The Norman Northstars picked up their first win of the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League season in Steinbach Oct. 18, defeating the Southwest Cougars 4-1.
Bryce Horning got the game-winner in the first period after Anthony Keeper Jr. opened the scoring with a power play marker. Michael Markus put the Northstars up by three midway through the second period. The Cougars reduced that margin to two on a goal by Brade Billaney in the third period. Evan Lutz closed the scoring for the Northstars into an empty net with 10 seconds left in the game.
Mark Steeves got the victory in net, making 31 saves, while the Northstars beat Jay Pringle three times on just 13 shots.
The Northstars followed that effort up with another close game Oct. 19, falling 3-2 to the Parkland Rangers. Daylon Campbell and Taylor Ritchie had the goals for the Northstars, who traded one goal apiece with the Rangers in the first two periods before Parkland’s Riley McKay got the game-winner on a power play late in the third period. Steeves made 34 saves in the loss, which saw the Northstars outshot 37-24.
The weekend opened with the Northstars facing the Winnipeg Wild, who scored seven times in the opening period en route to a 13-1 victory. Four Winnipeg players had a pair of goals in the game while Keeper had the only goal for the Northstars, breaking goaltender Mitchel Adamyk’s shutout bid five minutes into the third period.
Shots in the game were 63-19 for the Wild.
The Northstars are on the road again this weekend, facing the Kenora Thistles on Tursday and Friday then meeting the Eastman Selects on Saturday and the Interlake Lightning on Sunday.
The Northstars’ next home games are Nov. 1-2, when they take on Parkland at the C.A. Nesbitt Arena.
