The North Stars next game is this Friday, Oct. 12th., 7:30 p.m. at the Access Communications Centre against the Humboldt Broncos. (Battlefords North Stars/Facebook)

By Austin Mattes

Tough loss against Notre Dame

Hounds force OT thriller against the North Stars

Oct 9, 2024 | 12:25 PM

It seemed like the Battlefords North Stars were on the verge of continuing their three-game week streak last night at the Access Communication Centre against the Notre Dame Hounds. But after a defence lapse late in the third period that forced the game to OT, the North Stars couldn’t seal the deal and ended up falling short to the Hounds 6-5.

To start off the game, the North Stars came out strong, controlling most of the puck possession and forcing the Hounds to play from the outside and giving them minimal shot opportunities.

After the first 20 minutes, despite Battlefords out playing the Hounds, no one was able to get on the board and it was 0-0 going into the second period.

During the second, this is where the North Stars caught fire, getting the first goal of the game from Anthony Campbell in the first two minutes of the period, assisted by Brett Boucher and Gavin Granger to go up 1-0.

The North Stars held onto this lead for a bit, but it was the #1 ranked power play of the Hounds that got them on the board with a goal from Marko Djordjevic on the man advantage to make it 1-1 and tie the game.

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This tie didn’t last for long though, as exactly 11 seconds after the Hounds first goal, Rylan Williams of the North Stars got one right back, unassisted, with a nice back hand shot right from the right circle to take the lead 2-1.

Then to finish off the period, the North Stars struck again, this time from D-man, Linken Fischer, with a nice wrist shot from just below the point to get his first of the season and go up 3-1, assisted by Brett Boucher and Anthony Campbell.

In the third period, the flood gates opened for both teams and it got kicked off by the Hounds, Ripley Garden with a shot from the blueline that got passed Matthew MacArthur to close the gap and make it 3-2.

The North Stars answered right back with a goal of their own from Rylan Williams for his second of the game, to take back the two-goal lead and go up 4-2, assisted by Jackson Allan and Linken Fischer.

Even though trailing for most of the game, Notre Dame continued to nip at the heels of the North Stars and got another power play goal, this time from Ethan Andrews to make it 4-3 and close the gap.

The North Stars continued to put on the pressure and 40 seconds after the goal from Andrews, Battlefords was able to find the back of the net yet again on a goal from Brett Boucher, his first of the season, to extend the lead to 5-3

With just under six minutes left in the game, it seemed that Battlefords had the game under control, but Notre Dame had a different idea. The Hounds kept their foot on the gas and found two goals in the final minutes of the game, coming from Ryan Carr and Hudson Kerr to tie it up and take it to overtime.

In overtime, the North Stars failed to get even one shot on net and eventually the Hounds used their momentum to get the game winning goal, which came off a rebound in front the net and Vincent Palmarin tucked it in to take the 6-5 win.

The North Stars did outshoot the Hounds 38 to 34, but failed to stop the Hounds form scoring both times on the penalty kill, while also going 0/2 on their own powerplay.

Battlefords record now sits at 3-3 on the season and their next game is this Friday, Oct. 12., 7:30 p.m. at the Access Communications Centre against former Head Coach, Brayden Klimosko and the Humboldt Broncos.

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Austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes