North Stars teammates gather around goaltender Logan Cunningham and forward Brayden Sinclair (#16) following Friday night's win over Kindersley. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

5-3, the final

Sinclair nets pair in return to lineup, leads North Stars past Klippers

Mar 16, 2024 | 1:21 AM

Brayden Sinclair made his much-anticipated return to the lineup Friday night, scoring a pair of goals in a three-point performance (two goals, one assist) to lead the Battlefords North Stars to a 5-3 victory over Kindersley, in their final home game of the regular season.

Hitting the ground running in his first game-action since Feb 15 (due to an upper-body injury), the rookie standout’s first of the night came just 7:15 into the contest, to open the scoring on a beautiful cross-crease pass from Elijah Anderson on a 2-on-1 rush for his 15th of the year.

Fellow first-year, Colton Getzlaff added his second of the year just minutes into the second period, to make it 2-0 Battlefords, converting on a wrister from the high-slot to give the homeside an insurance marker.

However, back-to-back goals from Kindersley’s Kale Taylor (on the power play) and John Vanden Elzen (his first in the SJHL), just three minutes apart quickly got the Klippers back even at 2-2, with just five minutes to go in the middle frame.

Just prior to the second intermission, Sinclair’s second of the night – and 16^th of the year – reestablished the North Stars’ lead at 3-2, followed by Easton Rask’s second in as many games and Kian Bell’s team-leading 37th (from Sinclair) to put the game out of reach at 5-2 midway through the third.

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Klippers’ captain, Logan Linklater did add his 17^th on a late power play strike to get his team back to within a pair in the final minute, though that is as close as the score would get in a 5-3 North Stars’ final.

In goal, Logan Cunningham was tremendous throughout the night, stopping 38-of-41 to backstop the North Stars to victory. Kindersley’s Cody Jaman also made some big saves, despite allowing five goals on 25 shots.

With the win, the North Stars are now 35-15-5 through 55 games, though still remain a single point back of third-place Humboldt – who also won Friday, beating Flin Flon 6-2.

The North Stars will return to action Saturday night to wrap their regular season schedule on night two of their weekend home-and-home with the Klippers, as the scene shifts to Kindersley. Saturday’s game will be available on 1050 CJNB with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

First period:

7:15 BAT Brayden Sinclair (15) ASST: Elijah Anderson 1-0 BAT

Second period:

3:21 BAT Colton Getzlaff (2) ASST: Kobie Anderson 2-0 BAT

12:26 KIN Kale Taylor (7) ASST: Zakery Anderson, Brock Mueller (PP) 2-1 BAT

15:19 KIN John Vanden Elzen (1) ASST: Logan Linklater, Cam Perlinger 2-2 Tie

17:51 BAT Brayden Sinclair (16) ASST: Elijah Anderson, Jordan Grill 3-2 BAT

Third period:

6:58 BAT Easton Rask (2) ASST: Kobie Anderson 4-2 BAT

8:24 BAT Kian Bell (37) ASST: Brayden Sinclair, Tanner Gold (PP) 5-2 BAT

19:12 KIN Logan Linklater (17) Simon Diaz, Tylin Hilbig (PP) 5-3 BAT

5-3 BAT, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1