North Stars head coach, Brayden Klimosko holds up the puck from his 100th career win with the team, Tuesday night. No coach in the SJHL has won more games than Klimosko since he joined the club in the fall of 2018. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Milestone victory

Stars coach Klimosko picks up 100th career win behind bench

Jan 5, 2022 | 2:36 PM

As the Battlefords North Stars celebrated a thrilling 5-4 shootout victory over Estevan in their first game of the new year Tuesday, the win also signaled a special milestone for Stars’ bench boss, Brayden Klimosko, as the 100^th of his career with the team.

Klimosko, who was hired as head coach and general manager of the Stars back in the fall of 2018, said looking back, it’s been a special last few years.

“I didn’t know about it until one of our scouts, Ryan [Marushak] texted me after and said ‘congrats on 100,’” Klimosko said. “It’s a pretty cool milestone and it was a big win, which is number one, as to come back the way we did was obviously great and it’s been a great couple of years here so far.”

Already well-acquainted with the league when he was first hired, after spending three years as assistant coach with the Humboldt Broncos from 2013-16, Klimosko wasted no time making his mark as the one pulling the strings with the Battlefords.

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Klimosko led the Stars to a division title and league championship in his first season, during the 2018-19 campaign; the team’s third league championship in franchise history.

His team then exceeded expectations even further the next year, as the 2018-19 squad would go on to post the second-winningest season in their nearly 40 years as an organization, finishing the year with a 45-11-2 record. Their 92 points ran away with top spot overall, and finished the year 13 points clear of even second place overall.

To put the accomplishment in further context, 13 points also separated second and sixth-place overall, showing just how dramatic the separation, as Klimosko’s efforts were also recognized by the league, as he was also awarded SJHL Coach of the Year honours.

Klimosko pictured here hoisting the 2019 Canalta Cup. Since he joined the North Stars, the team has won 100 of their 153 games, or just over 65 percent of their total regular season contests. In the playoffs, the team has won 75 percent of their games (15 wins in 20 GP). (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

While the 2020-21 season was ultimately limited to just three total games due to the pandemic cancellation, Klimosko has only continued to build on his legacy through the first half of the 2021-22 schedule.

Despite having one of the youngest rosters in the league, the now veteran coach has his team again nearing the top of the league standings overall, as the Stars sit second in the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division and fifth overall with a 20-9-5 record this year through their first 34 games.

Klimosko said of all the memories over his first 100 wins, what stands out the most has been the sense of community surrounding the team.

“I think the biggest thing is just the Battlefords community treating me as if I was family,” Klimosko said. “The Battlefords has been great to me and my girlfriend and our kid, and it’s really like home now, so that’s got to be the coolest part. This is my second home, and I’m just happy to be a small part of that success we’ve had as an organization over these last few years and feel thankful to be a part of it.”

Klimosko and the North Stars will look for win No. 101 when they host Melville at the ACC Friday. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1