Round One Reflections.

***All Photos By Julie Larson***


The buzz is back in the Battlefords community.

Over 1400 screaming fans filled the Civic Center last night on a Sunday for Game Five, and certainly made their presence known. After two years of struggle, this team has come full circle, and the rebuild is complete. The fans that have withstood the rebuild and have stayed loyal throughout - This one's got to feel especially sweet for you.

I'll admit that I did not expect this series to be over in five games, but momentum seemed to stay with the Stars throughout the series, and they won a pile of close games. They weren't pretty, but playoff hockey is not supposed to be. Playoff hockey is about goaltending, physicality and resiliency, and the North Stars were the poster-child for all three of those things in Round One.

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Game One:

It wasn't the start that Star's fans had in mind. The Melfort Mustangs came into the Civic Center, and stole Game One of the series. Chris Ward was the story, stopping Blake Peake on a breakaway two minutes in, and then denied Josh Daley with two seconds left. The Mustangs won 3-2, and had gained a temporary hold on home-ice advantage.



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Graham Hildebrand got the call for Game Two of the series. It was not because of poor play from Kyle Birch, but Ken Pearson was simply sticking with his usual rotation.

Hildebrand made the most of his opportunity, and was a real difference-maker in a 3-2 North Star victory in Game Two in Melfort.

Hildebrand stopped Jesse Mireau on a penalty-shot, and Chad Filteau broke a 2-2 tie late in the third with his first of three clutch goals throughout the series.

The Stars won 4-2, and regained home-ice advantage in the series.

Had they lost Game Two, the series may have played out a lot differently.

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Game Three saw the series return to North Battleford, and the Stars played their best period of the series in the first of Game Three. The Stars got three goals in the first 12 minutes (Wall, Tomac, Miller), and got the crowd of nearly 1200 fans into the game early.

Graham Hildebrand stood his ground early, and for a second straight game played strongly.



The Mustangs crept back in, and forced the game to 3-2. However a lack of finish on the power-play was the undoing for the Melfort Mustangs for a third straight night.

Blake Tatchell scored a beauty mid-way through the third to give the Stars a 4-2 lead that they would not relinquish.

The Stars had a 2-1 series lead.

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Game Four returned to Melfort, and on a Friday night in front of nearly 1000 fans in Melfort and 80 plus watching on the Hot Stove Lounge television, the Stars prevailed 3-2 in overtime.

Chad Filteau and Troy Watt scored in regulation for the Stars and Graham Hildebrand continued his series dominance.

He stopped Brant Harris on a penalty-shot, and kept his team afloat during some stressful moments.

Early in overtime, the Mustangs skated in on a two-on-one. Instead of shooting, Brant Harris tried to slide a pass across to Kevin Knopp. Woody Klassen intercepted the pass, threw the puck forward to Brett Miller. A pass from Miller sent Mitch Wall off to the races.

Wall split the defence, took three more strides and roofed one on Chris Ward to give the Stars a 3-2 overtime victory, and a strangle-hold on the series.

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Game Five yielded the best Civic Center atmosphere that I have seen to date in my three years calling games for the Stars. Even when the Stars were facing adversity, the fans were a constant source of support and energy for the players, the coaches, and yes even the broadcasters!

Nathan Tomac's second goal of the series tied was a real difference-maker in Game Five, as he broke a 2-2 tie late in the second period thanks to great hustle and patience from linemates Tony Oak and Troy Watt.

Mitch Wall received a game-misconduct for a boarding penalty mid-way through the third period, and instead of folding, the Stars rallied with two short-handed goals. One from Chad Filteau, the other from Nathan Tomac.

Though the Mustangs rallied to make the score 5-4, a gaff by Chris Ward at the side of his net brought momentum back to the North Stars, and Brett Miller slid the puck into an empty net to give his team a two-goal lead again. Blake Peake ended the series with an empty-netter.



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And then there were four.

Since Day One of training camp, the belief has been there. The Battlefords North Stars thought they had something special heading into this season. Now, after a five-game series victory over the Melfort Mustangs, and a couple of first-round upsets, the Stars find themselves as the top remaining seed in the SJHL Playoff picture.

Any added pressure? None. Don't be fooled by the La Ronge Ice Wolve's fourth place finish. This is a team who just defeated the first place Flin Flon Bombers, and prior to that the defending league champion Humboldt Broncos.

If you're expecting a short series between these two rivals - You're kidding yourself. If you're expecting a classic series featuring two great coaches and two great organizations - You're right on the money.

I'm of the minset that there truely is no 'under-dog' in this series. The Stars and Ice Wolves played to four one-goal finishes during the regular season. One game finished in overtime, while another went to a six-round shootout.

Goaltending, special-teams, coaching, officiating,team chemistry and character are all going to be factors throughout this North Final. A battle of wills between two of the best coaches in Junior A hockey.

I know it's only Monday, but Friday can't come fast enough.


Playoff tickets are available from 9 - 5 at the service center for Scott Campbell Dodge, and will also be sold at the Civic Center souvenir booth tomorrow and Wendesday night from 7:30 - 8:30.

1400 fans is impressive, but this is the North Final. It's back to the glory days at the Civic Center, and I can't wait to see that building packed to the rafters for Games One and Two.