North Stars teammates celebrate together following Friday night’s 3-1 win over Kindersley; a victory that moved the team into third overall in the league standings. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Home Ice, Good Times

Stars top Klippers for second straight, in final home game before Christmas

Dec 18, 2021 | 12:05 AM

The Access Communications Centre was filled with smiling faces leaving the rink Friday night, as the Battlefords North Stars topped their rivals from Kindersley, 3-1 in their final home game prior to the holidays.

Holden Doell, Steven Kesslering and Ryland McNinch scored for the Stars in what may have been the team’s best game for a full 60-minutes this season, complemented by a 29-save performance from Michael Harroch between the pipes for the win.

Prior to puck drop Friday, the North Stars also held a special pregame ceremony honouring the 2019-20 team, with alumni in attendance. That year the Stars won 45 games en route to a first-place finish, before the playoffs were cancelled due to the pandemic. (Submitted photo/Jennifer Whyte)

The Stars wasted no time getting on the board early, as Doell’s sixth of the year came off a slick feed from Jake Southgate, blazing down the left-wing side.

Receiving the dish in the high slot drifting in, Doell then sniped a shot with laser-like precision to make it 1-0 Battlefords just 2:52 into the contest.

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While Doell’s marker proved to be the lone goal of the period, the Stars dominated the time of possession, with extended shifts spent buzzing around the offensive zone throughout.

In the second, the team continued their press, ultimately capitalizing on the power play, as Jordan Grill made a pass from the right point to the corner, where Dylan Esau then popped a dish into the left circle, for a quick snap shot release by Steven Kesslering.

Kesslering’s 14^th tied him for the team lead in goals, while also serving as the eventual game winner on the night.

Klippers’ forward, Aiden Bangs cut his team’s deficit in half to 2-1 Stars on his sixth of the year, though ultimately that is as close as Kindersley would come.

McNinch iced the victory for the home side, as the Stars’ captain deposited his 11^th of the season into the empty net with just under two minutes to go, to make it 3-1 North Stars the final.

With the victory the North Stars have now won two straight, and leapfrog Flin Flon into third overall with 43 points this year, thanks to a 19-8-5 record.

The Stars will return to play tomorrow (Sat) in Humboldt for their final game prior to the Christmas holidays, as they take on the division rival Broncos.

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

Scoring summary

First period:

2:52 BAT Holden Doell (6) ASST: Jake Southgate (17)

Second period:

11:21 BAT Steven Kesslering (14) ASST: Dylan Esau (21), Jordan Grill (9) (PP)

18:23 KIN Aiden Bangs (6) ASST: Andrew Blocker (3), Matthew Mazzocchi (9)

Third period:

18:09 BAT Ryland McNinch (11) ASST: None (EN)

3-1 North Stars, the final.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1