NORTH BATTLEFORD - The teddy bears were tossed early and often at Access Communications Centre during the Battlefords North Stars' home game versus the Notre Dame Hounds in SJHL action.
The bears rained down from the fans midway through the first period, as the North Stars built a 2-0 lead over the Hounds. It was the highly-anticipated Teddy Bear Toss Night in support of WPD Ambulance's Cram an Ambulance campaign for the Empty Stocking Fund.
But in the second period the Hounds came back with two of their own to tie things up. But in the final period, the North Stars responded with three goals to win by a 5-3 final score.
It was a big game for the North Stars for another reason: they wanted to snap a rare five-game losing streak on the campaign, a skid that included an earlier 2-1 home loss to the Hounds. The win ended not only the losing streak, but also a streak of five one-goal contests between the Hounds and North Stars this season.
GAME REPORT:
It did not take long for the North Stars to give the fans their reason to chuck the bears. At the 13:04 mark, Bradley Blake scored to give the North Stars a 1-0 lead and sent the stuffies flying onto the ice.
Perhaps appropriately, the assist on Blake's momentous goal was from a guy named Bear - Colby Bear, in fact, for his third assist of the season.
At 16:07 Zane Florence fired home his ninth of the season from Blake to beat Riley Osland and give the home team a 2-0 lead through one period. Shots through one period favoured the North Stars 12-11.
But the second period saw Notre Dame come back. Elliot Dutil scored his 22nd of the season unassisted at the 11:24 mark. Then just 32 seconds later Antoine Saint-Onge got the tying goal from Will Dawson and Phil Fath to put the Hounds in a familiar position; yet another razor's-edge contest versus the North Stars. Shots favoured the North Stars 28-25 through two.
In the third period the North Stars re-took the lead as Dylan Esau scored just 17 seconds in from Matthew Henry. That is where things stood with less than 10 minutes left in regulation.
The North Stars added two more in the third period as Steven Kesslering notched a power play goal from Esau and Florence at 11:09, and then Jake 小蓝视频gate got a shorthanded goal at the 14:59 mark to erase any doubt. Dutil's late power play goal with 58 seconds left on the clock wrapped up the scoring on the night.
Shots on goal favoured Notre Dame 44-38, but it was the Stars' Michael Harroch getting the win.
Next up for the North Stars is a home contest Friday versus Kindersley. The Hounds head to Kindersley Wednesday night before they return to Wilcox to host Humboldt, also on Friday night.
