Tanner Clezy, Sutter Baily and Chance Cole pictured here at North Stars spring camp over the weekend. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Back on the ice

North Stars spring camp sees fast pace, strong turnout

May 30, 2022 | 3:14 PM

Fast and physical was the name of the game at Battlefords North Stars spring camp over the weekend. Prospects and team hopefuls from the U15 to U18 ranks came together vying for list positions, main camp invites, and potential roster spots with the team.

Among those 175 players in attendance was 16-year-old Sam Grosso, a left winger who played last season with his hometown Saskatoon Riverkings of the Sask. U18 AA League.

Suiting up with Team Grey in his second spring camp with the team, Grosso said he enjoyed the experience again this year.

“It’s been a good camp with a good group of guys, and we’re doing pretty well, which is nice,” Grosso said between games Saturday. “I know a few of the guys and had a couple friends on the team so that was good, and once you get going you start to get to know the guys more too.”

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Goaltender, Tyson Borschneck, from the Prairie Hockey Academy U16 Prep team, was among those taking in his first North Stars spring camp, and wasted no time getting acclimated.

After allowing just two goals in his first game, the 15-year-old Kerrobert, Sask. product shut the door for a shutout in just his second appearance of the weekend. He said after it felt good to get back in the rink competing again.

“It’s nice to get back on the ice and playing games after being done with the regular season, and the camp was pretty fast-paced, so that was good,” Borschneck said.

In addition to those participating in the camp, the Stars also saw a strong turnout of main roster players attend the weekend’s event as coaches for the prospect teams. Among them were Holden Doell and Easton Rask who both said they enjoyed their time behind the bench helping out and seeing teammates again.

“It’s nice to see the young guys working their butts off and it’s been fun to be out here helping out,” Doell said. “It’s also been great to see some of the guys again as we obviously haven’t seen too many of them since the end of the year, and even with coaching we’re still competitive, so it’s been fun,” he added with a grin.

“…Yeah, there might have been a couple of friendly bets going each way between the benches,” Rask chimed in with a laugh. Adding, “It’s awesome to see the boys after living with them for a good eight months or so [during the season]. It’s felt like forever, so it’s been awesome to see them again.”

The North Stars spring camp ran Friday to Sunday, May 27–29, with scrimmages throughout the day at Saskatoon’s Jemini Arena.

Following spring camp, the North Stars’ will now shift their focus to the upcoming SJHL Bantam Draft, which will be held remotely this year on June 10. The 2022 draft will feature a unique format with six rounds of 2006-born kids, followed by two rounds of ’07s.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1