North Stars bring ‘A’ game to showcase
The Battlefords North Stars beat the La Ronge Ice Wolves 6-3 Sunday night in their first game of the 2018 SJHL Showcase.
The North Stars came out flying from the first shift to the final buzzer in the first period, dominating large portions of play thanks to unrelenting offensive-zone pressure achieved through dogged-determination passing throughout the attacking end of the ice.
Austin Becker opened the scoring at the 9:42 mark of the first after receiving a pass from defenceman Tanner Scott in stride in the neutral zone. Becker then with three quick strides, was in solo against Ice Wolves’ goaltender, Jordan Frey. Seemingly in one fluid motion, the Amery, Wisconsin native, Becker, faked the 18-year-old goalie, Frey and slipped the puck home on the backhand. For the North Stars, it marked only the second time they have opened the scoring in a game this season.
Becker’s goal was his first of the year, and first ever in the SJHL. Fellow American, Ryan Gil made sure to retrieve the puck from the back of the net, flipping it to North Stars’ trainer, Andrew Kutnikoff for safe keeping.