The top two teams in the SJHL standings hooked up for the first of back to back games in Battlefords as the first place Stars welcomed the second place Flin Flon Bombers on Friday night. The North Stars ended a four game stretch without a win (0-2-2) with a 3-2 home ice win.
Jaxon Steele scored twice for the North Stars (27-5-2-0), his first two SJHL goals, including the winner with 6:27 left in regulation. Dylan McCabe opened the scoring for the Stars and Austin Schwab made 35/37 saves.
Tristan Lemyre scored twice for the Bombers (22-7-4-0), coming off a four point night in Humboldt on Thursday. Jacob Delorme stopped 31/34 shots in the loss. The two teams are set for a Saturday night rematch.
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In his first SJHL start, Xavier Cannon stopped all 32 shots he faced for the shutout, as the La Ronge Ice Wolves blanked the visiting Nipawin Hawks 2-0.
Dalton Dosch nearly went save for save with Cannon at the other end, making 36 saves on 37 shots in goal for the Hawks (17-13-2-0).
Kyle Ford had a goal and an assist for the Ice Wolves (18-14-2-2), and Aaron Greyeyes added a late empty-netter.
The Ice Wolves and Hawks are third and fourth place in the Sherwood Division respectively, but that’s good for fifth and sixth overall in the league.
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The Weyburn Red Wings sit tied for the last spot in the standings, but they’ve won three straight after a 3-2 win over Melfort on Friday.
Noah Decottignies made 26/28 saves to pick up the win, while Quinton Hill (1g-1a) scored the winner on a penalty shot with just 1:43 left in the game. Braden Birnie and Jaxon Tait also scored for the Wings (13-19-0-1).
Kenzie Arnold and Christian Albertson scored for the Mustangs (20-10-2-1), while Shawn Parkinson made 24/27 saves.
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Keenan Rancier stopped 33 of the 34 shots he faced, backstopping the Estevan Bruins to a 3-1 win over the Kindersley Klippers.
Griffin Asham-Moroz had a goal and an assist, while Kersey Reich and Brady Nicholas also scored for the Bruins (12-15-2-1).
Jacob Schnapp replied for the Klippers (13-16-5-1) and Steven Bacovsky made 29/32 stops. The Klippers look to salvage their three game trip Saturday in Weyburn.
