North Battleford is currently the top team in the league. (La Ronge Ice Wolves)

By larongeNOW Staff

Junior Hockey

Ice Wolves slip to third in SJHL standings

Jan 5, 2023 | 2:44 PM

The La Ronge Ice Wolves slip to third in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League standings after dropping a 4-3 decision Wednesday to the Battlefords North Stars.

Despite coming away without a point, the Ice Wolves’ coaching was pleased with how they were able to battle back from a 3-0 deficit to making it an interesting game against the top-ranked team in the country.

“I thought as the game went on, we just kept getting better and better,” said Ice Wolves assistant coach Kyle Schneider. “Give our guys a lot of credit – they never quit.”

The North Stars opened the scoring 9:20 into the first frame when Steven Kesslering ripped home his 16th of the season passed Topher Chirico. Jake Southgate made it a 2-0 game with 1:04 left in the opening stanza on the power play.

Evan Waldie gave the home squad a 3-0 edge 3:45 into the second when he snuck a shot past Chirico, who turned away 32 shots in a losing cause.

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The Ice Wolves got on the board 54 seconds into the third period on the man advantage when Walker Jerome clanked in his 12th of the campaign. Jerome notched his second of the evening at the 2:13 mark of the frame on the powerplay as La Ronge made it a 3-2 contest.

Keiton Klein tallied on a breakaway with 3:55 left in the third, giving the Battlefords a 4-2 advantage. With Chirico on the bench, La Ronge made it interesting in the late stages. Flynn Maxcy punched home his fifth of the season with 1:13 left on the clock, but that is as close as the Ice Wolves would get Wednesday.

“Coming into the second, we definitely gave a good pushback,” Jerome said. “We ended up going down three after two (periods), but we had a good pushback in the third and made it a close game.”

With the setback, the Ice Wolves are now riding a four-game losing streak. La Ronge is now 21-12-3 on the season, which still has them occupying third in the overall standings.

The Ice Wolves are back in action Jan. 11 at home when they host the Nipawin Hawks at the Mel Hegland Uniplex.

– with files from the La Ronge Ice Wolves

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larongeNOW@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @larongeNOW