Strong Third Period Powers Battlefords To Victory

Kian Bell had two goals and an assist, Holden Doell had a pair of markers, while the Battlefords North Stars dominated the third period to down the Yorkton Terriers 9-3. Cade Kennedy, Dylan Ruptash and Clay Sleeva all scored for Yorkton in the loss. 

Battlefords opened the scoring in the first period. A Colby Bear seeing eye pass picked out Marshall Light for a breakaway, and the Moosomin product cashed in for his first career SJHL goal. Both teams had their chances to score in the opening period, including a 5-on-3 power-play for the North Stars, but the goalies were sharp, and it remained 1-0 after 20 minutes of play.

The North Stars stretched their lead early in the second period. Jackson Allan drove hard to the Terriers, and after several whacks at the puck, he forced it under the pads of Caleb Allen to make it 2-0. Battlefords made it 3-0 when a point shot was deflected by Bear in front of Allen and in. Terriers responded in a big way after going down by three. A turnover in the offensive zone landed on the stick of Kennedy, who wired home his second goal of the year to make it 3-1. Moments later a 2-on-1 ended with Tyson Perkins picking out Ruptash, who beat Josh Kotai for his team leading fifth goal of the season. In the blink of an eye, the game was tied at three, this time Logan Cyca found a wide open Sleeva, who went top shift for his second goal of the season. The three goals Yorkton scored were in a span of 1:49. However, the North Stars regained their lead before the end of the frame. A shot off the pads of Allen ended right on the tape of Kian Bell, who wired the puck into the empty net to make it 4-3 Battlefords after 40 minutes of play.

In the third period, the wheels came off for Yorkton. Battlefords extended their lead on a breakaway goal from Holden Doell to make it 5-3. Doell made it 6-3 after receiving a back-door feed from Jake Southgate, and firing it past Allen. Bell made it 7-3 with a deflection past Allen for his second of the game and eighth of the season. Less than 30 seconds later, Zane Florence flew down the left wing and beat Allen with a wrist shot to make it 8-3. That was the end of the night for Caleb Allen. Battlefords put a bow on the game courtesy of Steven Kesslering. The Battlefords product drove the net, and after Tommy Bouchard made the initial save, Kesslering jammed home the rebound to make it 9-3.

Both teams power-plays sputtered, going 0-for-6, including having extended 5-on-3 opportunities. Now the two combatants will face each other on Friday night at the Access Communications Centre. GX 94 will broadcast the game with the pre-game show starting at 7:20pm and play-by-play kicking off at 7:30pm.