SATURDAY RECAP – Stars advance; Terriers, Wings on the brink

THORNHILL, ONT – Linken Fisher scored the winner 3:51 into the second overtime as the Battlefords North Stars eliminated the Melfort Mustangs from the 2026 SJHL Playoffs presented by UPL with a 4-3 victory in Game 5 Saturday.

North Stars veteran Josh Knittig led the way offensively with two goals and an assist, while Spencer Michnik made 41 stops in the win.

Austin Shepherd replied with a goal and an assist in the loss that ended the Mustangs’ remarkable organizational run of six straight playoff round victories.

It was, in fact, the North Stars who last eliminated a Melfort team, when on Apr. 5, 2023, Battlefords completed a four-game sweep in Round 2 en route to their 2023 SJHL championship.

The North Stars join the Flin Flon Bombers in Round 2.

In Nipawin, the Weyburn Red Wings scored five power play goals and got 38 saves from Joey Rocha to upend the Hawks 6-1 in Game 5, and to take a 3-2 series lead.

Lucas Schmid had three helpers in the win as five different Wings contributed multi-point nights.

Gage Roberts made 27 stops in defeat.

Finally, in Yorkton, the Terriers moved one step closer to Round 2 as Tyler Palin’s first-period power-play goal held up as the winner in a 4-1 Game 5 victory vs. the Melville Millionaires.

Yorkton received goals from four different scorers and 20 saves from Callum Creig in the win.

The Terriers now lead the series 3-2.

Highlights, presented by Chevrolet, to come soon.

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Game 5: Yorkton 4 Melville 1

Game 5: Weyburn 6 Nipawin 1

Game 5: Battlefords 4 Melfort 3 2OT

The two Game 6s go Monday.

Monday, March 30, 2026

• Game 6: Nipawin Hawks @ Weyburn Red Wings, 7:00 P.M. ST
• Game 6: Yorkton Terriers @ Melville Millionaires, 7:00 P.M. ST

Series Scores

#1 Flin Flon – #8 Estevan: Bombers win series 4-0
#2 Yorkton – #7 Melville: Terriers lead series 3-2
#3 Battlefords – #6 Melfort: North Stars win series 4-1
#4 Nipawin – #5 Weyburn: Red Wings lead series 3-2

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