The Stars gave their fans a game to remember Tuesday night at the ACC, with a thrilling 5-4 shootout victory over Estevan. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Morale boosting win

Southgate, veterans lead way as Stars top Bruins for first win of new year

Jan 5, 2022 | 1:15 AM

The Battlefords North Stars kicked off 2022 with a bang Tuesday night, defeating the Estevan Bruins 5-4 in the shootout in their first game of the new year.

Jake Southgate led the way for the Stars, scoring two goals, three points and a shootout marker, while veterans Dylan Esau and Ryland McNinch also cashed in for the team, Keiton Klein added the shootout winner to his three-assist night, and goalies Michael Harroch and Lowen Kenyon combined for 43 saves in the win.

Estevan’s Brandon Ambrozik scored a goal and three points in the loss, while Senger Prescot, Dayton Deics, and Caelan Fitzpatrick also added a goal each and goalie, Boston Bilous stopped 33 of 37 shots on the night.

Southgate’s first of the night opened the scoring just 4:30 into the opening period on the Stars’ first power play of the night. Snapping home a quick shot from the bottom of the left circle, the goal served as his 15^th of the season, putting him in sole possession of the team lead.

Ambrozik’s sixth of the year tied the game for Estevan 10 minutes later on a quick snap shot far-side – off the post and-in – making it a 1-1 game heading into the first intermission.

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In the second, Senger made it 2-1 Estevan, giving the Bruins their first lead of the night on his third of the season, serving as the visitors’ second straight goal from their fourth line.

However, the celebration was short-lived.

Southgate’s second of the evening came in highlight-reel fashion, slicing in on-goal with two defenders on him, only to shovel the puck home from the seat of his pants while falling to make it 2-2.

Dayton Deics made it 3-2 Bruins on a power play goal of their own, before Caelen Fitzpatrick extended the lead to 4-2 just eight minutes later, to end the second period with the Bruins ahead by a pair.

In addition to the setback on the scoreboard, the Stars were also dealt a blow as in the netmouth scramble ahead of Fitzpatrick’s goal, a body in front of the crease fell directly on goaltender, Michael Harroch who was then forced to leave the game due to injury.

Lowen Kenyon came on in place with just 2:30 to go in the second period, stopping all 17 shots he faced through the third period and overtime.

Esau’s ninth of the year came on a breakaway midway through the third, pulling the Stars back to within a single goal at 4-3; and setting up the tying marker in the final two minutes of regulation.

Following a timeout call with just under two to play in the third, Esau again engineered the play on the tying goal. Winning the faceoff back for a quick passing play and shot from Tynan Ewart from the blue line, while the initial shot was blocked in front, the puck was put home off the carom by captain, Ryland McNinch.

Serving as McNinch’s 12^th goal of the campaign and third point of the night, the goal made it 4-4 with just 1:33 to go, sending the game to sudden-death OT.

In five minutes of three-on-three overtime, neither team was able to score, as the goaltenders stole the show. Kenyon stopped Bruins’ leading scorer Mark Rumsay on back-to-back chances in tight, while Estevan’s Boston Bilous made one of his finest stops with his glove-hand to rob Steven Kesslering.

With nothing solved, the game would be decided in a shootout.

Southgate scored to open the penalty-shot relay, on a quick wrister through the legs of Bilous; answered by an Eric Pearce deke through the wickets of Kenyon at the other end as well.

Keiton Klein kept the scoring trend going, notching the ultimate winner on a backhand move in tight, that twisted the Estevan goaltender into the net along with the puck, to put the Stars ahead for good. Kenyon’s final stop on Ambrozik sealed the deal on a comeback to remember for the team.

Following the game, Stars’ assistant coach, Garry Childerhose said Harroch will be further evaluated in the coming days to determine the severity of his injury, and potential timetable he will be sidelined.

With the win, the Stars improve to 20-9-5 on the season, and with 45 points, keep pace with fourth-place Flin Flon. The Bombers, who were also in action, defeated Nipawin to give them 45 points as well, though they do hold a single game in-hand on the Stars.

The North Stars will return to action Friday, when the team welcome the Melville Millionaires to town. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show beginning at 7 p.m., and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

4:29 BAT Jake Southgate (15) ASST: Keiton Klein (10), Ryland McNinch (14) (PP)

14:23 EST Brandon Ambrozik (6) ASST: Zach Burfoot (7)

Second period:

3:11 EST Prescot Senger (3) ASST: Zach Burfoot (8), Brandon Ambrozik (10)

4:50 BAT Jake Southgate (16) ASST: Ryland McNinch (15), Keiton Klein (11)

9:40 EST Dayton Deics (6) ASST: Brandon Ambrozik (11), Nolan Jones (10) (PP)

17:30 EST Caelan Fitzpatrick (19) ASST: Kade Runke (13), Mikol Sartor (26)

Third period:

9:05 BAT Dylan Esau (9) ASST: Jake Southgate (18), Sam Witt (12)

18:27 BAT Ryland McNinch ASST: Tynan Ewart (18), Keiton Klein (12)

Overtime:

None

Shootout:

BAT Jake Southgate – Goal

EST Eric Pearce – Goal

BAT Keiton Klein – Goal (SO winner)

EST Mikol Sartor – No goal

BAT Dace Prymak – No goal

EST Brandon Ambrozik – No goal

5-4 North Stars, the Final

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1