Kian Bell (#27) and his North Stars teammates gather around goaltender Logan Cunningham to celebrate following Saturday's win. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

5-2 over Kindersley

Bell nets hat trick in five-point night, in North Stars’ year-end win

Dec 17, 2023 | 1:48 AM

Kian Bell brought the teddy bears out of the stands in the first period and the hats raining down in the second, netting his second hat trick in a season-high five-point performance Saturday, to lead the Battlefords North Stars past Kindersley, 5-2.

With the win, the Battlefords sweep their weekend home-and-home with the Klippers, extending the Stars’ winning streak to three straight, heading into their three-week break for the holidays.

Carson Olsen also scored for the North Stars in the first period, and Rylan Williams capped the victory with the empty-netter in the third, while goaltender Logan Cunningham stopped 25/27 shots to backstop the team on the night.

Bell’s first of the game, and 21st of the season, came midway through the opening period to bring the stuffed animals out of the stands for teddy bear toss night. Coming off a backdoor feed from Rylan Williams, the 1-0 tally brought the fans out of their seats and got the building rocking early.

North Stars’ forwards Josh Medernach and Evan Waldie, pictured here with one of the teddies that was thrown on the ice, Saturday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

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Olsen’s second of the weekend and ninth of the season, then made it 2-0 on a power play marker just a fraction of a second ahead of the end of the period. Converting a pass from Bell on a one-timer in front, the goal added an insurance marker at the first intermission.

After Bell’s second of the night from Brad Blake and Ben Portner came on a bunt-play in front to bat the puck in, Kindersley did answer with a pair of power play goals of their own from Logan Linklater and Brock Evans. Though trailing 3-2 is as close as the visitors would get in their comeback bid.

Bell’s hat trick goal re-established the North Stars’ insurance marker at 4-2 in the final five minutes of the second period, to bring the hats raining down and set his team up for the third.

Late in the final period, William’s 13^th of the year came off a feed from Bell and Jackson Allan to cap the scoring on the night, making it 5-2 on the 18-year-old’s third goal in his last three games.

With the victory, the North Stars are now 22-7-2-1 on the season through 32 games, and enter the Christmas holidays first in the Nutrien Division and second overall in the SJHL standings. The North Stars will now have three weeks off, before returning to play Jan. 6 in Estevan for their first game of the new year, against the Estevan Bruins.

The Stars’ return to play in the new year will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast.

Scoring summary

First period:

9:37 BAT Kian Bell (21) ASST: Rylan Williams, Jackson Allan 1-0 BAT

19:59 BAT Carson Olsen (9) ASST: Kian Bell (PP) 2-0 BAT

Second period:

2:04 BAT Kian Bell (22) ASST: Brad Blake, Ben Portner 3-0 BAT

4:45 KIN Logan Linklater (12) ASST: John Vanden Elzen, Austin Osiowy (PP) 3-1 BAT

8:02 KIN Brock Evans (5) ASST: Keenan Ingram, Logan Linklater (PP) 3-2 KIN

15:18 BAT Kian Bell (23) ASST: Alex Izyk, Brayden Sinclair (PP) 4-2 BAT

Third period:

19:42 BAT Rylan Williams (13) ASST: Kian Bell, Jackson Allan (EN) 5-2 BAT

5-2 BAT, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1