Kian Bell scored his second hat trick of the season, and seventh goal in his last three games Thursday, to bring his league leading goal total to 28 and league leading point total to 49 in just 26 games this season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Ninth straight win

Stars explode for six in third, top Terriers 9-6

Dec 16, 2022 | 1:47 AM

The goal light was all but burnt out by game’s end Thursday night in Yorkton, as the Battlefords North Stars topped the Yorkton Terriers 9-6, in a goal-heavy thriller.

A wild night that barely allowed fans a chance to sit down between goals, highlighting the night’s action was a six-goal explosion by the Stars in the third to deliver the team to victory, and a pair of dueling hat tricks (and four-point performances) by Stars’ forward Kian Bell and the Terriers’ Greg Nelson.

North Stars teammates celebrate around goalie Justen Maric following the team’s ninth straight win, in Yorkton Thursday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Seven different players chipped in for the Stars for their nine goals on the night.

In addition to Bell’s three goals and an assist, Jackson Allan (one goal, two assists), Holden Doell (one goal one assist), Colby Bear, Riley Girod, and Steven Kesslering also scored for the team, while Keiton Klein tallied three assists, and Jake Southgate a pair of helpers.

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A 1-0, 2-1, then 3-2 Stars’ lead into the early stages of the second, for every goal the Battlefords scored through the first 30 minutes the pesky Terriers stuck around, until eventually tying the contest 3-3 and even taking their first lead of the night at 4-3, into the second intermission.

However, in the third is when the Battlefords really came alive.

Doell’s 15^th knotted the score just over 1:30 into the final frame, followed by Gold’s fourth, crashing the net for a power play marker to put the Stars ahead for good at 5-4.

Kesslering’s 15^th, Bell’s 27^th, Allan’s fifth and Bell’s 28^th made it six consecutive in the third to blow the doors off the contest at 9-4 North Stars.

Nelson’s hat trick goal and a late shorty by Clay Sleeva cut the Terrier’s deficit to 9-6, though that is as close as they would get in their comeback bid.

Stars forward Owen Underhill battles with Yorkton’s Tyson Perkins off a faceoff Thursday night. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Between the pipes, Justen Maric backstopped the Stars to victory stopping 36/42 shots on the night, while Yorkton’s Caleb Allen went 35/44 at the other end.

The win marks the Stars’ ninth straight as the team remain undefeated in regulation time, and extend their league leading record to 26-0-2-1 this season through 29 games. The Stars’ 55 points are 11 up on second place La Ronge, who lead the field.

The North Stars will now shoot for their 10^th straight in their return to action Friday night in Melville. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available Friday on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m., and puck drop to follow at 7 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

4:31 BAT Kian Bell (26) ASST: Holden Doell, Jake Southgate 1-0 BAT

7:18 YOR Pavel Mckenzie (5) ASST: Jackson McDonnell, Quintin Unreiner 1-1 Tie

Second period:

4:22 BAT Colby Bear (10) ASST: Jordan Gibbs, Keiton Klein 2-1 BAT

4:39 YOR Logan Cyca (5) ASST: Brett Butz, Greg Nelson 2-2 Tie

5:58 BAT Riley Girod (5) ASST: Jake Southgate (PP) 3-2 BAT

7:17 YOR Greg Nelson (9) ASST: Brett Butz, Logan Cyca 3-3 Tie

10:06 YOR Greg Nelson (10) ASST: Logan Cyca, Brett Butz 4-3 YOR

Third period:

1:34 BAT Holden Doell (15) ASST: Kian Bell 4-4 Tie

5:22 BAT Tanner Gold (4) ASST: Jackson Allan, Keiton Klein (PP) 5-4 BAT

10:34 BAT Steven Kesslering (15) ASST: Jackson Allan 6-4 BAT

11:29 BAT Kian Bell (27) ASST: Jake Southgate 7-4 BAT

12:14 BAT Jackson Allan (5) ASST: Keiton Klein (PP) 8-4 BAT

13:42 BAT Kian Bell (28) ASST: Tynan Ewart (PP) 9-4 BAT

14:36 YOR Greg Nelson (11) ASST: Tyson Perkins, Clay Sleeva (PP) 9-5 BAT

19:32 YOR Clay Sleeva (10) ASST: Lohgan Nimmo (SH) 9-6 BAT

9-6 North Stars, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1