By Craig Beauchemin

North Stars win 10th straight with shutout over Kindersley

Mar 5, 2016 | 8:49 AM

The Battlefords North Stars welcomed their biggest rivals to the Civic Centre for their final home game of the regular season Friday night, and sent the crowd of nearly 1,500 home with smiles on their faces after blanking the Kindersley Klippers 3-0.

While the game didn’t matter standings wise for the North Stars, their physical play was what fans would expect from a game between the Battlefords North Stars and Kindersley Klippers.

Igor Leonenko, riding a 10 game point streak coming into Friday’s game, stretched it to 11 when he came off the bench as the extra attacker on a delayed penalty to the Klippers.

He headed straight for the net as Rory Davidson came down the right wing, and Leonenko was able to sneak behind everyone before taking the pass and beating Nathan Hargrave for his 45th goal of the year.

While the North Stars were unable to capitalize on any of their three power play opportunities in the period, they led the shot department 21-7 after the opening frame.

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Early in the second period the North Stars doubled their lead with a nearly identical play.

On a delayed penalty, Leonenko came off the bench and took a cross-ice pass from Braydon Buziak, firing home his second of the game to make it 2-0 North Stars.

The physical play ramped up in the second. Shortly after Baxter Kanter was hammered by Klipper Cole Young, Kanter returned the favour by steamrolling Young.

Frustrated by their lack of offensive production as the game went on, the Klippers constantly coughed up the puck while on the power play. The North Stars had numerous short-handed chances, but Hargrave stood tall in goal.

In the third period Leonenko capped off the scoring. After carrying the puck into the Kindersley end, he chipped it off the boards for Coby Downs. Downs quickly sent a return pass to Leonenko in the slot who rifled home the hat trick goal to make it 3-0.

Ryan Rewerts was solid in the North Stars net, finishing with 24 saves for his third shutout of the season.

The North Stars now head to Kindersley Saturday, March 5 looking to end the regular season on an 11-game winning streak. The team will then have 13 days off before they begin the playoffs, where they will either play the Klippers, Notre Dame Hounds or Yorkton Terriers depending how the survivor series plays out.

Before the game, the North Stars handed out their team awards.

Team MVP – Igor Leonenko

Rookie of the year and Most popular player – Layne Young

Most improved player – Taryn Kotchorek

Humanitarian of the year – Jake McMillen

Defenceman of the year and Most dedicated player – Kendall Fransoo

Email: cjnbsports@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @craig_beauch