Tuesday evening was an interesting one for hockey fans. The Battlefords North Stars rallied for a storybook seventh game overtime win to come back from the brink of elimination in the SJHL playoffs.
Roger Tagoona's overtime goal, in what was essentially the team's 11th hour, has catapulted the team into the Bauer Conference finals.
While the players and coaches can take full credit for the team's return from the edge of oblivion, head coach and general manager Kevin Hasselberg wasted no time in acknowledging the role North Stars fans have played in the three consecutive wins by the club.
A hundred boisterous fans made the trek to Nipawin Sunday, to cheer the North Stars on after their comeback win Friday night. They are being given an assist in the team's 4-3 win in the Hawks' Cage.
The 2,500 fans who howled on the edges of their seats waiting for the outcome of overtime at the Civic Centre Tuesday were hailed by their team after the winning goal was scored.
But let's not forget superstition. CJNB play-by-play announcer Mike Feeney pulled News-Optimist/Regional Optimist sports reporter Trent Cey off the bench to do colour commentary for game five. Feeney's usual sidekick, Matt Ryan, was unable to find someone to fill in for him in his other role of pushing the buttons back at radio station central.
Feeney then convinced Cey to tag along to the Nipawin game. When it came time for Tuesday night's game seven do-or-die effort, Cey was again given the nod to sit shotgun on the radio crew. When you're on a roll don't mess with the formula.
Feeney's formula also dictates Cey wear the same green shirt he wore for game five to all subsequent games. Fortunately he is allowed to wash it in between.
It's possible you might be hearing more of Cey in future broadcasts.
Go Stars, Go!
