North Stars clinch playoff spot at Centennial Cup

The Battlefords North Stars have locked up a spot in the playoff round at the Centennial Cup.

The SJHL champions beat the MJHL-champion Steinbach Pistons 3-1 on Tuesday at the Canadian junior A hockey championship tournament in Portage la Prairie, Man.

The North Stars improved to 3-1-0 in the tournament and sat atop Group B with nine points after their final preliminary-round game. The Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Collingwood Blues — who handed Battlefords its only loss — have eight points (two wins in regulation time, one in overtime) entering their final game of the preliminary round Wednesday.

The host Portage Terriers are third in the pool with a 2-1-0 record and six points with one game left in their schedule. That contest is against Collingwood.

In Tuesday’s game, Steven Kesslering gave the North Stars a 1-0 lead at 7:09 of the first period, and Battlefords took that advantage into the first intermission.

After a scoreless second period, Steinbach’s Noah Szabo tied things up at 4:40 of the third. Kian Bell gave the North Stars a 2-1 lead at 16:59 of the third and Kesslering sealed the deal with an empty-netter at 18:44.

Josh Kotai of the North Stars and Dominik Wasik of the Pistons each made 30 saves.

The playoff round begins Friday, with the final set for Sunday.