Playing their third game in a 48-hour span, the Battlefords North Stars came up flat in a 4-0 loss to the Warman Wolverines.
Wolverines’ goaltender Luke Brunen stopped all 41 shots he faced to earn Warman its first shutout win in franchise history.
Owen Parks opened the scoring early for the Wolverines when he took a pass from Sawyer Scheidt in front of the net and scored through the five-hole to give Warman a 1-0 lead just 50 seconds into the game.
The North Stars nearly fell behind by two just past the halfway point of the first period when a Linden Hoskins dump-in bounced off a stanchion and toward the net while North Stars goaltender Nathan Claydon was skating behind the net to play the puck.
However, Claydon recovered and reached back to make a desperation stick save, keeping it a one-goal game.
After one: 1-0 Wolverines
Warman took a two-goal lead when a point shot was blocked and Riley Rich-Holden collected the puck in the slot before scoring amid a scramble in front. The goal was Rich-Holden’s first of the season.
It looked like the North Stars’ two-goal deficit would carry into the third period, but Trey Markus scored over Claydon’s shoulder from below the circle to send the Wolverines into the intermission with a 3-0 lead.
After two: 3-0 Wolverines
Rich-Holden struck again just 3:05 into the final frame, picking up a rebound and scoring before Claydon could slide over to put the Wolverines up 4-0.
The North Stars had a power-play opportunity just before the midway point of the period but failed to capitalize. They went 0-for-4 with the man advantage in the game and fell to 2-for-21 on the season.
Final score: 4-0 Wolverines
The victory was the Wolverines’ fourth straight and gave them a three-point lead in the division.
Another Nutrien Division clash awaits the North Stars on Oct. 2, when they head to Kindersley to face the Klippers.
The Ultra Print pregame show begins at 7 p.m. Friday, followed by puck drop for NAPA Auto Parts North Stars hockey at 7:30 p.m. on 93.3 Beach Radio.
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