Quick turnaround: After playing last night, Jake Southgate and his North Stars teammates will play an afternoon game in Melville Sunday, with puck drop at 4:30 p.m. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

On the Road Again

North Stars look for quick bounce back in Melville

Feb 27, 2022 | 12:30 PM

Coming off a tough 7-1 loss to Humboldt to end their four-game home stand Saturday, the Battlefords North Stars will return to the road Sunday in search of a quick rebound, against the Millionaires.

Sunday will mark the fourth and final matchup of the season series, as the Stars will look to make it a four-game sweep against a Melville team hungry to snap a three-game skid overall heading into play.

Team outlook

The North Stars (30-15-6) enter play fifth overall in the league standings, though they sit just a single point back of both fourth-place Melfort and third-place Flin Flon. With two-games in-hand on the Mustangs and one on the Bombers, the Stars could move as high as third by the end of the night with a win.

The Millionaires (17-28-9) are 10^th overall, and with 43 points are all but officially out of the playoff race, sitting eight points back of the final playoff spot with just four games to go. That said, the Mills will be looking to finish the season strong with a young roster looking to stake their claim for next year’s club.

Made in Saskatchewan

Find My Plus One: The Canadian App for Getting Out and Living Your Best Life

Mar 09, 2026

Riderville

Ask Not for Whom the Ed Hervey Tampering Window Opens!

Feb 02, 2026

Seniors Scene

New Year - New Habits

Feb 02, 2026

Lineup notes

The North Stars will feature three affiliated player (“AP”) call-ups Sunday, while still playing short a roster spot, as injuries continue to stack up for the team.

Defenceman, Easton Rask is the latest player to go down, joining Holden Doell, Dace Prymak, Ryland McNinch, Jordan Grill, and Michael Harroch sidelined due to injury. Zane Florence will also miss his second straight game with an illness, while Riley Little and Ethan Scriven will be out due to suspensions given out following last night’s line brawl versus Humboldt.

AP call-ups will include forward, Marshall Light and defencemen, Connor Neave and Gavin Granger, all three of whom will make their SJHL debuts with the Stars Sunday.

Light is a 16-year-old Moosomin product with 30 points in 41 games with Estevan of the Sask. AAA League, while Granger – a fellow 16-year-old, from Saskatoon – has 16 points in 42 games with Swift Current’s AAA team. Neave, a 20-year-old North Battleford product, has 34 points in 30 games with Saskatoon of the PJHL this season.

Special teams

The North Stars do hold a special teams advantage heading into play, clicking at 23 percent on the man-advantage (third overall) to Melville’s 11 percent (11^th), though the Millionaires have been slightly better on the penalty kill at 79 percent (ninth) to the Stars’ 78 percent (10^th).

Goaltending

Lowen Kenyon will get the start for the Stars between the pipes. In 11 games this season, Kenyon has posted a 6-2-1 record with a 2.02 goals-against average and .938 save percentage.

Melville are likely to give the call to Alexis Grioux. In 31 games this year, Giroux is 9-14-4 this year with a 3.77 goals-against average and .899 save percentage.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 4 p.m., with puck drop at 4:30 p.m.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

K. Klein, J. Southgate, C. Bear

E. Wurst, D. Esau, S. Kesslering

M. Henry, B. Blake, T. Bahm

E. Waldie, M. Light

Defencemen:

W. Steele, R. Little

S. Witt, T. Gold

T. Ewart, E. Rask

Goaltenders:

L. Kenyon

A. Schwab

INJ: H. Doell (C), D. Prymak (C), R. McNinch (C), J. Grill (D), E. Rask (D), M. Harroch (G), Z. Florence (LW). SUSP: E. Scriven (LW), R. Little (D)

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1