By Nathan Kanter

North Stars dominate Ice Wolves in 6-0 thumping

Dec 10, 2017 | 2:43 AM

Friday night’s contest between the Battlefords North Stars and La Ronge Ice Wolves was a tight game, until the third period when the North Stars started a commanding comeback and took the two points with a 5-2 win.

On Saturday, things were never close, not at any point in the game.

Right from the opening goal, just 1:28 into the first, until the final tally with under a minute left in regulation, one team reigned supreme.

That team was the Battlefords North Stars, who only had 10 forwards dress for the game and yet outshot the Ice Wolves 47-13.

“We had a lot of jump for a short lineup. We moved the puck as well as we have in a long time and it was the most unselfish that we’ve played,” North Stars head coach Brandon Heck said following the win, which was the team’s third straight. “A few minute lapse early in the third period but it was a complete [effort]. It was good to see.”

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Chaseton Braid was a late scratch because of a lower-body injury and affiliated player Tanner Robin, who joined the club on Friday, was not available for Saturday’s rematch.

Despite that, all lines chipped in.

The top line, not surprisingly, had another strong game with a combined six points, while the line of Matthias Urbanski, Keith Anderson, and Brad Girard combined for seven points.

Anderson was a ‘beast’ according to Heck, and was the second star of the game with a goal and two assists (not to mention several hard hits). Meanwhile, Dakota Huebner was the first star, thanks to two goals and one assist.

“It was a good 18-man effort tonight,” Heck said. “I liked the way we managed the puck. We didn’t turn it over very much and we had great support for it. We had a real good puck possession game tonight and got to play in their end a lot because of it.”

Heck also thought the defencemen were very effective at jumping up and joining the rush on Saturday.

Cody Spagrud, plus rookies Connor Smith and Matthew Fletcher all had assists in the game.

“I thought our d-men did a real good job of joining the rush and providing an outlet valve for guys to find,” Heck said. “Fletcher and Smith were outstanding tonight with the way they moved the puck.

“They’re coming along really nicely.”

Goaltender Joel Grzybowski improved to 4-0 with the win, thanks to his 13-save shutout.

The North Stars next game is set for Tuesday evening, when they host the now first-place Nipawin Hawks. The Hawks are 21-5-2-2 this season, and just hopped Melfort for first place after beating Melville 4-2 on Saturday.

Battlefords is just one point back with a 22-5-1 record, and they have two games in hand.

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NathanKanter11