North Stars pictured L-R: Dylan Esau, Dace Prymak, Sam Witt, Austin Schwab. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Looking back fondly

North Stars 20-year-olds reflect on junior experience: Part 1

Mar 31, 2022 | 9:55 AM

With the conclusion of their hockey season, the Battlefords North Stars will say goodbye to another class of 20-year-olds, as seven players from this year’s roster will graduate from the junior ranks, taking with them memories and cherished moments that will last a lifetime.

#28 Dylan Esau

The longest-tenured North Star, and last remaining active junior player from the Stars’ 2019 championship team, Dylan Esau broke in with the Stars during the ’18-19 season as a 17-year-old, improving his goal and point totals each year.

However, even more the on-ice success, the Meadow Lake product said what stands out about his time in the Battlefords are the countless friendships made and relationships built.

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“A bit of a bitter-sweet ending, but looking back you reflect on the teams and all the guys that you got to meet and play with, and my time here has really been a blessing,” Esau said. “I think most of all you learn, you meet new guys and create new relationships and grow on the ice and as a person off the ice as well, so it was just a great experience.”

Esau led the North Stars, and finished 10^th overall in league scoring with 58 points this season in 57 games, including a team-high 23 goals. In 166 career SJHL games, all played with the Stars, Esau scored 35 goals and 100 career points. He will suit up next season for the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings of the ACAC.

#9 Dace Prymak

Joining the North Stars two years ago as an 18-year-old out of Invermere, B.C., Prymak was traded as a key piece of the blockbuster deal in a package for all-star forward, Ben Hiltz later that year, prior to being reacquired by the Stars early this season, to play a key role within the team’s top nine forward group.

Reflecting on his junior career, Prymak said he’s grateful to have been able to finish out his junior experience where it all began in the Battlefords this year.

“I think the biggest thing that stands out to me is coming back here,” Prymak said. “I had a lot of fun here my first year and I was more than happy to be back. I didn’t really know what to think coming out here [to Saskatchewan] as I hadn’t been out here too much, but I fell in love with the place; I love it out here.”

Prymak finished the 2021-22 season with eight goals and 23 points in 39 games. In 92 career junior games, Prymak posted 20 goals and 47 points over three seasons split between the North Stars and Weyburn Red Wings.

#7 Sam Witt

Veteran blue liner, Sam Witt was acquired by the Stars in late 2020 to help supplement a young defensive core, on his way to a career year in 2021-22, finishing second in Stars defencemen scoring with six goals (tied for 1^st) and 27 points in 57 games.

Witt said it was an opportunity he was happy to have, to finish his junior career with the Stars.

“With Brayden obviously bringing me in two years ago, I’m really thankful for that,” Witt said. “It’s a first-class organization run by him and all the way up and it’s been a really good experience. Our team seemed really tight from the get-go and almost as Brayden would say, a championship-level group with how tight we were.

“Junior hockey’s been unreal for me and I’m very thankful that I got to finish off my junior hockey career here in the Battlefords.” – Sam Witt

In 100 career junior games split between the North Stars and Kindersley Klippers of the SJHL, and Canmore Eagles of the AJHL, Witt posted six goals and 35 points. He will attend Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut for the fall of 2022, to continue his hockey career at the post-secondary level.

#1 Austin Schwab

Initially joining the North Stars during the 2019-20 season, Austin Schwab spent his first two years of junior with the team, prior to being re-acquired at the CJHL trade deadline in January from the North American Hockey League, where he started this year, to finish things where they began in the Battlefords.

Billeting with his grandparents throughout his years in the community, Schwab said being able to share the experience with family just made his time in junior all the more special.

“It means a lot being here in North Battleford, and being able to live with my grandparents while I’ve been here; I’ve definitely grown up a lot since my first year,” Schwab said. “As soon as I got here I realized it was a really good group and they all welcomed me in, which was awesome.”

In 11 games this season, Schwab posted a 7-4-0 record with a 2.51 goals against average and .925 save percentage. In 29 career junior games with the North Stars, Schwab posted a 20-9-0 record with a 2.84 goals against average and .914 save percentage.

This is Part 1/2 of a series on battlefordsNOW, reflecting on the junior hockey careers of the seven North Stars’ 20-year-olds. Part 2/2 will be posted later today, at noon.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1