By Nathan Kanter

North Stars’ forecheck key in 6-1 win over Melville

Jan 28, 2017 | 9:57 PM

The North Stars had little trouble defeating the Melville Millionaires on Saturday night, coming away with a 6-1 win at the Civic Centre.

Battlefords’ unrelenting forecheck was the biggest factor in the lopsided score, as Melville found themselves turning the puck over again and again, all night long.

“In between the bluelines we were flying,” North Stars head coach Nate Bedford said following the team’s 10th win in their last 11 games. “Our first guy made sure that we cut the ice in half and really made it hard for them to make plays cross-ice. We were physical along the boards and willing to take hits and make hits. I just thought that our forecheck was real good.

“When we’re like that, it’s a lot of fun to be around. I’ve got to give credit to our first forward in on every shift.”

The North Stars out shot the Millionaires by a whopping 50-22, but dominating in the shots is nothing new. They also pounded pucks at the net with authority — 60 to be exact — in Tuesday’s 5-2 win over La Ronge, a win that didn’t come nearly as easily.

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Bedford said the biggest difference was moving their feet.

“We weren’t trying to do too much east-west,” Bedford said. “We were trying to get north as quickly as possible and our ‘D’ were moving the puck and our forwards were getting open.

“We were supporting the puck. I think if I was to say anything, that would be the best thing. Supporting the puck means willing to take hits and our guys were willing to do that.”

Two early goals paved the way for the easy win, first a Reed Delainey goal just over a minute in and then a Jared Blaquiere goal just 23 seconds later.

“It’s always good when we get a quick start,” Bedford said. “We’re notorious slow starters and it’s nice when these guys get a couple quickly. We’re a tough team to come back against, in my opinion. When you get up 2-0 at home, it’s a good thing.”

Delainey’s goal was made possible because of a Ben Allen forecheck at the end of his shift, which caused a turnover before Allen centred for Delainey. Blaquiere’s goal came on a deflection, much like his first goal as a North Star on Tuesday. Both point shots he has tipped in this season came from Cody Spagrud.

From there, the North Stars cruised into the first intermission up 3-0, after Keaton Holinaty’s 16th goal of the season.

Other goal scorers on the night were Layne Young, netting his team-leading 23rd of the year, Connor Manegre, who had a nice individual effort to notch his second goal, and Ben Allen, who had a wide open net to shoot at in the third and made no mistake.

Allen quietly has a point-per-game this season, with 17 goals and 17 assists in 34 games.

“He’s so crafty with the puck,” Bedford said. “He can fish with pucks. He can pass pucks through four sticks. He can do little things that other guys can’t do. He’s got an exceptional skillset and he comes about it quietly.”

Delainey’s two-point night also stood out, as coming into the night he only had six points in his previous 16 games played.

“I think he was probably our best player, in my opinion,” Bedford said of Delainey. “He was really demanding th puck and when he had it, he was making sure that that puck made it to the net. I was really happy with his effort.”

Kotchorek, who started in two straight games for just the second time this season because Joel Gryzbowski was called up to backup for the Saskatoon Blades, made 21 saves on 22 shots for his 21st win of the season. His .925 save percentage is now third in the league, while his 1.84 goals-against-average is second only to Gryzbowski’s mark of 1.76.

The North Stars have a big game on Sunday evening, going up against the Nipawin Hawks on the road, who have won seven straight games. They are also 14-2 in their last 16 games.

Battlefords and Nipawin have faced off just once this season, with the North Stars winning 4-2 at home on Nov. 15.

Puck drop for Sunday’s game is set for 6 p.m., with the Ultra Print pre-game show on CJNB/CJNS set for 5:45 p.m.

Nathan Kanter is battlefordsNOW’s sports reporter and voice of the Battlefords North Stars. He can be reached at Nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca or tweet him @NathanKanter11