The La Ronge Ice Wolves were looking for their second straight win Friday night at home against the Battlefords North Stars, but it was the North Stars skating away with a 3-2 win in overtime.
“Obviously, you don’t want to give up a 2-0 lead, but with a team like Battleford, you know, they are going to score some goals,” said Ice Wolves Head Coach and GM Evan Vossen.
La Ronge opened the scoring 18:37 into the first on the man advantage when Antonio Di Paolo snapped home his seventh of the season past Joel Grzybowski, who made 25 saves for the win.
Neither team scored in the second period, but the Wolves would add some insurance 29 seconds into the third when Flynn Perry wired a rocket past Grzybowski for his first as an Ice Wolf, as La Ronge took a 2-0 lead.
The North Stars finally got on the board 9:34 into the third when Owen Lamb jammed home his 16th of the season past Jordan Frey, who made 47 saves in a losing cause. The North Stars tied the game at two one minute later when Ryan Gil wired home his 12th of the campaign.
Regulation would solve nothing, so the Ice Wolves and North Stars required extra time. With just one second left on the clock in the extra session, Cody Spagrud smacked home the game-winning goal, as the North Stars topped the Ice Wolves for the fifth time this season.
“We had our chances offensively, just like they did in the OT,” said Ice Wolves Head Coach and GM Evan Vossen. “I mean there’s 15 seconds left and we take a chance in the offensive zone, which I think is a pretty calculated risk.”
With the loss, the Ice Wolves slipped to 7-25-1-0 on the season, which has them in last place and eight points back of Weyburn for the final playoff spot in the SJHL.
La Ronge will be looking to rebound next Friday with they host the Flin Flon Bombers at the Mel Hegland Uniplex. Following that contest, the Ice Wolves conclude the unofficial first half of the season next Saturday in Nipawin against the Hawks.
(PHOTO: The North Stars celebrate their win in overtime. Photo by Braden Malsbury.)