Stars forwards Kobie Anderson and Steven Kesslering pictured here having some fun during a rebound drill at morning skate, Tuesday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Back to the ACC

Stars host Klippers for first home game of pre-season

Sep 6, 2022 | 2:09 PM

Coming off back-to-back victories to open the pre-season against Bonnyville, the Battlefords North Stars will look to make it three-straight on Tuesday, when they welcome the Kindersley Klippers to town.

Marking the Stars’ first pre-season game at home in North Battleford, veteran defenceman Wilson Steele said it’s one the team has been looking forward to.

“It’s going to be exciting to get some of that home energy and see the fans out tonight,” the 20-year-old blue liner said. “We’re all super excited to get things going here again, and especially against our rival, that’s only going to motivate us as the season approaches.”

One of 10 returning players from last year in the line-up Tuesday, Steele will be joined on the back-end by another of the now-veteran rearguards, hometown product, Jordan Grill.

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Heading into his second season with the team after establishing himself as a regular as a 17-year-old last year, Grill said he’s looking forward to the evening’s matchup as well.

“It’s a big game, it’s the first home game of the season technically, and we’re playing a rival, so it doesn’t get much bigger than that,” Grill said, adding that establishing a physical tone early will be key.

“I’d say throw[ing] the body around is one of the biggest things; get pucks deep, get shots on net and I think that’s our key to this game,” he added.

First-year roster hopeful, Anton Petrovskiy, who played last year with the Columbus Mavericks of the United States Premier Hockey League, will like up Tuesday to the left of returning forwards Bradley Blake and Steven Kesslering.

He said he’s looking forward to the opportunity to face a rival team from the division for the first time.

“I’m pumped, I really want to beat these guys,” Petrovskiy said. “Obviously being in the same league we want to beat them really bad, so we’ll be ready for it.”

For Petrovskiy, who is from Detroit, MI., and resides in Florida during the offseason, this year’s camp experience with the Stars has been not only his first taste of junior hockey in the province but also his first time in Saskatchewan.

It’s a journey he hopes is only just beginning.

“I absolutely love it. First impressions of Saskatchewan in general, it’s really nice […] the boys here are great, everyone’s super supportive and whenever you make a big hit or a big play everyone is always out there supporting you, so it’s been really awesome,” he said.

Tuesday’s game at the Access Communications Centre will begin at 7:30 p.m., but will not be available on the radio.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcasts will begin with the start of the regular season.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1