The Kindersley Jr. Klippers played their first game of 2023 in North Battleford Friday night. The North Stars got out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by sniper Kian Bell, his league leading 29th of the season.

Kindersley actually played a pretty good road period overall, and were rewarded for it. Spencer Paplawski came in on a 2-on-1 with brother Adam and tried to pass it to him, but it deflected off the North Stars defenseman into the net to tie the score. Both goals in the opening period were scored with four skaters aside.

The second saw the best push by Kindersley, as they had a few chances. None bigger than a clearcut breakaway by leading goal scorer Matthew Mazzocchi, but he was stymied by Justen Maric, as he made a nice glove save to preserve the tie. 

Just a few shifts later, the Stars took the lead on a seeing eye shot from the point by Keiton Klein. The Battlefords doubled their lead on a nice passing play started by Zane Florence, as he found Kian Bell at the side of the net, he passed it back to defenseman Wilson Steele and he went upstairs on Cody Jaman for his fourth of the season.

Then about a minute after the goal, Jaydon Jessiman leveled Florence on a nice clean check in the Stars end, and Florence got up and dropped his gloves. Jessiman dropped his as well, and the two went toe to toe in a spirited fight in the circles of the Battlefords end.

The third saw a pair of goals by Battlefords to seal the deal, Klein got his second into an empty net, and Steven Kesserling got a nice goal for his 17th of the season to make the final score 5-1 North Stars.

Klein now has five goals in three games against the Klippers, and the Battlefords got their 30th win of the season, with still no setbacks in regulation time (30-0-2-1).

The teams get right back at it Saturday night at the WCEC for a 7:30 puck drop.