The North Stars lost 5-3 to the Humboldt Broncos last night at the Access Communications Centre. (Byron Hildebrand/Facebook)

By Austin Mattes

Third Period Struggles

North Stars run out of gas as Broncos complete comeback

Jan 18, 2025 | 10:03 AM

The Battlefords North Stars were back at the Access Communications Centre on Friday, taking on former head coach Brayden Klimosko and the Humboldt Broncos.

After the Stars went up 3-1 entering the third, the Broncos managed to rally and score four times in the final twenty to take game one of the home-and-home, 5-3.

It was a fairly even contest in the first with both teams getting lots of chances to score while playing solid in their own zone. The North Stars had two powerplay opportunities throughout the period, but even then still couldn’t find the back of the net and the period was scoreless through the opening frame.

In the second, neither team could seem to get things going as both sides were playing good defensively but eventually, the Broncos were able to open up the scoring during a four-on-four to take the lead midway through the period. Shortly after, the Norths Stars finally found some momentum and scored two goals within 10 seconds of each other, coming from Bryce Boughen and Anthony Campbell making it 2-1.

Nearing the end of the period, the North Stars kept the momentum going by grabbing another goal from Kobe Sawyer, his first in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), to go up by two entering the third.

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There though, things took an unexpected turn for the North Stars as Humboldt found the back of the net in the first minute of the frame to close the gap and make it a one-goal game. As the period went on, the Broncos started to take control of the game and eventually struck twine again not once, but twice within a minute of each other to take a 4-3 lead with just over 10 minutes to play.

The North Stars dug deep and even had six minutes on the powerplay throughout the third but still couldn’t get one more to tie the game up. Humboldt was then able to score an empty net goal in the final minute to take the win 5-3 over the North Stars.

Battlefords got outshot 41-35, went 0/6 on the powerplay and stopped Humboldt both times on the penalty kill. Their record now stands at 19-13-3-2 (W-L-OTL-SOL) on the season, giving them 43 points and keeping them at fifth overall in the standings.

The North Stars will have a chance to get the Bronco’s back

as they head to the Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt to take them on again with puck drop at 7:00 p.m. Listen to the game with the Napa Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast on CJNB/CJNS. Ultra Print pregame show starts at 6:30 p.m.

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austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes