North Stars teammates gather around goaltender Joey Hawco following Saturday night's 6-2 win over the Ice Wolves. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Back-to-back wins

Stars take second straight, complete weekend sweep in La Ronge

Oct 15, 2023 | 12:06 AM

For the second time in as many nights, the Battlefords North Stars cashed in for six goals from six different players Saturday night, to top the Ice Wolves 6-2 in La Ronge.

Coming just a night after a 6-0 Battlefords triumph to open the weekend series between the two sides, the victory gives the Stars their first back-to-back wins of the year, improving their record to 5-4-0 through nine games.

“I thought we were really resilient tonight,” Stars’ assistant coach, Garry Childerhose said postgame. “This is a tough barn to play in, coming in and going down 2-0 in the first, but I thought we stuck to it well and to score six from six different guys is huge for us and huge for our depth. It was a big game for us, overall.”

Jordan Grill scored his first of the season on a power play Saturday night, to add to his team-leading seven points (all assists) heading into play. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

La Ronge came out to a 2-0 lead at the end of the first, as former Battlefords AAA Stars standout Zane Normand opened the scoring with the first of his SJHL career, and Jacob Cossette added his fifth for an insurance marker.

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Despite trailing at the first intermission, the Stars came out firing on the night, with 16 shots in the first period alone, on their way to a season-high 52 on the night.

That persistence would pay off for the Battlefords come the second. Just 33 seconds in, Hunter Burgeson scored his second of the season to cut the Stars’ deficit in half at 2-1.

Just 23 seconds later, Riley Girod then added his third of the season, and second in as many games, to knot the score in the blink of an eye, 2-2.

Evan Waldie’s first of the season gave the Stars their first lead of the night at 3-2, first winning a faceoff back to Tanner Gold, then tipping the captain’s shot from the point past the hapless Ice Wolves goaltender to put the team ahead with the eventual game winner.

Late in the middle frame, Owen Underhill’s third of the year made it 4-2, chasing down a dump in in the final 40 seconds of the frame to snap a quick shot on goal that beat the goalie low to provide the North Stars with an insurance marker.

In the third, the Stars then put the game out of reach for good late, cashing in for a pair on a five-minute major against La Ronge.

Andrew Casellato’s first of his SJHL career made it 5-2 on a slick tick-tac-toe passing play from Brayden Sinclair to Ben Portner, back cross-seem to Casellato for the finishing touch.

Jordan Grill’s first of the season then capped the scoring on the night, on the second power play goal of the five-minute advantage, and third power play marker for his team on the night.

In goal, Joey Hawco stopped 28/30 shots against for the win, while Topher Chirico went 46/52 at the other end.

The North Stars will now get a few days off to rest up and regroup, ahead of their return to play Wednesday night in Melfort, against the 7-1-0 Mustangs. Wednesday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

5:54 LAR Zane Normand (1) ASST: Kale Taylor 1-0 LAR

9:38 LAR Jacob Cossette (5) ASST: Kale Taylor 2-0 LAR

Second period:

0:33 BAT Hunter Burgeson (2) ASST: Tanner Gold, Carson Olsen (PP) 2-1 LAR

0:58 BAT Riley Girod (3) ASST: None 2-2 tie

5:27 BAT Evan Waldie (1) ASST: Tanner Gold 3-2 BAT

19:16 BAT Owen Underhill (3) ASST: None 4-2 BAT

Third period:

14:55 BAT Andrew Casellato (1) ASST: Ben Portner, Brayden Sinclair (PP) 5-2 BAT

15:19 BAT Jordan Grill (1) ASST: Tanner Gold, Carson Olsen (PP) 6-2 BAT

6-2 BAT, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1