The Battlefords North Stars have now won nine of their last 10 games. (Byron Hildebrand Photography/Facebook)

By Ryan Lambert

North Stars beat ice wolves

North Stars survive third period surge, take down La Ronge Ice Wolves 7-6

Jan 24, 2026 | 1:21 AM

After taking a four-goal lead into the third period, the Battlefords North Stars allowed a comeback attempt from the La Ronge Ice Wolves but held on for the 7-6 win. With the Flin Flon Bombers win over the Estevan Bruins, the North Stars (24-8-3-2, 1st in Nutrien Division) remain two points behind Flin Flon for the top spot in the SJHL.

Kobe Sawyer got the North Stars on the board first at the 3:37 mark of the opening frame. He went to the zone on the right side before puttin the puck off the post and in to make it 1-0 North Stars.

Later at 10:39 of the first, Dayton Tailfeathers scored on a one-timer in tight on the powerplay to tie the game at one for the Ice Wolves (7-25-3-1, 4th in UPL Division). It looked like the game was going to be tied until 42 seconds left in the frame when Sawyer finished off a passing play from Sam Kirwan and Adam Konowalchuk to put the North Stars up 2-1 to close out the opening frame.

After one: 2-1 North Stars

The second period was all North Stars.

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Just 48 seconds in, Josh Knittig put a puck on net which was stopped by Riley Zezel. With a couple of players swatting at the puck, it was Cole Hines who put it into the net. Hines’ fifth goal of the season gave the North Stars a 3-1 lead.

After the North Stars killed off an Owen Nelson penalty, Nelson got back onto the ice and took a pass from Konowalchuk before putting it on net. The initial shot was saved but Alessio Nardelli grabbed the rebound and scored in his second straight game. His seventh of the year put the North Stars up 4-1.

They went up by four with a lucky bounce when Kaleb Dewar dumped the puck in around the boards. When Zezel went to play the puck behind the net, it hit a stanchion and popped in front. Raiden Zacharias was in front and took advantage to make it 5-1, the lead the North Stars took into the third period.

After two: 5-1 North Stars

The third period was when the Ice Wolves really turned it on and nearly came back to tie it.

Two minutes into the frame, Brock Inglis netted a goal in his third straight game to make it 5-2 and get some life into the game for the Ice Wolves.

A few minutes later at 5:20, Cole Hines scored top shelf from near the slot for his second goal of the game to restore that four-goal lead for the North Stars at 6-2.

Within the next 34 seconds, the Ice Wolves got a pair of goals from William Knox and Jacob Morrison, making it 6-4 to keep the Ice Wolves in the game heading down the stretch.

They got a powerplay opportunity with a chance to bring it to a one-goal game when Konowalchuk took an interference menalty. However, the North Stars continued to prove that they have maybe the most dangerous penalty kill in the SJHL. Knittig found Campbell in the offensive zone and Campbell fired the puck past Zezel for the North Stars 12th shorthanded goal of the season, which is five more than any other team to make it 7-4.

The Ice Wolves stayed in it. Jacob Morrison got his second of the game to make it 7-5 at the 11:40 mark. At the Waylon Gardipy picked off a clearing attempt by North Stars goaltender Spencer Michnik while he was below the goal line and scored to cut the lead to 7-6.

The North Stars shut down the Ice Wolves for the rest of the game for the victory, keeping their second-place spot in the SJHL.

Final score: 7-6 North Stars

With the first-place Bombers, second-place North Stars, third-place Red Wings, fourth-place Hawks and fifth-place Terriers all winning, nobody gained or lost ground in the race for the top spot in the SJHL.

The North Stars will have a chance to continue to try and climb when they have the rematch with the Ice Wolves on Jan. 24. The Ultra Print pregame show starts at 7:00, the puck drops for Napa Auto Parts North Stars hockey on CJNB/CJNS.

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com