Although the Battlefords North Stars only had one game last week, the team had people talking.
Playing in his 150th Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League contest, 20-year-old forward Steven Kesslering scored four goals Friday night. The offensive outburst from the Viceroy product helped the Battlefords to a 7-2 victory over the Notre Dame Hounds.
It was the North Stars’ sixth straight win. The team is 7-3-0-0 in its last 10 contests. Battlefords has already clinched a playoff berth. The North Stars lead the SJHL with a 40-3-2-1 record.
On Friday in Wilcox, Notre Dame scored in the first period. The Hounds increased their lead to 2-0 early in the second. The North Stars then reeled off seven unanswered goals. Two came on the powerplay.
Justen Maric made 38 saves for Battlefords. Notre Dame netminder Johann Tremblay-Kau had 35 saves.
Humboldt Broncos (30-12-1-0)
The Humboldt Broncos and the Flin Flon Bombers (29-12-2-1) enter this week tied for second place in the SJHL standings
The Broncos went 2-0 last week. The squad has won three straight and is 8-2-0-0 in its last 10.
On Friday in Kindersley, Jared Picklyk made 31 saves the Broncos beat the Klippers, 3-1. Jace Benvie, Spencer Bell and Alec Saretzky scored for Humboldt.
Timothy Kim lit the lamp twice as the Broncos beat the Klippers 7-2 on Saturday night in Humboldt. The Broncos led only 2-1 after one period but extended its lead to 5-2 after two. Also scoring for Humboldt were Jacob Boucher, Matthew Van Blaricom, Saretzky, Cage Newans, and Benvie. For the Broncos, Benjamin Motew had 24 saves.
Melfort Mustangs (25-14-5-2)
The Mustangs won both of its contest last week. The team is on a two-game win streak and is 6-3-0-1 in its last 10.
The Mustangs beat the Yorkon Terriers, 4-2, on the road Friday. The squads were knotted at 1-1 after the first period. The Mustangs scored two in the second and added one in the third. Scoring for Melfort were Wyatt Cook, Ryan Duguay, Cameron Emigh, and Leith Olafson. James Venne had 24 saves.
On Saturday, second period goals by Wyatt Cook and Aidyn Hutchinson powered the ‘Stangs 2-1. Venne made 22 saves. Yorkton led 1-0 after the first period.
Nipawin Hawks (22-20-3-1)
The Hawks lost 2-1 in overtime on Friday to Estevan. Both teams got their first goal of the night in the second period. Zander Stewart did the honours for Nipawin. In overtime, Estevan’s Owen Miley was able to find the back of the net.
The Nipawin team rebounded to shutout Weyburn 2-0 on the road on Saturday. Hawks goalie Jackson Fellner stopped all 34 shots he faced. Braxton Buckberger and Carson Dobson scored for Nipawin.
La Ronge Ice Wolves (28-16-3-2)
The Ice Wolves fell 2-1 in Notre Dame on Feb. 6. Lleyton Shearon had their lone goal. Dawson Smith recorded 27 saves on 29 shots.
The La Ronge team rebounded for a 6-1 victory in Melville on Feb. 7. The Ice Wolves led 2-1 and 3-1 at the intermissions before scoring three in the third. Mason Bueckert led the way for La Ronge with two goals. Also scoring for the Ice Wolves were Shearon, Dylan Handel, Liam McInnis, and Thomas Wright.
Kindersley Klippers (9-26-2-5)
The Klippers lost 3-1 on Friday at home to Humboldt. Logan Linklater had Kindersley’s goal. Klippers goalie Cody Jaman made 45 saves.
On Saturday, they fell 7-2 in Humboldt. Kindersley trailed 2-1 and 5-2 at the intermissions. Jaman had 18 saves on 23 shots. Logan Falk came on in relief and made 12 saves on 14 shots. Cash Arntsen and Liam Bell each scored for Kindersley.
Melville Millionaires (11-27-5-1)
The Millionaires fell 6-1 to the visiting La Ronge Ice Wolves on Feb. 7. The Ice Wolves trailed 2-1 and 3-1 at the intermissions. Felix Beauchemin had Melville’s goal. Clement Labillois made 24 saves for Melville.
Notre Dame Hounds (16-22-3-2)
On Feb. 6, the Hounds were able to hold off the La Ronge Ice Wolves for a 2-1 victory in Wilcox. Neither team scored until the third period. Within the first minute of the session, Samuel Borschowa scored his second of the season. Captain Jaryd Sych lit the lamp to put the Hounds up 2-0. La Ronge got one back but were unable to tie. Tucker Inabinet made 26 saves on 29 shots.
Kyle Kalamaras’ second goal of the season came in the final three minutes of a Feb. 9 contest and lifted Notre Dame to a 2-1 victory over the visiting Nipawin Hawks. Inabinet stopped 38 of the 39 shots that came his way to help the Hounds win. After a scoreless first period, Nipawin scored first, on a power play, in the second but Dane Probe was able to tie things up for Notre Dame.
The Hounds fell 7-2 to the visiting North Stars on Friday. Notre Dame led 1-0 after the first period and 2-0 early in the second.
On Sunday, the Hounds lost 3-1 to the Flin Flon Bombers in Wilcox. Marko Djordjevic scored Notre Dame’s goal. Inabinet made 33 saves.
