The playoffs have started with a defeat for the Bombers. Battlefords took the upper hand Friday with a 7-3 win over Flin Flon.
Flin Flon opened the scoring three minutes in, courtesy of Mason Kaspick, who got the Bombers the early 1-0 lead. Later in the frame though, the Stars clawed it right back, with Matthew Henry finding the twine behind Flin Flon goalie Cal Schell. With seconds left in the period, Battlefords captain Ryland McNinch took the lead for home side while shorthanded to give the Stars a 2-1 advantage after 20.
Jacob Vockler tied the game up for the Bomber midway through the second, but the Stars surged after, with Steven Kesslering retaking the lead for the home side and McNinch adding the eventual game winner on the powerplay.
Gabriel Shipper brought the Bombers within one before goals from Stars Dylan Esau, Jake Southgate and a hat-trick marker from McNinch ended proceedings.
The Bombers outshot the Stars 50-33 on the night, but Flin Flon was revisited by a ghost from the past in net - Michael Harroch, formerly a goalie for Humboldt when the Bombers swept them out of the playoffs in 2020, made 47 saves on the night for his new club in Battlefords. Schell stopped 26 shots in a losing cause.
Stars McNinch and Sam Witt lead the way - McNinch with his hat-trick, Witt with four assists on the night.
Elsewhere in the SJHL, the Notre Dame Hounds shocked the league leaders and national title tournament hosts, beating Estevan 4-3 in Game 1. Sam Kroon fired home the winner for the Hounds in double overtime. Humboldt took care of business by scoring three third period goals, winning 6-4 over La Ronge, while Melfort kept Yorkton mostly off the scoresheet in a 4-1 victory.
The Bombers and Stars play again in North Battleford Saturday night, before shifting the series to Flin Flon next week and playing Game 3 and Game 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
