SCOREBOARD SATURDAY

Brandan Arnold was back in the Nipawin Hawks’ lineup this weekend for the first time since before Christmas, and Saturday night in Kindersley, his late second period goal, and 26th of the year, stood up as the winner as the Hawks held off the Klippers 3-2.

That lifts the Hawks’ regulation unbeaten streak to 25 games, and they’ve got 23 wins, an overtime loss and a shootout loss during the stretch that dates back to before Remembrance Day.

Defensemen Josh McDougall and Wayde Johannesson also netted second period markers for Nipawin (34-5-2-3), and Jake Anthony made 21/23 saves in the win.  The 18-year-old is now 18-2-1-2 (1.84 / .930%) on the season.

The Klippers (18-17-3-2) saw their 3 game winning streak end, and got goals from Curtis Peck and Blake Kleiner in the third period.  Justin Close stopped 23/26 shots.

The Hawks host Yorkton on Tuesday, and then have a big home and home against their rivals from Melfort on Friday and Saturday.  The Mustangs were the last team to beat the Hawks in regulation, 2-1, back on November 10th.

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The Mustangs were 5-2 winners in Notre Dame on Saturday night, staying within 10 points of Nipawin for the Sherwood Division lead.

Carson Albrecht paced Melfort (29-9-4-1) with two goals and an assist.  Ben Allen returned from injury to score his first as a Mustang while Justin Ball and Tyson Meyers added the others.  Hunter Arps turned away 24/26 saves.

Sam Robinson and Christopher Bernard supplied second period goals for the Hounds (24-16-1-3).

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Logan Schatz had a goal and three assists to lead the Humboldt Broncos past the visiting Flin Flon Bombers 6-4.

The four point effort lifts Schatz into a tie for 2nd in league scoring, with 64 points (17g-47a, tied with Zach Goberis, EST).

Conner Lukan and Bryce Fiske each had a goal and an assist, while Graysen Cameron, Jaxon Joseph and Kaleb Dahlgren rounded out the scoring for the Broncos (25-15-3-2).  Humboldt is doing their best to tighten their grip on a top-six spot, currently 5th, and five points up on 7th place Weyburn.

Brandson Hein scored twice for the Bombers (16-20-3-4), giving him three goals in his last two games, and he’s finding his stride after being re-assigned by Everett (WHL) after January 10th.  Chrystopher Collin (1g-1a) and Rob Johnson also scored and Nate Hooper chipped in three assists.  Flin Flon played three close games and picked up three of a possible six points (1-1-0-1) on their Melville-Yorkton-Humboldt trip.

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The Battlefords North Stars wrapped up a busy week that saw them place four games in five nights, with an 8-1 win over La Ronge at a neutral site game in Spiritwood.

Cole Johnson scored four times, giving him seven goals in his last three games, and 10 in eight games since joining the Stars at the deadline.

Layne Young, Matthias Urbanski, Blake Fennig and Brad Girard (1g-3a) also scored for the North Stars (32-8-2-0).

Connor Smith had the lone goal for the Ice Wolves (8-33-0-2).