Thursday’s game was much closer than the score would indicate, as the Stars and Ice Wolves entered the third period tied, before La Ronge pulled away. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Tough Third Period

North Stars fall 8-3 to Ice Wolves in La Ronge

Oct 1, 2021 | 12:17 AM

The Battlefords North Stars fell 8-3 Thursday, to the La Ronge Ice Wolves at the Mel Hegland Uniplex in La Ronge.

KT Walters, Ryland McNinch and Steven Kesslering scored for the team in the loss, while Cameron Beson stopped 40 of 47 shots against, before being replaced by Ulrik Roussel, who closed out the contest stopping 9-of-10.

Nolan Doell (1G, 3A) and Gavin Mattey (2G, 2A) led the way for the Ice Wolves, scoring four points apiece, while Holden Knights (1G, 2A) added three points of his own.

Andrew Blocker, Bryan Gilman, Ryley Morgan, and Brandon Della Paolera also chipped in with a goal each for La Ronge, while goalie, Dawson Smith stopped 33 of 36 North Stars’ shots in the win.

Despite the end result, the game remained a close contest for the first two-thirds of the night.

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After La Ronge sprung out to an early 2-0 lead on goals from Nolan Doell and Knights, Walters answered for the Battlefords, notching his second of the season off a one-timer set up cross-seem from Dace Prymak, to cut the deficit to 2-1 heading into the first intermission.

Then following Morgan’s first, which made it 3-1 La Ronge, McNinch’s first of the campaign came on the power play, again getting the team back to within a single at 3-2.

Steven Kesslering’s third of the season – and team-leading seventh point was the Stars’ final goal of the evening, knotting the game 3-3, heading into the second intermission.

While the game looked destined to remain close throughout, La Ronge scored four goals within the first five minutes of the third, adding another for good measure late, to run the score to 8-3 Ice Wolves, the final.

The North Stars will now get a chance to bounce back quickly, as the team returns to action Friday night at home versus Humboldt.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast Friday will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring Summary

First period:

3:57 LAR Nolan Doell (3) ASST: Holden Knights (1)

8:23 LAR Holden Knights (1) ASST: Nolan Doell (2)

9:58 BAT KT Walters (2) ASST: Dace Prymak (2), Tanner Gold (1)

Second period:

5:14 LAR Ryley Morgan (1) ASST: Holden Knights (2), Nolan Doell (3) (PP)

12:03 BAT Ryland McNinch (1) ASST: Jake Soutgate (1), Holden Doell (3) (PP)

15:42 BAT Steven Kesslering (3) ASST: KT Walters (2)

Third period:

2:27 LAR Andrew Blocker (1) ASST: Tristan Lambert (1), Nate Looft (2)

2:47 LAR Bryan Gilman (1) ASST: Nolan Doell (4), Gavin Mattey (1)

3:12 LAR Gavin Mattey (1) ASST: Connor Abric (1)

4:56 LAR Gavin Mattey (2) ASST: None

16:21 LAR Brandon Della Paolera (1) ASST: Gavin Mattey (2), Walker Jerome (1)

8-3 La Ronge, the final.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1