North Stars fall in opener despite late surge
The Battlefords North Stars kicked off their new season Friday at home against the division-rival Kindersley Klippers.
The two teams opening their season with a home-and-home series is a tradition that dates back six years. Recent history has shown the North Stars to have heavily dominated the season-openers, boasting a 3-0 record over the Kilppers in the three years prior. But Friday night was Kindersley’s turn to start the season with a 1-0 record.
And right from the opening faceoff, it was a fast-paced, up-tempo game.
Just when it looked like the first period of the season was going to come to a close without a dent on the scorecard, at the 19:26 mark, Austin Nault, the 19-year-old from Winnipeg, made it 1-0 in favour of the visitors, thanks to a centring feed right on his tape from the left-side corner, courtesy of Klippers forward Nate Keeley.