North Stars forward, Emmett Wurst pictured here on the faceoff versus Yorkton's Maddux Nollski. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Showdown continues

North Stars shoot for two-game sweep of Terriers

Oct 21, 2022 | 1:05 PM

Coming off a wild 9-3 victory on Thursday over Yorkton, the Battlefords North Stars will return to their home ice Friday evening for the second game of their two-night tango with the Terriers.

The North Stars enter Friday’s action in top spot of the SJHL standings with a league-best 12-0-1 record, in search of their third straight win.

The Terriers are second in the Viterra Division and sixth overall with a 6-5 record through their first 11 games, and will be hungry to snap a two-game skid and avenge last night’s loss in their return to the Access Communications Centre.

The Stars are led into play by their top line of Holden Doell, Jake Southgate, and Kian Bell.

Both Doell and Bell scored a pair of goals in Thursday’s win, while Southgate picked up two assists, as the trio combined for four goals and six points on the night. Together, the three now have 25 points over their last four games.

Freedom and Flexibility

How App-Based Work Creates Economic Opportunity

Dec 12, 2025

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Seniors Scene

Christmas is Coming

Dec 09, 2025

Centre Colby Bear, and defenceman Tanner Gold are also coming off multi-point games less than 24 hours ago.

Bear scored a goal and an assist for the Stars in Thursday’s game to give him 10 points through 13 games while providing a strong defensive presence for the team.

Gold picked up a pair of helpers for his second straight multi-point night to give him nine points (tied for eighth amongst defencemen) in addition to his primary match-up minutes.

At the other end, Yorkton is led into play by forwards Dylan Ruptash and Clay Sleeva.

Ruptash, a first-year forward from Edmonton, Alta., scored his team-leading fifth of the season for the Terriers Thursday, and now has five goals over his last six games.

Sleeva, who also added his third of the campaign, is also among the players to watch on night two of the back-to-backs, as the team’s primary puck carrier on the power play and likely their most consistent threat through the first meeting of the two teams.

On special teams, the penalty kill was the story of the game for both sides last night, as both the Stars and Terriers were held to 0-for-6 billing on the man-advantage, despite each getting a lengthy 5-on-3.

In goal Stars’ netminder, Josh Kotai will make his second straight start, coming off a 21-save victory in Thursday’s win. Kotai is 9-0-1 this season with a league-best 1.38 goals against average and .956 save percentage.

At the other end, Yorkton is likely to give the nod to Tommy Bouchard, after Caleb Allen got the start Thursday.

Bouchard stopped five of the six shots he faced in relief midway through the third period of last night’s contest, with a 1-2 record on the season, 2.62 goals against average, and a .922 save percentage.

Friday’s game in North Battleford will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1