Holden Doell scored three goals Sunday in a hat trick performance that brought the fans to their feet in North Battleford. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Pre-season concludes

Doell hat trick leads Stars to victory in pre-season finale

Sep 11, 2022 | 11:08 PM

Holden Doell led the way with a hat trick performance Sunday, as the Battlefords North Stars ended their pre-season with a 5-3 win on home ice.

Topping the Lloydminster Bobcats for the second time in the last three nights, with the victory, the Stars end the pre-season red hot at 5-0-1.

Doell’s first of the night opened the scoring, making it 1-0 Battlefords on a shorthanded tally assisted by Jake Southgate.

After Lloyd answered with one of their own to end the first period 1-1, and the second concluded scoreless, the lid came off in the back-half of the third period with goals coming quickly at both ends.

Just under midway through the frame, Bradley Blake weaved his magic wand on an attacking rush, to set up defenceman, Nik Smolinski for the 2-1 go-ahead goal while being tripped up, to put the Battlefords ahead once again.

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Lloyd answered with a pair in response over the following seven minutes, to reverse the lead entirely and pull ahead for the first time at 3-2 Bobcats, with just over five minutes to go.

However, not to be outshone in the heroics department, the North Stars showed they too still had something up their sleeve.

First, Marshall Light cashed in for his second-straight game to knot the score with just 4:50 to go. Then Doell’s second put the team in front for good, cashing in off a nice play along the wall from Colby Bear, cycled to Southgate, to Doell in front for the goal.

Doell’s third and final tally of the night then came into the empty net, to bring on the victory music with seconds to go on the clock.

Between the pipes, North Stars goalie, Josh Kotai was strong throughout the night’s action, making 26 saves on 29 shots, while Lloyd’s Matthew Syverson stopped 37 of 41 (with the other into the empty net).

The North Stars will now get the better part of a week off to make their final roster decisions, and practice and prepare for the start of the regular season, next weekend.

The Stars will open their season Friday, Sept. 16 in Kindersley, with their home opener the following night, Saturday at the ACC.

The weekend’s games will serve as the first NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcasts of the year on 1050 CJNB. Both games will begin with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m., and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1