North Stars return to action, ‘ready for great test’ in Humboldt

Standing in their way is a Broncos team in top spot of the division – and top spot overall – with a league-best 34-11-0 record, giving them 68 points on the year. The Broncos are also rolling into play, in search of their seventh straight victory.

North Stars head coach, Brayden Klimosko said the game should serve as a great way to get back in the swing of things quickly, as the team looks to avenge a pair of tough losses, 7-1 and 6-2 their last two games against their divisional foe.

“It’s exciting to get back into it as it’s been a while, so the boys should be amped up and ready to go,” Klimosko said. “The Broncos have [got the best] of us the last two meetings, so we’ll need our best; we always seem to see theirs as well, so it’s obviously a great test tonight and we should be ready to go.”

Players to watch

There will be no shortage of firepower on the ice Tuesday, with game breakers on each side playing some of their best hockey of late.

North Stars leading scorer, Jake Southgate sits first on the team in goals (18), assists (23) and points (41) this year, and has averaged a perfect two points per-game since the start of the new year, with four goals and 10 points over his last five.

He will be joined by captain, Ryland McNinch who sits fourth on the team with 29 points, and Holden Doell, who’s 27 points are fifth, after scoring the OT winner in the team’s last game, Jan. 15.

Dylan Esau (33 points) and Steven Kesslering (31 points), who sit second and third in team scoring will also be reunited on the team’s second line, joined on the left-wing by Keiton Klein.

The Broncos feature the league’s top scorer, and four of the top seven in points.

Connor McGrath leads all players with 61 points this year, while Alec Saretzky (third with 51 points), Matthew Perkins (fifth; 48 points) and Braiden Koran (seventh; 44 points) also feature in amongst the league’s premier point producers.

Saretzky is coming off a two-point performance Saturday in his team’s 4-3 win over Weyburn, which included scoring the game winner on his 26^th goal of the year, to move into second in the league’s goal scoring race.

Special teams

The North Stars enter play with the best power play in the league, capitalizing on just over 24 per cent of their total chances, while Humboldt sit sixth, with just under 20 per cent effectiveness.

On the penalty kill, it’s the Broncos who hold the advantage, at just under 90 per cent, to the Stars’ 78 per cent.

Goaltending

Between the pipes, the night’s action will also see a pair of the league’s elite netminders go head-to-head.

The Stars will see a return to action for starter, Michael Harroch after being sidelined from game action with an upper body injury since Jan. 4. In 18 games this year, Harroch has posted a 10-3-3 record, along with a 2.94 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.

Humboldt’s Race Ramsay has played a league-high 39 games, with a 2.23 GAA and .924 save percentage, and is likely to get the start once again.

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 to follow at 7:30 p.m.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

#21 J. Southgate, #16 H. Doell, #20 R. McNinch

#23 K. Klein, #28 D. Esau, #24 S. Kesslering

#18 E. Wurst, #9 D. Prymak, #25 C. Bear

#11 M. Henry, #10 B. Blake, #17 T. Bahm

Defencemen:

#5 E. Rask, #22 R. Little

#7 S. Witt, #6 T. Gold

#3 Z. Florence, #2 T. Ewart

Goaltenders:

#30 M. Harroch

#1 Austin Schwab

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

North Stars return to action, ‘ready for great test’ in Humboldt

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