Stars' forwards Owen Underhill and Bailey Shortall pictured here in action against Melville, Saturday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Heading Back Home

North Stars fall 3-1 in Melville to close out three-game trip

Sep 30, 2023 | 11:46 PM

The Battlefords North Stars fell 3-1 to the Melville Millionaires Saturday, to close out their three-games in three-nights road swing at 1-2 on the trip.

Melville opened the scoring just passed the midway mark of the first, when Cale Nachai tallied his first of two on the night. Coming at the 12:48 mark of the period, the goal gave the Mills a 1-0 lead they would take to the first intermission, along with a 10-5 shot advantage.

Flynn Maxcy then made it 2-0 Millionaires less than five minutes into the second, with his first of the campaign on the power play, on a quick-release shot from the right circle to give his team an insurance marker.

Brad Blake answered back for the Stars midway through the second, scoring off the rush on a curl-and-drag release for his second in as many nights to get the Stars on the board, trailing just 2-1.

However, that is as close as the team would come, as Nachai’s second of the game made it 3-1 Melville just a minute into the third, to solidify the victory for his team.

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Between the pipes, Will Dyke stopped 34/35 Stars’ shots for the win, while Joey Hawco stopped 35/38 in the Battlefords’ crease to keep his team in it throughout.

With the loss, the Stars are now 2-3-0 to start the season, while the Millionaires improve to 2-1-0.

The North Stars will now get the better part of a week off to rest and regroup, ahead of their return to play next weekend for a home-and-home against Nipawin, Friday and Saturday night.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available Friday on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 6:30 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

12:48 MLV Cale Nachai (1) ASST: Euan Morrison, Payton Kostyshyn 1-0 MLV

Second period:

4:11 MLV Flynn Maxcy (1) ASST: Cohen Swan, Liam Cox-Smith (PP) 2-0 MLV

12:20 BAT Bradley Blake (2) ASST: Rylan Williams, Xavier Lacoste 2-1 MLV

Third period:

0:56 MLV Cale Nachai (2) ASST: None 3-1 MLV

3-1 MLV, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1