Stars cap weekend with strong showing in La Ronge, move to 7-0 to start season

Elijah Loon-Stewardson opened the scoring on the evening for the Stars.

Cracking the scoreless goose egg with a power play tally, Loon-Stewardson’s goal also served as the forward’s first of the new season.

The Stars took their 1-0 lead to the first intermission.

It didn’t take long for the Battlefords to strike again for an insurance marker in the second.

Quintin Loon-Steewardson made it 2-0 just 1:14 into the middle frame. The goal was assisted by Matthew Fletcher and Walter Somers.

Quintin Loon-Stewardson’s goal served as the forward’s team leading eighth of the season, and fifth in his last three games. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Despite falling behind by a couple, La Ronge fought back as the second period continued.

Daylon Mannon, who entered the evening as the Ice Wolves’ leader in both goals (4) and points (11), was the catalyst of the home team’s response.

Scoring back-to-back goals just three minutes apart, Mannon’s first came just after a North Stars’ power play, with the second coming while shorthanded.

The goals were the La Ronge forward’s fifth and sixth of the season, taking the game from a 2-0 North Stars lead to a 2-2 tie hockey game.

Dylan Esau reestablished the Stars’ lead at 3-2 on the power play at the 14:04 mark of the third.

Coming off a rocket of a shot, Esau’s goal came courtesy of an electric release via one-timer, and was the forward’s fourth of the season in just seven games.

Adding to the lead further, Rylan Nivon notched his second of the year in what would prove to be the game winner.

Nivon’s goal came after a crafty play by his linemate, Kaden Boser on the faceoff.

Taking the draw deep in La Ronge ice to the right of the Ice Wolves’ net, Boser chipped the puck through the legs of his opposition centerman before then threading a pass out front to Nivon to deposit to make it 4-2 Stars.

While Ice Wolves’ forward Zach Bannister would notch a goal early in the third to bring his team back to within one, that is as close as the home team would get on the evening.

Ice Wolves goaltender Steven Bacovsky stopped 49 of the Stars’ 53 shots on the night in the loss.

Following the win, the North Stars will now get the remainder of the weekend and Monday off, before returning to action Tuesday in Yorkton.

Tuesday will be the Stars’ first matchup of the season against the Yorkton Terriers. The game will be broadcast on 1050 CJNB with the Ultra-Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary at a glance

First period:

14:55 BAT Elijah Loon-Stewardson (1) ASST: Quintin Loon-Stewardson (4), Matthew Fletcher (6)

Second period

1:14 BAT Quintin Loon-Stewardson (8) ASST: Matthew Fletcher (7), Walter Somers (1)

8:20 LAR Daylon Mannon (5) ASST: Kalem Hanlon (1)

11:07 Daylon Mannon (6) ASST: None (SH)

14:04 Dylan Esau (4) ASST: Austin Becker (3) (PP)

16:47 BAT Rylan Nivon (2) ASST: Kaden Boser (3)

Third period:

2:38 LAR Zach Bannister (2) ASST: Jordan Mish (3)

4-3 North Stars, the final.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Stars cap weekend with strong showing in La Ronge, move to 7-0 to start season

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