It has been an incredible start to the year for the two teams who sit at the top of the Global Ag Risk Solutions Division and the entire SJHL. Tuesday night the Battlefords North Stars joined the Humboldt Broncos at 8-0-0-0 on the season with a 6-3 win on the road in La Ronge. The balanced attack of the Stars saw them net a pair of goals in each period and five different goal scorers which was highlighted by Steven Kesslering who had a pair. Reigning Sasktel Goalie of the week Josh Kotai was solid in between the pipers for the Stars in the win as he stopped 37 of 40 shots. The Stars will now head back home for a pair of games this weekend against the Weyburn Red Wings. For the Ice Wolves, the club has now dropped four straight (all to Humboldt and Battleford) and will look end their four game homestand on a high when they host Melfort on Friday.
Elsewhere, the Melville Millionaires got back in the win column at home as they knocked off the Melfort Mustangs 2-1 in overtime. Nathan Fox netted the overtime winner 1:59 into the extra frame which also marked his first goal of the season. Noah Wills added to his hot start to the year as he scored Melville’s lone goal in regulation and Kelton Pyne was steady in net for the home side stopping 26 of 27. Dawson Leroux had the lone goal for Melfort in the loss.
Finally, in Wilcox, the Estevan Bruins earned their 3rd straight win as they got by the Notre Dame Hounds 3-2 in a shootout. After Estevan took a 2-1 lead into the 3rd, the Hounds would tie the game late thanks to Will Dawson’s 7th of the season to send the game into overtime. After the five minutes of extra time solved nothing, the two clubs would head to their first shootout of the season. It would take 10 shooters until someone found the back of the net, and it was Logan Ziegler of the Bruins. Kade Runke had a pair of goals for Estevan in the win and for the 3rd straight game Cam Hrdlicka was outstanding, making 43 saves.
Action resumes on Wednesday with just one game on the schedule as the Notre Dame Hounds will look to bounce back as they host the Nipawin Hawks. Puck drop is at 8:00pm.
