Zane Florence receives his certificate plaque as North Stars' RBC and SJHL Community Ambassador. (Submitted photo/Kennedy Schmidt)

By Martin Martinson

Hometown boy making a difference

Battlefords local Florence named Stars SJHL Community Ambassador

Feb 25, 2022 | 3:55 PM

It wasn’t that long ago Zane Florence was sitting in the crowd at the North Battleford Civic Centre with family, dreaming of one day becoming a Battlefords North Star.

Now in his first full season of junior hockey, the North Battleford product has been named the team’s RBC and SJHL Community Ambassador for the 2021-22 season.

Each team’s Community Ambassador is given $1,000 to donate to a charitable cause of their choosing. Florence has allocated his $1,000 to McKitrick Community School.

Embracing his status as a role model in the community, Florence has established himself as a constant at team community events and functions, whether reading to kids at the local elementary schools or playing street hockey with the youth outside the local rink.

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Florence’s community involvement started even prior to the season, volunteering at the North Stars’ Summer Hockey School, helping coach and guide the next generation of young hockey players in the community. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Entering training camp as a blue liner, Florence was moved to the forward position this season in training camp, with his tenacious style of relentless forechecking and fearless net-drives paying immediate dividends for the Stars on his way to a team-leading three goals in four games of the preseason.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Flash-forward to today and Florence is fifth in team goals (14) and seventh in points (28) in 42 games while playing some of his best hockey of late, with seven points in his last five games.

From community fundraisers like ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,’ to the Stars Golf Classic, and Summer Hockey School, Florence has established himself as a recognizable face at local events around town. (Submitted photos/North Stars, Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Florence and his Stars teammates will return to action this weekend with back to backs Friday at home against Humboldt and Saturday in Melville.

Both games will be available on 1050 CJNB. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will begin Friday night with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. Sunday’s contest in Melville will be an afternoon game with pregame at 4 p.m. and puck drop at 4:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1