Linken Fisher scored the overtime winner while Spencer Michnik stopped 41 of 44 shots in the North Stars 4-3 overtime win to advance. (Image Credit: Byron Hildebrand Photography/Facebook)

By Ryan Lambert

OVERTIME SERIES WINNER

Fisher’s overtime winner propels the North Stars into the second round with a 4-3 win

Mar 29, 2026 | 1:54 AM

The Battlefords North Stars are moving onto the second round of the SJHL playoffs after a 4-3 double overtime win against the Melfort Mustangs in game five of the first round, winning the series 4-1.

Linken Fisher was the hero in overtime as the North Stars joined the Flin Flon Bombers as the second team to advance to the second round in the SJHL playoffs. 

“Our guys played excellent all game,” said North Stars assistant coach Owen Lamb postgame. “It was back and forth. Both teams were on the ball tonight for the majority of it. It took everything we had to get it done tonight. Really proud of the group.” 

Josh Knittig got the North Stars on the board first on the penalty kill. Knittig poked the puck away from Bo Eisner at the point and went on a breakaway. Knittig fired the puck past Mustangs goaltender Madden Mulawka for the North Stars second shorthanded goal of the series to go up 1-0 at the 3:52 mark of the first period. 

The North Stars got three power play opportunities through the opening frame, but Melfort killed off all the penalties to keep it a one-goal game. 

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After one: 1-0 North Stars 

9:43 into the first period with the Mustangs on the power play, Noel Englot tried to play the puck across the crease. Gavin Granger tried to make a defensive play on the pass, but the puck deflected off his stick and in to make it 1-1. 

The North Stars answered just 35 seconds later. After three Mustangs players collided with each other outside of the defensive zone, the North Stars went on a four-on-two.  

Mulawka made a sprawling save on Finlay Klippenstein’s initial shot, but Knittig scored his second goal of the game on a rebound to put the North Stars up 2-1 at 10:18. 

Melfort tied things up on a two-on-one at 14:22. Austin Shepherd found Jack McHarg. McHarg slid into Spencer Michnik as the puck crossed the line as the Mustangs made it 2-2 at 14:22. 

After two: Tied 2-2 

At 3:14, Bo Eisner put a shot on before Shepherd picked up the rebound and slid it past Michnik to make it 3-2 for the Mustangs. 

The North Stars tied the game just over five minutes later at 8:18. Klippenstein won an offensive zone back to Campbell, and the North Stars captain scored a one-timer to knot it up at three. 

After three: Tied 3-3. 

The Mustangs had the bulk of the opportunities in the first overtime period. The North Stars took three penalties throughout the period but killed off all three. The Mustangs outshot the North Stars 12-4 in the first overtime period, but Michnik turned away all 12 of them to keep the game tied. 

After overtime 1: Tied 3-3 

Just 3:51 into the second overtime, Fisher sealed the series. During a battle along the boards in the Mustangs zone, all five Mustangs collapsed towards the puck. Knittig passed the puck from the boards to Fisher, and he fired it past the blocker of Mulawka to win it for the North Stars and send them into the second round. 

“Connor and I were jumping. The boys were jumping. Just an exciting moment and just something that you live for as a player to have those opportunities and when your team comes up on the right side of it, it’s a really good feeling,” said Lamb. 

Final score: 4-3 North Stars 

Series: North Stars win 4-1 

Michnik stopped 41 of the 44 shots that he saw in the win. 

“He was excellent back there tonight,” said Lamb. “He’s been so steady for us all year. He’s been excited, chomped at the bit to get in, and when he got his opportunity tonight, he made the most of it. He made some huge saves for us.” 

The North Stars await their second-round opponent. 

The Yorkton Terriers, who hold a 3-2 lead in their series, will play in game six against the Melville Millionaires on March 30.  

If Yorkton wins their series, the North Stars will face the Terriers in the second round. If Melville comes back and wins the series, the North Stars will take on the winner of the Weyburn Red Wings/Nipawin Hawks series, which Weyburn leads 3-2. 

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com