Rylan Williams, pictured here with the puck from his game-winner and series-clincher Wednesday night in Game 4. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Game 4 heroics

Williams scores OT winner to send North Stars to SJHL semis

Mar 28, 2024 | 1:42 AM

Rylan Williams cashed in for his first career playoff goal just over five minutes into overtime Wednesday, to deliver the Battlefords North Stars a 3-2 win in Game 4 in Melville, and punch their ticket to the SJHL semi-finals.

Putting home the finishing touch on a rush chance generated over the length of the ice, Williams’ winner came off a cross-crease pass from Elijah Anderson, to bring the North Stars’ bench spilling over the boards to swarm the first-year standout in jubilant celebration.

“It was just a whole bunch of guys coming at me with their hands in the air, so it was a pretty cool experience,” Williams recalled of the winning celebration with a laugh. “Right off the draw I was digging at [the puck] and it kind of bounced out into a 3-on-2, so I just turned the boots on and went to the net as hard as I could.. It popped right out to me, so it worked out pretty well.”

After Joel Mabin opened the scoring with his first of the playoffs to make it 1-0 Melville early, Brad Blake’s second of the postseason knotted the score just two minutes later, on a quick shot from distance to make it 1-1.

Following a scoreless second, Hunter Burgeson’s first of the playoffs then made it 2-1, converting on a cross-seem pass from Evan Waldie, to give the North Stars their first lead of the night. Though this time, it was Melville answering back in a hurry.

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Euan Morrison’s first of the playoffs tied the score 2-2 just 1:20 later, to send the game to overtime, setting the stage for Williams’ heroics.

Josh Medernach of the North Stars and Joel Mabin of the Millionaires, pictured here in the post-series handshake line. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

North Stars’ goaltender, Logan Cunningham made 25 saves to backstop the team to victory, while Melville’s William Dyke stopped 38-of-40 to keep his team in it right to the end of the night.

The North Stars will now await the outcomes of the other three series to determine their second-round opponent. Game 1 of their semi-finals series will begin Thursday, Apr. 4, regardless of the opponent.

In other Game 4 action around the SJHL Wednesday, the #1 Flin Flon Bombers beat the #8 Kindersley Klippers 2-1 to sweep their first-round series and advance to the semis as well; the #2 Melfort Mustangs beat the #7 Estevan Bruins 5-2 to take a 3-1 series lead; and the #6 Weyburn Red Wings topped the #3 Humboldt Broncos 4-3 in OT to knot their series, 2-2.

Scoring summary

First period:

7:21 MLV Joel Mabin (1) ASST: Kole Keen 1-0 MLV

9:29 BAT Brad Blake (2) ASST: none 1-1 Tie

Second period:

No scoring

Third period:

6:10 BAT Hunter Burgeson (1) ASST: Evan Waldie, Tanner Gold 2-1 BAT

7:38 MLV Euan Morrison (1) ASST: Colby Ball, Noah Belles-Isles 2-2 Tie

First overtime:

5:06 BAT Rylan Williams (1) ASST: Elijah Anderson 3-2 BAT

3-2 BAT, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1