Stars Wrap up January With Another Win.

What a month for the Battlefords North Stars!

Sunday night in North Battleford, the North Stars scored five times in the third period, and defeated the Nipawin Hawks 9-4. Chad Filteau and Ward Szucki both scored twice, and the Stars finished January with a fantastic record of 9-2.

Ward Szucki (13) opened the scoring just 14 seconds into the game after pouncing on a Dane Muench rebound and stuffing it by Ryan Kerpan's left pad. The Hawks would quickly tie the game on the power-play when David Skagen converted on a beautiful pass from Matthew Spafford.

The Stars grabbed a 2-1 lead when Chad Filteau (20) skated across the Hawks blueline and blasted a slap-shot by Ryan Kerpan. Shortly thereafter the Hawks would tie it again. This time it was Spafford who received a pass from Jonothan Ceci and roofed it on Graham Hildebrand.

The Stars would take their third and final lead of the hockey game at 13:06 when Ward Szucki (14) scored his second of the game. Szucki's goal was a direct result of Dane Muench's great effort behind the Hawks net to set him up.

Cody Folstad (5) made it 4-2 at 16:33 of the second after Josh Daley did most of the dirty-work and fed him beautifully.

Nipawin hung around when former North Star Skyler Dunser received a breakaway pass from Scott Brkich and somehow finessed the puck through Hildebrand. After forty minutes, the Hawks were making a strong case for themselves and were playing a really inspired, gritty game.

The second period featured a couple of fights, the highlight included a spirited tilt between Woody Klassen and Jeff Lorenz. Klassen took a few good licks, but certainly held is own.

The third period belonged to the home team. Brett Miller (18) scored 1:12 into the third and from there, the wheels came off the Nipawin defence. Shay Neufeld (12) scored 36 seconds later on a softer-looking wrist-shot which somehow found it's way through Ryan Kerpan.

Colin O'Hara pulled Ryan Kerpan in favor of Brody Hoffman, and Hoffman fared no better. Dane Muench (9) scored a greasy, unassisted goal on a rebound from Hoffman at 2:20 of the third.

Josh Daley (20), and Chad Filteau (21) would add goals for the Stars and by the 10:13 mark of the third, the Stars led 9-3.

Matt Guerts scored for Nipawin at 12:03 to make the final score 9-4.

The Stars outshot Nipawin 40 - 29.

Graham Hildebrand earned his fourth straight win, and made some nice saves in the third period to keep Nipawin at bay. The win moves the Stars within six points of the Flin Flon Bombers.

The North Stars now have four days of practice before they take the ice in Estevan on Friday night. The Stars will then head to Weyburn for Saturday and then to Notre Dame on Superbowl Sunday.

All three of those games will be heard on CJNB/CJNS.