A strong start and a spirited charge in the final minutes weren’t enough for the Battlefords North Stars Sunday afternoon at the Western Canada Cup.
Despite taking a 1-0 lead in the first period and clawing their way back with a pair of goals in the final frame, the North Stars were unable to overcome a dominant stretch of play by the Portage Terriers in the middle portion of the game as the Manitoba Junior Hockey League champions earned a 5-3 win at the South Okanagan Event Centre in Penticton, B.C.
“We’re getting away from our identity,” North Stars head coach and general manager Nate Bedford said. “We’re doing things here at the end of April that we haven’t done all year.
“We’re not making the simple plays that we’re used to making. We’re not doing the things that made us successful all year. I don’t understand why we’re changing things up from what we’ve done this season. Instead of being physical and making smart plays, we’re just doing whatever we feel like out there.”
It was the second straight loss for the North Stars, who fell 2-1 to the tournament host and British Columbia Hockey League champion Penticton Vees in overtime Saturday night.
In addition to once again letting their opponent take control of the game after a good start, the North Stars also had trouble on the power play for the second straight game.
They failed to find the back of the net on three opportunities against the Terriers, which came off of the heels of an 0-for-6 showing against Vees with the man advantage.
“Where we are successful with that power play is when we let all five guys touch the puck,” Bedford said. “At the moment, we’re making things really hard on ourselves to try and make plays.
“If we keep things simple and get shots on net, we can force the other team into making some tough decisions out there to try and slow us down. At the moment, we certainly aren’t doing that as it has been pretty easy to stop us.”
One of the biggest positives for the North Stars in their first two games has been the play of goaltender Joel Grzybowski, who has taken over starting duties for Taryn Kotchorek as the veteran netminder is sidelined with a hand injury.
After a 36-save performance against the Vees Saturday, the Hafford native made 28 stops Sunday and was able to work his way through a couple of strange bounces that resulted in Terriers goals.
“He’s a kid that always battles hard,” Bedford said. “He’s not scared of the big moment and I wish that more guys were like him.
“He’s been fighting through some challenges but we’re certainly happy with how he’s been playing. Even though he’s a young kid, he’s become one of the leaders for us.”
After falling behind 4-1 to the Terriers midway through the third period, with three of those goals coming on the power play, the North Stars got within a marker as Connor Logan and Keaton Holinaty both found the back of the net during a 73-second span.
Despite a couple of great chances in the final seconds, the North Stars were unable to find the equalizer as Ty Enns scored an empty-net goal with nine seconds to go.
Holinaty paced the North Stars on offence with a goal and an assist, while Ben Allen opened up the scoring on a wrist shot in the first period.
The Terriers, who played their first game at the WCC Sunday, had three-point outings from a pair of players.
Blueliner Mackenzie Dwyer had a pair of goals on the man advantage to go along with an assist, while Enns had two helpers in addition to his empty-net goal.
Chase Brakel scored twice and Kurtis Chapman made 28 saves in the victory.
The North Stars, who sit in fourth place in the WCC standings with a single point, will have a day off before returning to action Tuesday at 3 p.m. Saskatchewan time against face the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits.
The Bandits lead the field with a 2-0 record following a wild 4-3 shootout win over the Vees Sunday night.
Dennis Cesana made a nifty move in the fourth round to beat goaltender Mathew Robson, as the Bandits roared back in the final minutes to erase a two-goal deficit.
Ty Mappin led the way with a goal and an assist, while Parker Foo and Josh McKechney also scored in regulation.
Grant Cruikshank had two assists for the Vees, who have a 1-0-1 record and are tied for second place in the standings with the Terriers on three points.
Nicholas Jones, Chris Klack and Owen Sillinger all found the back of the net in the loss.
Both goaltenders were sensational as Mitchel Benson made 31 saves for the Bandits and Robson turned aside 33 shots.
The Chilliwack Chiefs, who were the runner-up to the Vees in the BCHL final, had a bye Sunday after losing to the Bandits Saturday afternoon.
They will take on the Terriers in the lone game of the tournament Monday at 8 p.m. Saskatchewan time.
