Justen Maric was lights out Friday night in Nipawin, stopping all 36 shots he faced and providing a calming presence throughout, to earn the shutout in his first game with the Stars this season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

36-save performance

Maric shutout leads way as Stars blank Hawks in Nipawin

Oct 6, 2023 | 11:54 PM

Goaltender Justen Maric stopped all 36 shots he faced in his North Stars’ season debut Friday, to lead the Battlefords to a 3-0 victory to open the weekend in Nipawin.

“It was really awesome, I was really excited for tonight obviously, and I couldn’t ask for a better outcome,” Maric said with a smile postgame, following the night’s contest.

“I thought the boys played really well and kept a lot to the outside, which is what you like as a goalie. Obviously, the season’s still young but there were some big steps taken today.”

Hunter Burgeson opened the scoring, in his Stars’ debut, with just under five minutes to go in the first, cashing in for a power play marker set-up by Jackson Allan to make it 1-0 Battlefords.

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Less than three minutes later, Owen Underhill added an insurance marker to make it 2-0 during four-on-four play, off a set-up from Marshall Light behind the net to one-time the puck home in front.

Following a scoreless second period, despite 34 minutes in penalties and a number of power plays at either end, the third period saw Rylan Williams add his second of the season off a feed from Riley Girod to seal the victory for his team at 3-0.

Nipawin pushed late with their goalie pulled the last three minutes of the third, looking to snap the shutout bid, but Maric and his teammates stood strong to lock the game down and secure the blank-slate victory.

North Stars teammates celebrate with Justen Maric following Friday’s shutout win. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The North Stars and Hawks will now get the rest of the night to rest up and regroup, before returning to action Saturday for night two of their home-and-home this weekend, as the scene shifts to North Battleford.

Due to the Riders’ game on 1050 CJNB, the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast will be available Saturday on 93.3 Beach Radio. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

15:16 BAT Hunter Burgeson (1) ASST: Jackson Allan, Carson Olsen (PP) 1-0 BAT

18:11 BAT Owen Underhill (2) ASST: Marshall Light, Jordan Grill 2-0 BAT

Second period:

No scoring

Third period:

13:20 BAT Rylan Williams (2) ASST: Riley Girod 3-0 BAT

3-0 BAT, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1