The North Stars' 2-1 shootout win Saturday split an epic weekend series with the Broncos which saw both games decided past overtime. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Statement Win

North Stars respond with shootout victory in rematch with Broncos

Oct 22, 2023 | 12:39 AM

Coming off a heartbreaking shootout loss to Humboldt in their home barn Friday, the Battlefords North Stars battled back to answer with a shootout win of their own in night two of their home-and-home with the Broncos, Saturday night in Humboldt.

An almost eerily similar game in many respects, the North Stars’ win was a 2-1 final – the same score of Humboldt’s the night prior – to earn the team a weekend split with their divisional foe and snap a two-game skid in the process.

Veteran forward Brad Blake and goaltender Justen Maric led the way for the team on the night, as Blake scored the North Stars’ lone goal in regulation and added the shootout winner in his 100^th career SJHL game, while Maric stopped 40/41 to backstop the team to victory.

Broncos’ forward Maddox Amaral opened the scoring for the home-side just under eight minutes into the first period, deflecting home a Ryder Knutson point shot for a power play goal on Humboldt’s first man advantage of the night.

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The lone goal of the opening period, the North Stars would respond late in the second to cap what could be the team’s best period of the season so far, lines one-through-four.

Alex Izyk started the play, launching a stretch-pass right on the tape to hit Blake in stride breaking down the left wing. Picking his spot with precise intent, the third-year Stars’ vet then snapped a shot just inside the far-post and crossbar, to make it a 1-1 game late in the middle frame.

That goal was all for the scoresheet on the night, as the goaltenders again stole the show from there, with an intense defensive effort at both ends keeping the score deadlocked into overtime for a second straight night.

Although neither side could break the tie for the winner in the five minutes of 3-on-3 sudden death, it wasn’t for a lack of chances, with end-to-end rushes coming by the plenty until the final horn.

Heading to the shootout for the second time in as many nights, Blake’s goal came on a quick wrister glove-side as the second North Stars’ shooter.

North Stars forward Brad Blake battles for a loose puck with Broncos’ captain Cage Newans. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The goal set up heightened dramatics by the third round of shooters, as Humboldt’s Landen Stromme – the hero from the night prior – was tasked with scoring to keep the shootout going, only to get robbed by Maric’s glove hand on the save to seal the victory for the Battlefords.

With the win, the North Stars improve to 6-5-0-1 through their first 11 games, to sit sixth in the league standings and tied in points with fifth-place Nipawin who hold just a single game in hand.

The North Stars will now get the better part of a week to rest up and regroup, ahead of their return to action Thursday for their first of three-games in three-nights on a southern road swing starting in Weyburn.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast will be available Thursday on 1050 CJNB, the Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 6:30 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

7:49 HUM Maddox Amaral (3) ASST: Jeter Korte, Ryder Knutson (PP) 1-0 HUM

Second period:

15:28 BAT Brad Blake (4) ASST: Alex Izyk, Jackson Allan 1-1 Tie

Third period:

No scoring

Overtime:

No scoring

Shootout:

BAT Hunter Burgeson – No goal

HUM Spencer Bell – No goal

BAT Brad Bake – Goal (Shootout winner)

HUM Cage Newans – No goal

BAT Brayden Sinclair – No goal

HUM Landen Stromme – No goal

2-1 North Stars, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1