The Battlefords North Stars have had a lot to celebrate through the early going this season. With their victory Saturday, the team improves to 10-1 on the year, becoming the first team in the league to hit double digits in wins. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Stars Surging

North Stars wrap up road swing with convincing victory over Red Wings

Oct 6, 2019 | 12:05 AM

The Battlefords North Stars defeated the Weyburn Red Wings 4-1 Saturday at Crescent Point Place in Weyburn.

With the victory, the Stars draw to a close their four-games in four-nights road swing with a 3-1 record in the process. Even more impressive, the victory improves the team’s overall record to 10-1 through their opening 11 games.

Stars’ captain Matthew Fletcher and alternate captain, Matthias Urbanski lead the way to victory with two goals and three points apiece on the night. In goal, netminder Adam Dmyterko stopped 23 of the 24 shots he faced for the win.

On the other side, Wings captain, Ben Hiltz scored for the homeside in the loss, while Weyburn goalie Noah Decottignies stopped 28 of 31 shots against in the loss.

Fletcher kicked off the scoring for the Stars, cashing in on a slap shot from the top of the right circle with just over six minutes to go in the opening frame.

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Fletcher’s tally served as the blue liner’s second of the year and first of the contest to make it 1-0. The goal would also stand as the lone goal of the first period.

Urbanski made it 2-0 Battlefords just passed the midway mark of the second.

Cashing in for a power play goal, Urbanski’s fourth of the season came off a one timer from the right point, off a set up feed from Fletcher.

The Stars’ 2-0 lead remained until about halfway through the third frame.

With 12:32 gone in the third, Hiltz came through to make it a one-goal contest at 2-1. For Hiltz, the goal was his fifth of the season.

Despite the quick strike, the Stars, unfazed, continued to push the pace and responded with a goal of their own about five minutes later.

Urbanski’s second of the game came on a highlight-reel play. Chipping the puck to open ice, the forward then pushed the puck past the defender draped all over him, danced around him, and slung a shot high over the goalie’s shoulder to make it 3-1 Stars.

Late in regulation, with the Estevan net empty, Fletcher picked up his second of the night to act as the exclamation mark at 4-1.

The North Stars will now get a few days off, before the team returns to action Wednesday night in Melfort to take on the Mustangs. The showdown with be the teams’ first since the Canalta Cup Final last season, a series the Stars took 4-games-to-1.

The Ultra Print Pregame Show Wednesday will begin at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on NAPA North Stars Hockey.

Scoring summary

First period:

13:57 BAT Matthew Fletcher (2) ASST: Matthias Urbanski (10), Quintin Loon-Stewardson (7)

Second period:

11:09 BAT Matthias Urbanski (4) ASST: Matthew Fletcher (9), Austin Becker (7) (PP)

Third period:
12:32 WEY Ben Hiltz (5) ASST: Connor Karo (1), Jake Misskey (4)

17:37 BAT Matthias Urbanski (5) ASST: Elijah Loon-Stewardson (9), Liam Antoniuk (1)

18:55 BAT Matthew Fletcher (3) ASST: Brett Gammer (7) (Empty net)

4-1 North Stars, the Final.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1