Forward, Jake Southgate #21 and his North Stars teammates will welcome Kindersley to town Friday for the team’s home opener in North Battleford. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Home Sweet Home-Opener

Youthful North Stars ‘excited and ready’ for season opener Friday

Sep 24, 2021 | 2:16 PM

Over 570 days since they last took to the ice for a regular-season game in their home barn, the Battlefords North Stars will open the 2021-22 season Friday, in front of the hometown crowd in North Battleford.

The North Stars play host to the rival Kindersley Klippers for the first of what will be a home-and-home between the two sides this weekend.

Even hours prior to the drop of the puck, the excitement was palpable inside the walls of the ACC at the Stars’ morning skate.

“I just can’t wait,” said North Stars rookie, Matthew Henry.

“I’ve been looking forward to this; I used to grow up here always want[ing] to be a North Star, so it’s a dream come true; my uncle and my dad played here a long time ago, so it’s really awesome for me.”

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Henry is one of six rookies in the Stars’ lineup for opening night – and one of five who will make their SJHL league debut, along with forwards Ethan Scriven and Emmett Wurst and defencemen Jordan Grill and Easton Rask.

Overall brim with young talent, the Stars’ roster features just four 20-year-olds, including Dylan Esau – who is the lone holdover from the 2019 Canalta Cup champion team – fellow forward, Ryland McNinch and blueliners, Riley Little and Sam Witt.

Combined, the four hold a total of 247 games at the Junior A level.

Steven Kesslering, who is in his third year with the team as a 19-year-old, adds another 48 games’ experience, while the remaining 15 players on the opening night roster hold a combined 25 career junior games on their joint resume.

Despite the heavy influx of youth though, what the team may lack in man-games played, they look to more than makeup for with speed, skill and tenacity four lines deep.

“We’re a deep group everywhere with four lines that can score, and probably more than four, as we even have some guys sitting out who likely wouldn’t be on a lot of teams,” Head coach Brayden Klimosko said.

“I think the energy’s going to be electric tonight for both teams and the crowd, so it’s going to be exciting, and I’m looking forward to a great test tonight in [the form of] Kindersley.”

The North Stars and Klippers played each other three times during the preseason, including one rookie game, with the North Stars taking all three contests, 4-2, 4-2 and 6-4.

Friday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will begin with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7:00 p.m., followed by puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. Due to the Rider game on 1050 CJNB, Friday’s game will be on 93.3 The Rock, and available online at 933therock.ca.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

#21 Jake Southgate, #16 Holden Doell, #20 Ryland McNinch

#29 Ryder Kenyon, #28 Dylan Esau, #3 Zane Florence

#27 Ethan Scriven, #17 Tanner Klimpke, #19 KT Walters

#11 Matthew Henry, #18 Emmett Wurst, #24 Steven Kesslering

Defencemen:

#26 Wilson Steele, #22 Riley Little

#7 Sam Witt, #4 Jordan Grill

#2 Tynan Ewart, #5 Easton Rask

Goaltenders:

#30 Cam Beson

#1 Ulrik Roussel

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1