By Roger White

North Stars lose opener of southern road trip

Nov 16, 2017 | 7:02 AM

For the first time in 13 months the Battlefords North Stars have lost back-to-back regular season games.

After dropping a close 1-0 decision Saturday night to the Weyburn Red Wings at the Civic Centre, the Stars opened their four games in a five-night southern road trip with a 5-1 loss to division rivals the Notre Dame Hounds at the Duncan McNeil Arena on Wednesday night.

The last time the Stars dropped back to back games was Oct.13 and Oct. 14 of 2016 in Notre Dame and Weyburn. After that the Stars went on a 20-gme winning streak on their way to recording an amazing 48-8-2 record last season.

After a tentative start to Wednesday’s game, Chance Longjohn opened the scoring at 5:57 of the first period when he fired a loose puck past Battleford goaltender Taryn Kotchorek for his 11th goal of the season to give the Hounds the early lead.

Just over two minutes later, Notre Dame struck again as Jared Hamm drilled a wrist shot stick-side on Kotchorek at 8:14 of the opening frame to give the Hounds a 2-0 lead; a lead they would never relinquish.

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Matthias Urbanski gave the North Stars a small beacon of hope when he pounced on a rebound and beat Jacob Standen with his fifth goal of the season at 10:01 to make it 2-1. Chaseton Braid and Connor Smith chipped in with assists on Urbanski’s goal which cut the lead in half heading into the second period with the Hounds up by just one goal.

The second period was completely dominated by the Hounds as Marshall Milton (4:05), Max Salpeter (7:21) and Chaz Smedsrud (12:00 pp) tallied to give Notre Dame an insurmountable 5-1 lead.

“We just didn’t have our legs tonight,” Stars forward Braydon Nelson said during the second period intermission. “It is certainly no excuse, but you can tell the long bus ride did affect us as we always seemed a step or two behind.”

Jacob Standen made 30 saves while picking up his eighth win of the season for the Hounds while Taryn Kotchorek allowed five goals on 31 shots for the Stars who drop to 12-3-1 this season while the Hounds gain two points on division leading Humboldt. The Broncos (14-6-1-1) lost 4-2 to the La Ronge Ice Wolves and sit at 30 points in the Olympic Buildings Division while Notre Dame (12-6-0-3) have 27 points. The Stars are now third in the division and have 25 points, however they have seven games in hand on Humboldt and five games in hand over the Hounds.

The North Stars will have Thursday off before resuming their southern SJHL road trip.

On Friday night, the Stars renew acquaintances with the Estevan Bruins at Affinity Place Arena. The teams have already played a pair of games this season with the Bruins winning 4-3 in overtime on Sept. 23, while Battlefords won the second meeting 8-6 on Sept.25 during the SJHL Showcase weekend.

Game time on Friday night is 7:30 p.m. and CJNB/CJNS will have the action on Norsask North Stars hockey beginning with the Ultra Print pre-game show at 7:15 p.m.    

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:  @RJWtheReporter