KINDERSLEY - The Battlefords North Stars are the 2013-14 Kramer Division champions.
Needing a win in regulation to claim the division, Taylor Reich scored the game-winning goal with 2:55 to play in the third period to down the Kindersley Klippers in a wild 5-3 game at the West Central Energy Centre Saturday night.
It was a long way to the top for the North Stars, who started the season with a 4-12 record through 16 games. Battlefords head coach Kevin Hasselberg said the 3-2 shootout loss to Estevan Nov. 1 was the defining game for the team.
"It burned hard," said Hasselberg of the loss to the Bruins in which they led 2-1 in the third period. "From that point on, they really took control of what they wanted to achieve as a group. They embraced the philosophies and way we wanted to play as an organization. Here we are today, raising a first place banner in our rink. We're extremely proud of them."
Battlefords went 32-5-0-3 the rest of the way to finish one point ahead of the Klippers in the standings.
The Klippers started the game with an aggressive and physical fore check. North Stars goaltender Michael Gudmandson was tested early and often in the first period. He was forced to make a kick save with his left pad on Kindersley forward Colby Daniels. Gudmandson had to stay sharp as the North Stars took two early penalties and spent the first four minutes of the game shorthanded.
Despite the pressure from the Klippers, it was the North Stars who opened the scoring on a power play of their own. With 11:38 to play in the first, Cameron Blair caught Kindersley goaltender Tyrell King sliding to his left. Blair took a pass from Luke McColgan and slid the puck underneath King as the goaltender dove back to his right. The group of fans who travelled from the Battlefords were loud in their support of the North Stars opening the scoring.
Kindersley had a chance to tie on a power play in the first. Conner Veroba sent a bouncing shot towards the net. The puck bounced over Daniels' stick, who was looking at an empty net if he made contact with it.
The Klippers got on the board 1:51 into the second. Brandon Lauder broke in on the right wing and his snap shot beat Gudmandson to tie the game at one.
While the North Stars were shorthanded five minutes into the second, McColgan was sent in on a breakaway. He was taken down from behind and awarded a penalty shot. King came up big for the Klippers and stopped McColgan trying to beat him glove side.
Kindersley was awarded a penalty shot of their own with 9:21 to play in the period. Eric Pouliot was hauled down by three North Stars on his way to the net. Like his counterpart, Gudmandson stopped Pouliot's attempt to keep the game tied.
The Klippers broke the tie with 3:03 to go in the frame. Veroba's shot from the point bounced off the post and past Gudmandson to give Kindersley a 2-1 lead after two.
Battlefords tied the game on Reed Delainey's 10th goal of the season 1:52 into the third period. In the dying seconds of a penalty carrying over from the end of the second, Delainey picked the corner over King's blocker from the left wing.
Blair had a great individual effort in an attempt to break the tie. On a two-on-one, he kept the puck and his shot was blocked. He followed the puck behind the net, skated across the crease and missed the net glove side.
A sacrifice by North Stars forward Jack Petrino set up the goal that broke the 2-2 tie. As Petrino entered the zone, he was leveled by a Klippers defenceman. Tanner Quinn picked the puck up from the aftermath of the collision and snapped the puck past Kindersley's keeper.
King was key in keeping the Klippers in the game as the North Stars pressed for an insurance marker. With 12 minutes left in the game, he outlasted Blair as the North Stars forward deked to his backhand. King got his glove down on the ice to stop Blair from sliding the puck home.
The Klippers goalie made another save, this time on Petrino. King used his blocker to turn away a Petrino backhand. The play resulted in a hooking penalty to Kindersley, but Battlefords were unable to take advantage.
With 8:24 to play, Delainey was given a penalty for goaltender interference. Because it was the second goaltender interference penalty of the game, Delainey was ejected. The North Stars forward left the ice and slammed his stick in the tunnel. The power play did not last long as the Klippers were penalized for slashing 23 seconds later.
Kinderlsey found the equalizer with 3:54 to play. Pouliot skated into the zone with the puck and skated across the crease. He spun quickly and shot the puck, fooling Gudmandson to make it a 3-3 game. Hasselberg said there was no panic on the bench after the tying goal.
"Our guys were focused," said Hasselberg. "They knew what was on the line. They knew what was at stake. As long as we had the right guys on the ice at the right time, they were ready to do the job."
A minute later, the North Stars found the eventual game winner. Reich entered the zone on a rush from the left wing. His shot went off the post and past King with 2:55 remaining to give the North Stars the Kramer Division.
Battlefords put the game away with 1:09 left to play when Ben Greenaway carried the puck out of his own zone. He entered the Klippers' end and snapped the puck over King's blocker to give the North Stars a 5-3 win.
Gudmandson made 20 saves to earn his 20th win of the season. King stopped 29 shots en route to his 13th loss of the season.
Battlefords (36-17-0-3) now have time off before their first series as they wait to see the results of the best-of-five Survivor Series. Hasselberg said that no matter who they play, it's about forcing the opposing team to play their style.
"All season long it's been about what we do on the ice and forcing the opposition to play our game and defend us."
The North Stars will play the highest remaining seed out of Estevan, Nipawin, Notre Dame or Flin Flon.
