North Stars captain, Tanner Gold pictured here opposite Yorkton's Jaron Desnoyers. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Down to the wire finish

North Stars fall 5-4 to Terriers on home ice

Feb 7, 2024 | 12:43 AM

The Battlefords North Stars fell 5-4 to the Yorkton Terriers Tuesday, following a back-and-forth 60 minutes that remained undecided until late in regulation time.

Elijah Anderson opened the scoring with his first in a North Stars’ sweater, since joining the team in mid-January. Followed by a Terriers’ goal from Anthony Domina on a deflection in front, Kian Bell then notched his first of two on the night for his 30th (and later, 31st) of the season, coming in just his 30th game.

After Yorkton again cashed to make it a 2-2 game at the end of the first, Carson Olsen re-established the Battlefords’ lead in the second, hitting double-digits for goals on the season with his 10th off a quick passing play from Riley Girod to Brayden Sinclair, to Olsen.

By the end of the second it was again knotted up 3-3, as the teams alternated goals through the opening 40 minutes, with each North Stars’ tally followed promptly by a Terriers’ response.

That was until midway through the third, when Yorkton’s Aiden Knutson would break the trend and score his second straight on a slick deke move, to give Yorkton their first lead of the night at 4-3.

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Determined to answer back with a tying goal of their own, North Stars’ captain Tanner Gold led the team’s comeback push, ultimately drawing a penalty as he was tripped up while stickhandling his way through traffic on the attack.

While he would not get an official assist on the play, the blue liner’s assertiveness set up Bell’s second of the game – just 12 seconds into the ensuing power play – on a laser shot from high in the zone, assisted by Alex Izyk and Ben Portner.

Knotting the game 4-4 inside the final 3:45 of regulation, the game seemed destined for overtime. That is until a late bounce for Yorkton’s David Overbeeke proved the game-winner. Firing the puck towards the front of the net on a nothing play, the shot deflected off a Battlefords’ stick and into the goal for Overbeeke’s first in the SJHL and the winner on the night.

Both goaltenders were strong throughout the game, as Matthew MacArthur stopped 34-of-39 for the North Stars, while Yorkton’s Ethan Farrow stopped 41-of-45 for the win.

The loss marks just the second regulation defeat for the North Stars over their last 20 games (15-2-3). The team remains first in the Nutrien Division and second overall in the league standings with a 31-9-4 record through 44 games. With 66 points on the season, the Stars became just the second team to officially clinch a playoff spot with their last win, Saturday.

The North Stars will return to action this weekend for a single game Friday night at Notre Dame. Friday’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:

9:33 BAT Elijah Anderson (8) ASST: Josh Medernach, Jackson Allan 1-0 BAT

12:32 YOR Anthony Domina (14) ASST: Ashtyn Shields, Riley Cormier 1-1 Tie

13:50 BAT Kian Bell (30) ASST: Brad Blake, Ben Portner 2-1 BAT

17:11 YOR Anthony McIntosh (9) ASST: David Coyle 2-2 Tie

Second period:

10:51 BAT Carson Olsen (10) ASST: Brayden Sinclair, Riley Girod 3-2 BAT

18:32 YOR Aiden Knutson (13) ASST: Dustin Renas 3-3 Tie

Third period:

9:35 YOR Aiden Knutson (14) ASST: None 4-3 YOR

16:15 BAT Kian Bell (31) ASST: Alex Izyk, Ben Portner (PP) 4-4 Tie

18:13 David Overbeeke (1) ASST: None 5-4 YOR

5-4 YOR, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1