Goaltender Austin Schwab, who played 18 games for the North Stars from 2019-21, will make his first start Saturday night since being re-acquired by the team earlier this week. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Rivalry Weekend Continues

Stars, Klippers continue weekend series as scene shifts to Battlefords

Jan 15, 2022 | 2:00 PM

Coming off a convincing 3-0 victory in Kindersley last night, the Battlefords North Stars will return to home ice this evening for the back-half of their home-and-home this weekend with the Kinderlsey Klippers.

Team outlook

The Stars (22-10-5) enter play Saturday second in the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division, and fourth overall with 49 points on the season. They return to action having won three of their last four games to open the new year.

Kindersley (13-21-1), sit fourth in the division and 11^th overall, with 27 points. With just two wins over their last 10, and looking to snap a two-game skid, the Klippers will be at their best in the Battlefords.

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North Stars leading scorer, Jake Southgate continued his torrid pace last night, picking up his team-leading 17^th goal and 39^th point, in the team’s 3-0 victory in Kindersley. Four games into the turn of the calendar, Southgate has three goals and eight points.

Dylan Esau (32 points) and Steven Kesslering (30), who sit second and third in team scoring, also added a goal apiece last night, as the team continue to get contributions from key offensive contributors.

At the other end, Kindersley will be searching for some offensive spark, after being held off the board entirely Friday night.

Klippers’ captain, Jaxon Georget was perhaps the team’s most dangerous threat throughout the evening, and will be looking to continue to build on a strong 20-year-old campaign that has seen the speedster register nine goals and 19 points in 29 games this year.

Kindersley winger, Tylin Hilbig will also be front and center Saturday, as he leads the team in both goals (13) and points 22 this year.

Special teams

Both teams saw their penalty kill units steal the show Friday, in the special teams battle. The North Stars held Kindersley to 0/4 on the man advantage while adding a shorthanded goal from Esau. The Klippers held the Stars to 0/2.

On the season, the Battlefords rank third on the power play (23 percent) and ninth on the penalty kill (78 percent), while Kindersley are 12^th on the PP (10 percent) but sixth on the PK (80 percent).

Goaltending

Just a night after netminder Lowen Kenyon picked up his first career shutout, goaltending will again be the story for the Stars, Saturday.

Austin Schwab, who was reacquired by the team just prior to the CJHL trade deadline Monday, will make his North Stars season debut between the pipes for the team. In 18 career SJHL games, Schwab is 13-5-0 with a 3.06 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.

At the other end, Kindersley will again turn to goalie, Matthew Pesenti. Making his fourth-straight start for the team, Pesenti was lights out Friday, keeping his team in the game throughout the contest and allowing just a single goal through the first 40 minutes.

In 24 games this year, Pesenti has posted a 7-15-1 record, with a 3.30 GAA, and .911 save percentage.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available Saturday on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

J. Southgate, H. Doell, K. Klein

Z. Florence, D. Esau, R. McNinch

C. Bear, D. Prymak, S. Kesslering

M. Henry, E. Wurst, E. Scriven

Defencemen:

J. Ziegler, R. Little

S. Witt, T. Gold

T. Ewart, J. Grill

Goaltenders:

A. Schwab

L. Kenyon

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1