The Battlefords North Stars celebrate following Wednesday’s 6-1 thrashing off the Melville Millionaires in Melville. With the win, the team improves to 8-1 on the season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Back on track

North Stars cash in for six versus Millionaires

Oct 2, 2019 | 11:27 PM

Like a well planned heist, the Battlefords North Stars stole two points from the Melville Millionaires Wednesday night, in dominating fashion, to take home a huge 6-1 victory in Melville.

Forward Elijah Loon-Stewardson led the way for the North Stars, picking up a up a pair of goals on the night, while Dylan McCabe, Rylan Nivon, and Ryland McNinch also scored in the victory.

Goaltender Austin Schwab stopped 18 of 19 shots against for his first career Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) victory in his Stars’ debut.

McCabe opened the scoring 8:36 into the first to put the Stars ahead from the get-go 1-0.

Coming off a shot through traffic from his point position, McCabe’s goal served as the defenceman’s first of the season, and first in a North Stars’ uniform.

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After following up their initial tally with further sustained pressure, the Stars made it 2-0 thanks to Nivon’s goal at the 17:24 mark.

Nivon’s tally marked the forward’s third in his last three games, and fourth of the season.

Just over a minute after the insurance tally, Elijah Loon-Stewardson then added two quick goals of his own, bang-bang just 16 seconds apart. In the blink of an eye, the Stars advantage had doubled, it was 4-0 for the visitors.

Elijah Loon-Stewardson (#25) was leading the fist bump line all night long, collecting three goals on the evening to help lead the Stars to victory Wednesday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Melville did get their lone strike of the evening just 5:35 into the second when Max McPeak notched his third of the new season to make it 4-1.

But that is all the Millionaires could muster on Wednesday night.

Stars’ rookie Ryland McNinch got in on the scoring at the 9:07 mark of the period to reestablish his team’s four-goal advantage at 5-1 North Stars.

Stars’ rookie Ryland McNinch (#20) celebrates with teammates following the forward’s second goal of the season. McNinch has made an immediate impact with the Stars, already contributing two goals and four points in just six games with the team. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

In the third, Elijah Loon-Stewardson collected his third goal of the evening on a nice deke move in tight, for his third of the night to complete the hattrick; 6-1 the final.

After playing on back-to-back nights, North Stars will now get a hard earned day off tomorrow, before the team travels to Estevan to take on the Bruins Friday.

Friday’s game will be broadcast on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on NAPA North Stars Hockey.

Scoring summary

First period:

8:36 BAT Dylan McCabe (1) ASST: Logan Spence (1), Steven Kesslering (3)

17:24 BAT Rylan Nivon (4) ASST: Dylan McCabe (3)

18:42 BAT Elijah Loon-Stewardson (2) ASST: Matthew Fletcher (8), Austin Becker (5)

18:58 BAT Elijah Loon-Stewardson (3) ASST: Matthias Urbanski (8)

Second period:

5:35 MLV Max McPeak (3) ASST: Dylan Wells (4), Nic Porterfield (4)

9:07 BAT Ryland McNinch (2) ASST: Austin Becker (6), Timon Prexler (2)

Third period:

9:35 BAT Elijah Loon-Stewardson (4) ASST: Matthias Urbanski (9), Dylan McCabe (4)

6-1 North Stars, the Final.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1