Tagoona's dramatics lift Northstars over Wild

Citizen file photo

Roger Tagoona had three goals, including an overtime game-winner, on the Northstars' four-game road trip Oct. 22-25.

Roger Tagoona picked up three goals in four games, including the game-winner in a 5-4 overtime victory against the Winnipeg Wild Oct. 22, as the Norman Northstars went 2-2 on a four-game road trip.

Ryan Delorme was also instrumental in the win over the Wild, stopping 56 shots in a game that saw the teams combine for more than 100, with the Northstars firing 49 on Winnipeg goalie Connor Darowski.

The Northstars beat the Eastman Selects 4-1 Oct. 23, then lost 4-0 to the Pembina Valley Hawks on Saturday and 8-4 to the Winnipeg Thrashers on Sunday.

Tagoona opened the scoring five minutes into the first period against the Wild, with Justin Valentino adding another and Jake Heisinger and Brandon Lauder replying for Winnipeg. The Wild took the lead on a Brett Charette goal in the second, but Wayne Folster and Quentin Holmes replied to put the Northstars back in the lead. Brett Pile tied the score 4-4 with 8:55 left in the third. Tagoona's winner came with just eight seconds left in the overtime period.

“This was the first time in some of the players' careers that they have ever beaten a Winnipeg team,” said Northstars head coach Doug Korman. “Beating the top team in the league should give the players some confidence, knowing that they can play with the best.”

Folster and Valentino hit the scoresheet again versus Eastman, as Folster, Cody Zulyniak and Kenton Fayant gave the Northstars a 3-0 first period lead. Eric Stoez of the Selects scored in the third period, as did Valentino. Delorme made 29 saves while Brendan Edie stopped 27 for Eastman.

“Going into Eastman, we knew that they were a good hockey team, but the boys responded with a second victory,” said Korman. “The next two games the Stars came out flat, ill-prepared and not focused.”

Delorme played 40 minutes against Pembina Valley, giving up four goals before being replaced by Mitchell Backhouse for the third. Jory Mullin scored the first two goals for the Hawks, with Jeff Clark and Brett Pinkerton adding singles. Tyler Oswald got the shutout by making 33 saves.

The Thrashers scored their last three goals on the power play Oct. 25 and held period leads of 3-1 and 7-3 in the rugged contest, which featured 27 minor penalties, three misconducts and one game misconduct. The Northstars goals came from Tagoona, Holmes, Kane McKee and Allan Meyer. Matthew McIntosh saved 20 shots for Winnipeg, while Delorme made 28 saves.

“Taking undisciplined penalties time and time again drained what energy or life that was left right out of the team,” said the coach. “The play and decisions the players made in the lest two games is a big concern for the coaches. The team is getting offence from some key players but what the coaching staff is looking for is stronger defensive play. The team is giving up far too many shots and relying on the solid play from Ryan [Delorme].”

The Northstars now have a record of 5-6-0, with 10 points, putting them second in the East Division, nine points back of the Wild and one up on Eastman, the Kenora Thistles and the Thrashers, who all hold games in hand.

“The team will sit down, meet, gather our thoughts and make a plan for each series and move forward,” said Korman. "This week the players will be given a report on their play for the season so far. After a four-game weekend we came home a little banged-up and bruised. We will see who really wants to wear a Northstars jersey, who really has what it takes to be a champion or a chump.”

The Northstars' next opponents are the Brandon Wheat Kings, who sit second in the West Division with six wins and three losses. The teams meet up Oct. 30-31 at the C.A. Nesbitt Arena.

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