North Stars forward Colby Bear tangles on the draw with Humboldt's Xavier Roy. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Hockey Day Showdown

Stars fall to Broncos despite late push in Martensville

Jan 21, 2023 | 11:54 PM

For the first time this season, the Battlefords North Stars were handed their second straight defeat, as the team fell 4-2 to the Humboldt Broncos Saturday night in Martensville.

Josh Kotai stopped 46 of 50 shots against to keep the Stars in the contest to the final horn, while Riley Girod and Jackson Allan scored for the team in the loss.

Humboldt’s Cage Newans opened the scoring with just 42 seconds to go in the first period, on a snapshot from the left circle to make it 1-0 Broncos.

In the second, the visitors added to their lead with back-to-back Humboldt power play goals on a double-minor 4-minute power play.

First, Alec Saretzky’s 20^th made it 2-0 Broncos on a quick release in front, followed by Tim Kim’s eighth of the season on a high-slot wrister with traffic in front to make it 3-0.

Freedom and Flexibility

How App-Based Work Creates Economic Opportunity

Dec 12, 2025

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Seniors Scene

Christmas is Coming

Dec 09, 2025

Chase Lacombe’s second of the year made it 4-0 Broncos, though the Battlefords would answer back with a pair of tallies late, to make it a game to the finish.

Girod’s eighth got the Stars on the board on a quick snapshot in tight, followed by Jackson Allan’s seventh – and second in his last two nights – to make it a 4-2 game.

Despite a continued push late with the goalie pulled, that is as close as the Stars would come, as Broncos’ goalie Benjamin Motew held the fort for the win in a 24-save effort.

Despite the loss, the North Stars remain atop the SJHL standings, with a 34-3-2-1 record through 40 games this year. The Stars will return to play Tuesday night against La Ronge for their first game on home ice in North Battleford since Jan. 8, following seven straight on the road.

Tuesday night’s game will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m., and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

19:08 HUM Cage Newans (14) ASST: Xavier Roy 1-0 HUM

Second period:

10:10 HUM Alec Saretzky (20) ASST: Cage Newans, Ethan Zielke 2-0 HUM

10:46 HUM Timothy Kim (8) ASST: Noah Barlage (PP) 3-0 HUM

Third period:

0:23 HUM Chase Lacombe (2) ASST: Jordan Gibbs, Colby Bear 4-0 HUM

10:09 BAT Riley Girod (8) ASST: Jordan Gibbs, Colby Bear 4-1 HUM

14:31 BAT Jackson Allan (7) ASST: Keiton Klein (PP) 4-2 HUM

4-2 Humboldt, the final

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1