Stars coach, Brayden Klimosko has been nominated for the Darcy Haugan/Mark Cross Memorial Award for Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Coach of the Year. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Behind the bench

North Stars Klimosko nominated for CJHL Coach of the Year

May 9, 2022 | 5:07 PM

For the second consecutive season, Battlefords North Stars head coach, Brayden Klimosko has been recognized amongst the very best in junior hockey.

Monday it was announced Klimosko has been nominated for the Darcy Haugan/Mark Cross Memorial Award for Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Coach of the Year.

The nomination comes just under three weeks after the Stars bench boss was named SJHL Coach of the Year for the second straight season, becoming just the second coach in over a decade to win the award multiple times.

From strong X’s and O’s to intelligent communication with his players, North Stars head coach, Brayden Klimosko has used a variety of skills to establish himself as a premier coach in junior hockey during his time in the Battlefords. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Klimosko said while post-season awards aren’t something he thinks about during the year, it is special to be recognized amongst some of the country’s best.

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“Obviously you feel pretty proud that you’re up for such a prestigious award,” he said. “It’s not why you coach, but it obviously feels pretty good.”

Klimosko led the North Stars to a 35-17-6 record this year, good for fourth overall in the league standings and home ice in the first round of the playoffs. All while managing one of the youngest rosters in the league, which included 16 first-year players on their playoff roster, tied with eighth-seeded Notre Dame for most among playoff teams.

The recognition is just the latest for the Humboldt native, who has made the most of his time behind the bench with the team.

In four years (three seasons, due to the cancelled 2021 campaign), Klimosko has twice been named SJHL Coach of the Year, and twice nominated for CJHL Coach of the Year, while leading the North Stars to a league championship and two division titles, with a league-best .650 winning percentage (115-44-18 record) over the span.

Joining Klimosko, other nominees for his year’s Darcy Haugan/Mark Cross Memorial Award include: Ryan Papaioannou of the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits, Rick Dorval of the CCHL’s Hawkesbury Hawks, Laurie Barron of the MHL’s Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners, Brandon Perry of the NOJHL’s Timmins Rock, and Rob Pearson of the OJHL’s Pickering Panthers.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

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North Stars Klimosko nominated for CJHL Coach of the Year

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