Stars light up scoreboard but fall to Bonnyville 7-5 in preseason opener

Sixteen-year-old forward, Caelan Fitzpatrick was among those wearing the Stars’ threads to light the lamp.

Fitzpatrick opened the scoring, getting the team on the board early, thanks to a quick shot from in tight that caused the Civic Centre crowd to roar; a crowd clearly craving the return of fast paced Stars’ hockey after the summer break.

Fitzpatrick said it was nice to get on the board early, to help settle in.

“It was fast-paced, with lots of hits,” he said. “I think [the goal] helped get rid of the nerves and clear it up, and just kind of relax and play hockey. It was just a rush of adrenaline and I want to do it again,” he added with a smile.

Following the prospect’s lead, defenseman Logan MacDonald got on the board, scoring in the second to re-establish the Battlefords’ lead just minutes after Bonnyville had pulled the game to a tie.

Later in the period, after the Pontiacs scored two in under five minutes, Stars’ veteran Noah Form scored late in the frame with just over four minutes to go to tie things 3-3 heading into the third.

Matthias Urbanski potted a spectacular goal to kick off the third period, putting the puck around a defender before blazing in on goal to wrist one home.

Austin Becker scored in the third, but the Pontiacs notched four of their own in the final frame, including a late goal into the empty Stars’ cage, to seal the victory 7-5.

Eighteen-year-old goaltender, Parker Rey, who spent last season in the NAHL with the Johnstown Tomahawks, got the start through the first half of the contest for the Stars.

Rey stopped 26 of 28 shots on the night, including a highlight-reel right-pad save on Bonnyville’s Thomas Kramer on the breakaway to keep the game tied with just over 8:20 to go in the second.

Fellow 18-year-old Dylan Barton, who spent last year in the KIJHL with the Chase Heat came on for the second half of the contest. Barton also made a few game saving stops to keep the team in the contest to the very end.

Stars’ head coach Brayden Klimosko said while there were ups and downs, it was nice to get the first exhibition game of the new season under the belt for the team.

“It took us a little bit to get our feet underneath us, but that is to be expected and we understand that,” he said. “There is some good, there’s some bad, but that is just part of that first exhibition game so we have lots to build on. We know where we stand, and we were happy with the camp, so overall it was a good weekend.”

The Stars will return to action Friday night against the Lloydminster Bobcats at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre.

Scoring summary

First period
10:15 BAT Caelan Fitzpatrick ASST: Colten Aiken, Palmer Sinclair

Second period

2:29 BON Kash Rasmussen ASST: Tyson Gayfer

4:38 BAT Logan McDonald ASST: Carson Reagan

8:24 BON Jayden York ASST: Cam Newton

13:38 BON Devin Pimm ASST: Jaden York

16:06 BAT Noah Form ASST: Becker

Third period

12:29 BAT Matthias Urbanski ASST:

BON Matthew McKim ASST: Alex Marrocco, Thomas Kramer

BAT Austin Becker ASST: Noah Form, Matthew Fletcher

BON Chayce Schmidt ASST: Damon Jugnauth, A.J. MacAulay

BON Kash Rassmusen ASST: Unassisted

BON Matthew McKim ASST: Unassisted

7-5 the Final, Bonnyville Pontiacs

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Stars light up scoreboard but fall to Bonnyville 7-5 in preseason opener

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