night.

Doell’s third came just minutes later into the empty net, to seal the victory for the Battlefords at 7-3.

The North Stars will now get the better part of a week off, before returning to action Thursday night for their first of back-to-backs Thursday and Friday at home against Yorkton.

Thursday’s game will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show beginning at 7 p.m., and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast.

Scoring summary

First period:

3:38 BAT Jordan Gibbs (4), ASST: Jackson Allan (6)

4:37 BAT Holden Doell (4) ASST: Jake Southgate (10)

14:37 BAT Nikolas Smolinski (1) ASST: Jake Southgate (11)

Second period:

1:18 BAT Holden Doell (5) ASST: Kian Bell (8), Tanner Gold (6)

10:14 BAT Tynan Ewart (2) ASST: Holden Doell (7)

14:27 EST Alex Blanchard (4) ASST: Liam Lucas (6), Sam McPeak (1)

Third period:

4:14 EST Kade Runke (9) ASST: Owen Miley (5) (PP)

4:54 BAT Tanner Gold (1) ASST: Keiton Klein (4), Zane Florence (6)

14:48 EST Jagjeevan Phangura (3) ASST: Evan Forrest (3)

17:50 BAT Holden Doell (6) ASST: None (EN)

7-3 North Stars, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1