North Stars re-up for seven in 7-4 home-opener vs. Klippers

Battlefords’ netminder, Adam Dmyterko was outstanding when called upon again in the effort as well. Dmyterko made the most of his second start in as many nights, as the 19-year-old stopped 29 of 33 shots sent his way, standing tall when needed for the victory.

Additional picture: Fist bumps all around: Stars’ goaltender Adam Dmyterko gets swarmed by teammates following Saturday’s big win in the Battlefords. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Enjoying a red-hot start to the season, the weekend’s pair of games give the Stars a total 14 goals through their first two games to kick off the season.

Becker wasted no time getting the North Stars on the board early with his first goal Saturday night. The Wisconsin Wonder opened the scoring just 1:44 into the first period on a Stars’ power play. The goal came off of a wicked wrist shot to keep the power play unit hot after a good showing last game.

Late in the period, the Klippers answered back as defenceman Zach Ziegler who was likely Kindersley’s most outstanding player Friday evening, picked up where he had left off the night prior. Zeigler scored a power play goal of his own in response on the Klippers’ first man-advantage of the night, to make it 1-1.

The first period would end tied at a goal apiece as well, with the shots in favor of the home-side, 14-12 Battlefords.

In the second period, however, the potential for a low scoring game was put to bed early, thanks to a parade of goals by both sides.

Stars’ blue liner, Seth Summers kicked off the offensive surge in the middle frame with his first of the campaign coming at the 5:17 mark. Quintin Loon-Stewardson picked up the lone assist on the Summers’ marker, helping set the Stars’ ahead once again, at 2-1.

But the celebration was short-lived. Klippers’ forward Austin Nault would pull his team even again just two minutes later. Kinderlsey’s second goal also came via the power play, to make it 2-2.

Just a minute after that, Battlefords’ rookie Steven Kesslering got on the board as well, giving the 17-year-old his first goal, not just of the season, but in a North Stars’ jersey. Picking up his inaugural tally at the ‘Junior A’ level Kesslering’s contribution made it 3-2 Stars.

Quintin Loon-Stewardson made it 4-2 North Stars with his second in as many nights just two minutes after his team retook the lead.

Not to be outdone though, the Klippers were far from done in their own right, scoring two unanswered goals of their own in the back-half of the frame to knot the score 4-4 heading into the third.

Those goals came courtesy of forwards Liam Fraser and Damon MacKenzie, each earning their first of the season, respectively.

By the end of the second, the shots remained in favor of the Battlefords, 28-23 after 40 minutes. Nonetheless, the game’s outcome was still to be decided, with the two sides deadlocked at four goals each.

The game remained tied throughout the first half of the third period, until Austin Becker again etched his name in the scorecard. Picking up his second of the game and third in two nights to start the season, Becker made no mistake depositing a feed from linemate, Rylan Nivon to score what would hold as the game winner on the night; 5-4 Stars.

Rookies Rylan McNinch and Dace Prymak provided the exclamation point for the Stars’ faithful on the night, as the two scored late to put the game away.

MicNInch’s tally was a shot from in tight, that the forward earned handedly after buzzing all weekend long, generating chances.

Prymak’s goal meanwhile, was an empty nettter to seal the victory for the home team with a cherry on top.

For each McNinch and Prymak, the goals served as the rookies’ first career SJHL tallies.

The Stars will now get a full week off to rest up and practice, ahead of next weekend’s return to action.

The Stars will play host to the Estevan Bruins Sat., Sept. 21, as the team will try and provide the hometown crowd with an encore performance to this weekend.

Saturday’s game will be available on 1050 CJNB. Marty Martinson will have the call on the action with the Ultra-Print Pregame Show beginning at 7:15 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPPA North Stars hockey broadcast.

Scoring summary

First period:

1:44 BAT Austin Becker (2) ASST: Ryland McNinch (1), Matthew Fletcher (1) (PP)

15:18 KIN Zach Ziegler (1) ASST: Dawson McKenzie (1), Kyle Bosch (1) (PP)

Second period:

5:17 BAT Seth Summers (1) ASST: Quintin Loon-Stewardson (1)

7:21 KIN Austin Nault (1) ASST: Dawson McKenzie (2), Zach Ziegler (2) (PP)

8:27 BAT Steven Kesslering (1) ASST: Matthias Urbanski (1), Brett Gammer (2)

10:04 BAT Quintin Loon-Stewardson (2) ASST: Elijah Loon-Stewardson (2), Noah Form (2)

12:05 KIN Liam Fraser (1) ASST: Austin Nault (2), Kyle Bosch (2) (PP)

18:00 KIN Damon McKenzie (1) ASST: None

Third period:

12:55 BAT Austin Becker (3) ASST: Rylan Nivon (2)

18:53 BAT Ryland McNinch (1) ASST: Austin Becker (1), Rylan Nivon (3)

19:17 BAT Dace Prymak (1) ASST: Brett Gammer (3) (Empty net)

7-4 North Stars, the Final.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

North Stars re-up for seven in 7-4 home-opener vs. Klippers

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