Going into Estevan, the Battlefords North Stars had not been on a losing streak all season.
That streak got tossed out as the North Stars ended up on the short end of a 3-2 decision on the road against the Estevan Bruins on Wednesday night. It was the final game in a five-game road swing for the North Stars who wound it up with a record of two wins, two regulation defeats and one overtime defeat.
The game was played on “Teddy Bear Toss” night in Estevan, and it did not take long for the stuffed bears to get tossed onto the Affinity Place ice as Tanner Manz scored just 11 seconds into the game.
Elijah Loon-Stewardson tied it up with newly-acquired Jaxon Steele and Quintin Loon-Stewardson assisting at 7:12. But Estevan took the lead with goals from Jayden Davis and Griffin Asham-Moroz to make it 3-1.
In the second period, a scrap with Tylor Ludwar resulted in Quintin Loon-Stewardson getting a 10-minute misconduct. Losing that offensive firepower for such an extended stretch of time dealt a serious blow to the North Stars comeback hopes in the game.
In the third period the North Stars finally showed some life as Matthias Urbanski scored with 1:40 to go on the clock, from Ben Hiltz and Dylan McCabe. Despite a last rush at the net in the final seconds, the Bruins held off the North Stars to preserve a 3-2 win.
Shots favoured the Bruins 32-29. It was a rare sub-par performance for goaltender Austin Schwab, who let in three goals in the first 11:53 of the game before being pulled in favor of Adam Dmyterko. Dmyterko kept the Bruins off the board the rest of the way. Keenan Rancier got the win for the Bruins.
The North Stars return home Friday night as they host the Kindersley Klippers.
