By Martin Martinson

North Stars use pack approach to freeze Ice Wolves

Oct 20, 2018 | 1:30 AM

The Battlefords North Stars issued a cold reception to the La Ronge Ice Wolves, beating the visitors 9-6 Friday night.

Having entered action on the evening coming off a big 4-0 win over La Ronge in their previous game, the Stars completed the home stand showdown with the frozen canines, by ushering in another big-time win, and providing ample opportunity for fans in attendance at the NB Civic Centre to get up and cheer.

Despite a dominant start by the Stars, the team would be forced to overcome some adversity dealt their way early as it was the Ice Wolves drawing first blood, thanks to the team’s leading scorer, and big body power forward, Mitch Zambon.

With the North Stars on their second power play opportunity of the night, Zambon would pick up the puck just outside his defensive end and rush it down ice. Pulling up at the top of the left-side circle, the 6-foot-3, 175 pound Zambon, roasted a shot top corner, far-side, beating the North Stars’ goalie on a perfect shot. Macrae Setoguchi and Antonio Di Paolo picked up the short-handed helpers; 1-0 Ice Wolves.

The lead however, would not last long. In fact, not even a full half-minute later, with the Stars still on the same power play, it was who else but Owen Lamb, the guy who all but literally drives the bus for the North Stars, once again prescribing just what the team needed, scoring his sixth goal of the season to knot the score, 1-1.

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With the goal, Lamb has now already surpassed his goal mark from last season (five), in 45 fewer games.

Elijah Loon-Stewardson would also make his way onto the board only about 1:20 later, just passed the half-way-point of the first period. With time winding down on another Stars man-advantage, Loon-Stewardson, who had rung iron with a shot off the post earlier in the period, would launch a backhander on net from the mid-slot, this time caroming fortuitously off the bar and into the net. The goal was Loon-Stewardson’s first on the night, and fifth of the season.

After Jake Gudjonson answered back with a breakaway tally, converting on what was for all intents and purposes a 2-on-0, the North Stars refused to be outdone.

Determined to get the last word in, and close out the period on a high, the Stars continued to press, hemming the hopeless Ice Wolves deep in their own den for an extended period of time, eventually resulting in Regan Doig’s second goal of the season, giving the rough and tumble winger nine points over his last nine games.

The opening period would finally come to an end, giving the two teams a chance to rest and giving the score-keeper a chance to restock his pen with ink, 3-2 Stars.

The second period was more of the same when it came to the scoring parade. Brett Gammer kicked off the second frame of action, providing his team with an insurance marker, making it 4-2, on the strength of his third goal of the season. Gammer received a pass from Austin Becker deep in the attacking zone, before winding his way out-front into the middle of the slot to fire home the lethal wrister. In addition to Becker collecting the primary assist after setting up his linemate in front, Seth Summers, would pick up the secondary helper, his first of three assists on the night.

Ryan Gil, eager to get in on the action, would score twice in the second period, to build his goal total to four on the year. The goals also give the California kid, Gil, 10 points over his last nine games played.

The hoarse fans, excited by the scoring serge, but also having to pop a lozenge to ease their sore throat from all the cheering, would gleefully respond once again to their team’s offensive display just 36 seconds after Gil’s first tally, as leading goal scorer, Matthias Urbanski became the first Stars’ player this season to hit double-digits in goals, lighting up his tenth of the season to go along with three assists on the evening, a performance no-doubt deserving of first star honours.

Elijah Loon-Stewardson’s second appearance on the score card in a goal-scoring capacity would come with just about six minutes remaining in the second, and about five minutes before Gil’s second of the night, referred to previously. All things considered, it was the Stars carrying an 8-4 lead into the third period.

For an encore in the third, the Stars would kick in a short-handed tally of their own, whether just for good measure, or as retribution for Zambon’s strike in the first period. Former Saskatoon Blazer, Kaden Boser was the man to do it, laying claim to his first-ever SJHL goal. Tanner Robin picked up the lone assist on the play after delivering the puck plum on the tape for a net-driving Boser, only a single game after Robin himself scored his first career junior league goal.

Despite a couple of late goals by La Ronge, the outcome of the game was never really in doubt. For goaltender Jake Davidson, he now improves to 2-0 on the season, making some key saves throughout the contest to seal his team’s 9-6 win.    

The North Stars will now get some time off to rest and regroup before heading back into action Wed, Oct. 24 against the division-rival Kindersley Klippers. Pregame on Wednesday will be at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.                                                                                                                 

Scoring summary

First period:

9:08 LAR Mitch Zambon (7) ASST: Antonio Di Paolo (4), Macrae Setoguchi (1) (SH)

9:24 BAT Owen Lamb (6) ASST: MacGregor Sinclair (12), Matthias Urbanski (7) (PP)

10:42 BAT Elijah Loon-Stewardson (5) ASST: Matthias Urbanski (8), MacGregor Sinclair (13) (PP)

13:16 LAR Jake Gudjonson (4) ASST: Kolby Johnson (7), Dalton Dosko (2)

14:02 BAT Regan Doig (2) ASST: Ryan Granville (1), Elijah Loon-Stewardson (4)

Second period:

2:46 BAT Brett Gammer (3) ASST: Austin Becker (2), Seth Summers (3)

6:00 BAT Ryan Gil (3) ASST: Regan Doig (7), Seth Summers (4) (PP)

6:36 BAT Matthias Urbanski (10) ASST: Cody Spagrud (9), Braydon Buziak (5)

13:41 LAR Antonio Di Paolo (3) ASST: Zach Bannister (7), Mitch Zambon (9)

14:04 BAT Elijah Loon-Stewardson (6) ASST: Seth Summers (5), Braydon Buziak (6)

16:48 LAR Zach Bannister (5) ASST: Mitch Zambon (10), Jordan Mish (7)

19:29 BAT Ryan Gil (4) ASST: Matthias Urbanski (9)

Third period:

3:05 BAT Kaden Boser (1) ASST: Tanner Robin (3) (SH)

3:45 LAR Kolby Johnson (6) ASST: Jordan Mish (8), Zach Bannister (8) (PP)

11:45 LAR Max Kleiner (2) ASST: Joshua Poon (3), Macrae Setoguchi (2)

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1