The Battlefords North Stars have fallen in two straight games and are now seven points behind the Flin Flon Bombers for first place in the SJHL. (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Ryan Lambert

North Stars lose two straight

North Stars comeback bid falls short in 3-2 loss to the Melville Millionaires

Jan 31, 2026 | 12:32 AM

Despite a pair of goals late in the third period, the North Stars couldn’t complete the comeback and fell 3-2 to the Melville Millionaires for their second straight loss.  

Although the North Stars outshot the Millionaires 15-9 in the first period. Neither team was able to get on the board, and it went into the intermission at a stalemate which led the North Stars into the second with a negative mentality. 

After one: Tied 0-0 

There’s no other way to put it. The Millionaires dominated during the second period. At the 7:53 mark, Brayden Gourley scored on a tough bounce in front to make it 1-0 Millionaires. 

A few minutes later at 13:28, Maddox Shindle scored his second of the year from the point past North Stars goaltender Kaeden Serpa, who was dealing with a crowd in front of the net. 

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Serpa did a good job keeping the North Stars in this one. Although the Millionaires scored just two goals in the second period, they outshot the North Stars 21-5 in the frame. 

“I think it was just letting our emotions get the best of us. Despite having a pretty good first period, what we thought, guys felt like they weren’t generating as much offense as they thought they should, and I think that kind of got us down going into the second and really let them take control of the game at that point,” said North Stars assistant coach Owen Lamb postgame. 

After two: 2-0 Millionaires 

The Millionaires kept the momentum going early in the third period when Louis Nadeau scored a one-timer from the point on the power play to make it 3-0 at 4:22. 

When the North Stars went down by three, they started to play with a lot more urgency. Just under halfway through the third frame, the North Stars got a 5-on-3 powerplay opportunity. They took advantage when Josh Knittig scored a one-timer of his own at 9:32. Knittig’s 17th goal of the season cut the deficit to 3-1. 

The North Stars got another with less than four minutes to go at the 16:07 mark. Kaleb Dewar put in his 10th of the season on a scramble to make it a one-goal game. The goal made Dewar the eighth North Stars player to score 10 or more goals this season. 

The North Stars pressured for the rest of the game, but the Millionaires weathered the storm and held on for the 3-2 win. Melville won the season series 3-1, and the North Stars were handed their second straight loss. 

Final score: 3-2 Millionaires 

The North Stars are back at it on Saturday when they take on the Yorkton Terriers in Yorkton. The Ultra Print pregame show will start at 6:30 pm, while Napa Auto Parts North Stars hockey begins at 7:00 on CJNB/CJNS. 

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com