Both the Battlefords North Stars and Humboldt Broncos scored nine goals and earned three points in their home-and-home series.
After blowing a two-goal lead in the third period and falling 5-4 in overtime, the North Stars gave the Broncos a taste of their own medicine. Battlefords erased a two-goal deficit in the third period before winning 5-4 in overtime at home.
Sixteen-year-old rookie goaltender Chase Kettles earned his first SJHL win in his league debut.
The Broncos opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game when Cody Farrell brought the puck toward the net from the left side and slid it past Kettles. Farrell’s third goal of the weekend gave Humboldt a 1-0 lead at the 1:48 mark.
“Obviously, Connor Logan and I were pretty frustrated at the start of that game. I thought our guys came out a little flat, but as the game went on, we found our legs,” North Stars assistant coach Owen Lamb said after the game.
Finlay Klippenstein tied the game for the North Stars at the 6:06 mark. Klippenstein’s initial shot from the right faceoff dot was blocked, but he gathered the puck and buried the rebound for his second goal of the year.
With just over three minutes left in the frame, Jack Sears snapped the Broncos’ power-play drought with a one-timer from the top of the circle, putting Humboldt ahead 2-1 at 16:50.
After one: 2-1 Broncos
Near the halfway point of the second period, the Broncos had a five-on-three power play after Easton Woytiuk and Carter Geysen were sent to the penalty box.
The Broncos’ second power-play goal was nearly identical to their first, as Sears scored on a one-timer from the same spot at the opposite end of the ice. The goal gave Humboldt a 3-1 lead at 10:17.
After two: 3-1 Broncos
The North Stars pulled within one early in the third period. A quick passing play left Raiden Zacharias with the puck beside the net. He moved to his backhand and slid it past Broncos goaltender Matthew Bradley at 4:17, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff
Twenty-eight seconds later, Kaleb Dewar entered the zone on a two-on-one with Linken Fisher. Dewar elected to shoot and went top left at 4:45 to tie the game 3-3.
credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff
In the final minutes, Nathan Da Silva scored from the point at 15:06 to put Humboldt ahead 4-3.
However, Michiel Leenders tied the game at 16:28. Kayson Christian got a stick on Leenders’ windup, but Leenders still got the shot away. The change of speed appeared to fool Bradley.
Leenders sent the game to overtime for a second straight night with his second goal in as many games.
“He’s able to make plays under pressure. It was a little bit of a funky goal there. I’m not sure how that ended up in the back of the net, but good on him. When you shoot pucks, good things can happen,” Lamb said.
credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff
After three: Tied 4-4
After the Broncos controlled the puck for most of overtime, the North Stars capitalized on one of their first opportunities.
On a two-on-one, Fisher found Owen Nelson with a saucer pass. Nelson one-timed the puck off the post and into the net to flip the script on the Broncos and give the North Stars the win.
credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff
Final score: North Stars win 5-4 in OT
Raiden Zacharias was named the game’s first star after recording a goal and three assists. Dewar and Leenders each added a goal and an assist on Zacharias’ line.
Kettles stopped 23 of 27 shots to earn the win in his SJHL debut.
“I thought he did a good job tonight,” said Lamb.
“It’s not easy going to overtime in your first game, but I thought he did well. He’s a big goalie. He did excellent, I thought. Really creating good angles.”
The North Stars will cap off their three-game weekend Sunday when they host the Warman Wolverines, who bring a three-game winning streak to the Battlefords.
“They’ve got a lot of talent over there. They’re playing some really good hockey,” Lamb said.
“We’ve got to be prepared for a really tough hockey game. It’s going to be a lot of fun and hopefully our boys can play with a little bit better start tomorrow.”
The Ultra Print pregame show begins at 4 p.m., followed by puck drop for NAPA Auto Parts North Stars hockey at 4:30 p.m. on CJNB and CJNS.
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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com
On Instagram: @ryanlambertmedia
