The Battlefords North Stars allowed five unanswered goals in a 7-2 loss at home against the Yorkton Terriers.
“Not our best, obviously. Looking at the score, I think honestly, we deserved that tonight. I thought not enough guys pulling the rope, a lot of individual errors and at times left Kettles out to dry. Just a lack of effort tonight,” said North Stars assistant coach Owen Lamb after the game.
Aiden Vallance opened the scoring for the Terriers just 1:29 into the game, taking a pass in front from Peter Godley and burying it to put Yorkton up 1-0 early.
Ryan Lambert’s point of view
At the 6:51 mark, Tyson Medernach found Brett Buckley on a two-on-one, and Buckley scored his third goal of the season to double the Terriers’ lead.
Ryan Lambert’s point of view
The North Stars got one back before the end of the frame. After failing to score on the power play, Battlefords kept the pressure on. Eventually, Finlay Klippenstein found Grady Hodgins in the slot, and Hodgins scored on Callum Creig’s blocker side.
Hodgins’ third goal of the season cut the Terriers lead to 2-1 at the 13:49 mark of the opening frame.
Ryan Lambert’s point of view
After one: 2-1 Terriers, shots 14-8 Terriers
In his return to the lineup, Easton Woytiuk tied the game for the North Stars. After Cole Hines broke into the zone, he found Woytiuk alone who scored to make it 2-2.
Ryan Lambert’s point of view
After tying it, a pair of costly turnovers took the North Stars out of the game.
Dylan Brass stripped Owen Nelson of the puck and brought it back on a breakaway. He made a move before scoring forehand on Kettles to give the Terriers a 3-2 lead at 11:16.
Ryan Lambert’s point of view
At 16:35 of the second period, Austin Horbachewsky intercepted an outlet pass by Millar Kramer and scored his fifth goal of the season to make it 4-2.
Ryan Lambert’s point of view
“We did a good job tying things up. Then second period, we give up two breakaways. One of them is even a 2-on-0,” Lamb said.
“You’re kind of dictating the play in the second, but you just give up grade A chances, and they end up in the back of our net. It’s frustrating for sure.”
After two: 4-2 Terriers, shots 15-6 North Stars, 23-20 North Stars total
The Terriers took over in the third period.
First, former Battlefords AAA Star Kaden Sperle scored his first goal in the SJHL.
After winning a puck battle, he sent a shot from the left side that trickled through to put the Terriers up 5-2 at 3:37.
Ryan Lambert’s point of view
At the 7:23 mark, Alex Morrison passed the puck to a streaking Jake Briltz, who made it 6-2 with his seventh goal of the season.
Ryan Lambert’s point of view
Morrison sealed the win with a power play marker at the 18:44 mark to give the Terriers their second 7-2 victory over the North Stars of the season.
Ryan Lambert’s point of view
Final score: 7-2 Terriers, shots 11-4 Terriers, 31-27 Terriers total
As the North Stars look ahead to the rematch, Lamb is hoping to see more out of his guys on Saturday.
“The effort is the biggest thing. We need guys bought in, excited to go. These guys have taken two 7-2 wins off us and we got to be frustrated. So, we got to use that as motivation and really come out just buy in and come ready to work.”
The Ultra Print pregame show is at 7 p.m., with puck drop for Napa Auto Parts North Stars Hockey at 7:30 p.m. on CJNB/CJNS.
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