ESTEVAN - The No. 1 team in the country went into Estevan on Friday night and knocked off the host Estevan Bruins.
The Battlefords North Stars beat the Bruins 7-4, ending the Black and Gold’s six-game winning streak at Affinity Place. It was the Bruins’ first loss in their home rink since their season-opening game in September.
Salvatore Collora opened the scoring for Estevan less than two minutes into the game. It remained a 1-0 contest until Wilson Steele, Jake Southgate and Kian Bell scored in the final 7 1/2 minutes of the period to give the Stars a 3-1 advantage.
The Stars led 5-2 after the second period. Logan Ziegler scored for Estevan, while Jackson Allan and Jordan Gibbs had the Stars’ goals.
Cody Davis scored 47 seconds into the third for the Bruins, and Estevan had opportunities to pull to within one. They hit a post on a power play shortly after Davis’ goal, and Stars goalie Josh Kotal made a terrific save off of Bruins’ forward Sam McPeak during a Stars’ power play.
Doell scored for the Stars midway through the third, but Jagjeevan Phangura tallied for Estevan a few minutes later.
Tyran Ewart finished the scoring for the Stars with an empty-net goal.
Cam Hrdlicka played in the first period for the Bruins and stopped nine of 12 shots. Jackson Miller replaced him and surrendered three goals on 16 shots.
Estevan (11-11) will host the Humboldt Broncos Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Affinity Place.
Battlefords (16-0-1-1) will visit the Weyburn Red Wings on Saturday, also at 7 p.m.
