ESTEVAN - Kian Bell scored four times in just his second SJHL game of the season during the Battlefords North Stars' 5-2 victory over the Estevan Bruins on Friday night.
Bell rejoined the North Stars on Tuesday after trying to play major junior hockey in his 20-year-old season. He was the MVP, top scorer and player of the year in the SJHL last season with 54 goals and 102 points in 51 games, and helped the North Stars win the 2023 SJHL title and reach the national title game.
He had three assists in his return to the Stars' lineup Thursday in Weyburn.
Battlefords led 2-1 after the first period, with all three goals coming in a 2:25-span midway through the frame. Alex Izyk opened the scoring 10:14 into the opening frame for the Stars. Turner McMillen tied the game for the Bruins 46 seconds later. Bell notched his first of the game 1:39 after McMillen's goal.
Estevan tied the game with 2:04 to play in the middle frame on a goal by Ilya Chmelevski.
Bell put the Stars ahead on a point shot early in the third. The Bruins thought they had tied the game on a power-play late in the frame, but it was waved off because the officials ruled the puck had been redirected by a high stick.
Bell added two empty-net goals in the final 90 seconds of play.
Jackson Miller, making his fourth straight start, made 21 saves on the 24 shots he faced for the Bruins. Joey Hawco had 25 saves for the Stars.
The Stars will visit the Weyburn Red Wings on Saturday night. The Bruins' next game will be Nov. 1 in Melfort against the Mustangs.
